from urging him on. She was tense and on edge, her toes digging into the ground.
“So soft,” he whispered. “So wet.” His thumb dipped deeper, sliding easily. She was wet, and her skin prickled all over as he stroked her, lightly, slowly, barely enough to keep her from bursting out in frustration.
“You look like a goddess tonight.” His voice was a drug, more potent than wine. His words made her muscles tighten and a pulse of desire almost made her fall over. “Dark and beautiful . . . bold and wanting . . . mistress of the night in black satin and pearls.”
“So—so you aren’t as struck by me every other day?” she managed to gasp.
He laughed, deep and knowing. “I want you when you wear that old blue dress with scorch marks on the skirt, with alum on your sleeve and ink on your fingers. When you’ve got that little crease between your brows that you get when you’re working on a troublesome glaze. I would want you in a nun’s habit or a milkmaid’s apron. It’s you, not the dress.”
“Good.” Her voice had gone raspy. “It’s Lady Carswell’s dress, I have to give it back . . .”
“Then I should make the most of this chance.” He rose up on his knees, his hand still moving beneath her skirts, tormenting her, and touched his lips to the swell of her breast. Bianca let her head fall back, unabashedly letting him kiss her there. The bench was a low one, and his mouth was right at the level of her breasts, and his kiss was so enthrallingly soft . . .
“Breathe,” he whispered, and she realized she’d stopped. With a gasp she filled her lungs, and he hooked one finger inside the bodice and tugged, exposing her nipple. He made a low, primal noise of pleasure in his throat, and sucked it between his teeth, his palm spread on her back to hold her in place.
She whimpered. He pushed a long finger inside her. Her whole body clenched around it, and this time he was the one who moaned. He withdrew it, then pushed back inside, sliding his thumb back into position and stroking harder.
The sudden sounds of laughter almost made her faint in fright. “Max,” she wheezed, groping for his arm. “Stop!”
His dark eyes gleamed at her. With his free hand he pulled the hood of his domino over his head and ducked down, his face in her lap. Bianca’s panicked gaze jumped over his figure, and she realized his cloak blended into the black of her gown to render him invisible, at least in the weak moonlight.
But he didn’t withdraw his hand. On the contrary, she felt his lips on her inner thigh.
Bianca sat bolt upright, holding the edge of the bench in a death grip.
A couple came down the walk, arm in arm and laughing. From their staggering steps, Bianca guessed they were quite drunk. The man saw her, muttered a good-natured curse, and raised one hand. The woman ducked her head into his shoulder, giggling, and they stumbled away, veering into the trees.
Max’s mouth was at the crease at the top of her thigh. His tongue swirled over her skin.
“They’ve gone,” she panted even as her knees closed around him.
He pulled her closer, until she was almost falling off the bench, and she felt the heat of his breath on her throbbing center. And then it was his mouth, his tongue, flicking hard and wet over her.
All thought of being silent and discreet fled her mind. She raised her hips, astonished at herself, at Max, at the brazen, reckless way they were both behaving. He might be used to it, but she was not, and yet it was her own voice, whispering frantic encouragement as he drove his fingers inside her and his mouth suckled, deep and hard pulls that made her shake.
He flung back his cloak and raised his head. His mouth gleamed in the moonlight. “Come for me,” he said gutturally, gripping the small of her back while his fingers thrust deep inside her and his thumb teased her beyond all bearing.
She bit her lips to keep from screaming. Tears sprang into her eyes. With both hands she squeezed his wrist until her fingers went numb, and then she came.
She knew what it was; Marslip wasn’t devoid of naughty books, and she had plenty of married cousins. In smug whispers and blushing detail, they had told her and Cathy what to expect in