skin against hers. She wanted to give herself freely and completely to the man she loved. Joyfully, she threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking him back, and kissed him as if her life depended upon it.
Aidan laughed, falling onto the bed and rolling her with him. The time for words was past. His hands skillfully untied her garters and pushed her stockings down her legs. She curled her toes, letting her shoes drop softly to the floor.
His lips left hers. She objected, but her indignation turned to a happy sigh when his mouth closed over her nipple.
Anne practically jumped off the bed as he drew it into his mouth. The pull of his mouth on her breast did strange things deep inside to the woman’s part of her. It raised a need…and a knowing, both as old as time.
His hands slid up the inside of her thighs and he touched her in the most intimate place of all, mimicking the movement of his tongue. Anne was lost, captured in a haze of driving, spiraling emotion she’d never known before.
“Aidan, what are you doing to me?”
He lifted his head and grinned, his eyes so blue they took her breath away. “Loving you.”
She held out her arms. “Please, be with me.”
Aidan undressed himself down to his breeches. He made quick work of it and had no trouble removing his boots. His muscular body was a work of art in the late afternoon light.
Reaching up, she ran her hand down his chest, marveling at the flat planes and hard surfaces.
Her dress was around her waist. Laughing, he drew it over her head and tossed it aside. She was naked.
For a moment, Anne moved as if to cover herself, but his hands on her shoulders steadied her. His expression intent, he combed her hair with his fingers until it curled down around her shoulders, the ends almost touching her breasts.
“I’ve pictured you like this,” he said. “It is how I want to remember you.”
His words reminded her of where they were, what could happen to them, but before she could respond to fear, he stood, one knee on the bed, the other foot on the floor. “Unbutton me, Anne. Show me you want this as much as I do.”
Her anxiety disappeared, replaced by startled bemusement. He expected her to be a willing participant. She’d assumed a woman’s body was nothing more than a vessel for a man to do whatever it was he wished.
This was new. This was exciting.
She scooted to the edge of the bed. Her fingers trembled as she unfastened the first button. She could feel the length of him beneath the fabric. She slipped another button from its hole and another.
His fingers brushed her hair as she worked. At last, she’d freed the last button. “Take it out, Anne,” he said, a hint of laughter in his voice.
“It?” she asked, uncertain. The other night she had discreetly averted her eyes from this very male part of him. She wasn’t anxious to touch it.
“Oh, it is a bold and hungry creature.”
“You’re teasing me. I’ve heard it described as a stick. Sticks aren’t bold.”
He laughed with genuine amusement. “More a staff than a mere twig. Go along, Anne. See for yourself.”
She met his challenge, pushing his breeches down, and drew a sharp breath. “Oh dear.” It wasn’t what she’d expected…and yet it was more than she’d imagined.
“Touch me.”
“I don’t know.”
His hand took hers. “You liked it when I touched you?”
“Yes.”
“Then return the love, sweetheart. Feel me.” He placed her hand on him and she was taken aback at how soft and smooth he was. But hard, strong. She ran the back of her fingers along velvet skin and he almost purred with appreciation.
She lifted her gaze. “You like—?”
Aidan kissed her, pressing her back on the bed, suddenly very serious, very focused. He shoved the covers aside and leaned forward, pushing her to the mattress. The sheets were cool against her skin. He climbed on top of her, his lips not leaving hers, his skin rough and smooth against hers.
Her body understood better than her mind what the next step would be. Her legs opened to cradle him against her.
He kissed the line of her neck. His hands molded her to him. His whispered words of praise and encouragement that like an elixir robbed her of all will save his.
Anne forgot where she was or even who she was. The world ceased to exist beyond the bedroom doors, beyond the boundaries of