Page 39 of A Kiss Of Lies

“Truly? They don’t repulse you?”

Her heart welled at the vulnerability she saw in his eyes. When she was young, Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, had never doubted that any woman would find him maddeningly attractive. It must have been devastating; a crushing blow to his pride, to have his body marked so.

She knew.

She clambered off the bed and, with more bravery than she felt, slipped the straps of her shift off her shoulders and let it slide down her body to fall at her feet. She stood naked before him. Then with a big gulp she turned, so that her back was presented to him, and lifted her hair.

She was scarred too.

Angry curses exploded from Christian’s mouth, yet his fingers, as they traced the whip marks that crisscrossed her lower back, were gentle, as if trying to erase all her pain.

“He did this to you?” His voice was choked with a mixture of horror, seething anger, and pity.

She nodded, her mouth gone dry. “Does it make me less attractive inyoureyes?” She held her head high, her shoulders tightening, waiting for his answer.

His answer was a press of soft lips on her bare back. “No. To me you’re even more beautiful.”

Only then did she turn. Christian took her hand in his and drew her onto the bed. They lay down next to each other, their breaths short and sharp.

The simple contact of skin against skin had a stunning effect on her. Their erotic intimacy made Sarah whimper and want to press her full length against him.

Christian took her mouth and kissed her thoroughly, slanting his mouth over hers, thrusting his tongue in deep to meet hers, while leaving her in no doubt that he wanted her, scars and all. For the first time in her life, she felt desire sweep through her. The aching need for something she could not recognize rose to consume her. She broke away from the kiss and said in wonder, “Oh, Christian, I never knew it could be like this.”

He knelt above her and whispered, “There is so much more to pleasure. I’ll teach you everything.”

Sarah lifted herself up off the bed and kissed his lips in answer.

Christian gently pushed her back down. Resting on his arms above her, he took a few moments to drink in her beauty. She shivered under his gaze. Her honest and open vulnerability kindled a tender ache in his chest, while the rest of his body thrummed with desire.

He would not disappoint her.

Christian wanted her fully and utterly aroused. He kissed the smooth milky skin of her throat and ran his tongue along the delicate arch of her collarbone until his mouth found her sweet, ripe breasts. He teased her nipple, lapping as would a cat with cream, until she arched her back, keening. When his lips finally closed over her nipple, tugging and suckling it fully in his mouth, she gave a cry of surrender.

He moved further down the bed, kissing her stomach, his fingers trailing over her soft skin until he was positioned between her thighs.

He felt tension invade her limbs.

He crooned softly, “Relax, Sarah. I promise I won’t hurt you.” He looked up from between her thighs and saw a stab of fear in her eyes. “You’ll enjoy what I do next. But if you don’t, tell me and I’ll stop.” He reached and took her hand.

She curled her small fingers around his and, not even hesitating, simply nodded.

Sarah’s tension mounted when he didn’t immediately touch her. She could feel him sitting between her opened thighs, and she knew what he was looking at.

He was looking intimately at her. Peter liked to look in the same way as well. She swallowed back the bitter memories. He was not Peter.

“Perfect. You’re so very lovely.”

But her nerves came screaming back to life when his fingers finally stroked a path up her inner thigh. At first it was a light, teasing touch, sending wicked heat racing across her skin. But soon both his hands trailed up and down her splayed thighs, making her muscles clench. He kept touching her lightly until she felt her body respond further to his petting. Her limbs weakened and she felt herself sink further into the mattress.

“I love the way your body responds to mine.” The masculine sensuality of his voice diminished her embarrassment.

With one final stroke, his fingers reached the tangled nest of fair curls between her thighs, and she lifted her head in apprehension.

He admonished her. “Close your eyes, sweetheart,” he commanded. “Just relax and feel and accept the pleasure in my touch.”

One hand knowingly spread her thighs wider, while he ran one fingertip through the wet heat of her swollen inner lips, pressing against her cleft. Sarah gasped into the silent room but continued to allow his playful touch to roam over her feminine softness. Already her body recognized her need better than she herself did.

She could feel his fingers and hear the sound as he glided over flesh already swollen and slick with moisture. Her hips desperately wanted to move as he stroked, firmer and faster. Her body became tight once more, but not from nervous tension.

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