wicked smile curling his lips. “I actually need mine, darling.”
Her sex, already overstimulated, clenched at the word darling, the contraction sending exquisite ripples of pleasure through her body. Unlike Geoff, Jago was not the sort of man who threw such endearments around indiscriminately.
“Besides,” he said, his eyes dropping to where she was open and exposed to his hungry gaze. “I want to see every part of you.”
And then he lowered his mouth over her, bathing her in wet, soft, heat.
Benna groaned and spread her legs wider.
He chuckled against her sensitive skin and proceeded to make love to her with his tongue, teeth, and lips.
As he’d done with his earlier kisses, he teased and played and maddened her, pushing her slowly but inexorably toward the peak of pleasure. Only when she was shaking and begging did he shove her over the edge.
He thrust two fingers into her convulsing passage. “I can feel your pleasure,” he said, his lips slick and swollen, his expression wondrous.
Wave after wave of bliss washed over her, leaving her boneless and wrecked.
Benna was beginning to come back to herself when he whispered, “Just once more, for me, darling.” And then he lowered his mouth over her again.
After that, Benna briefly lost track of time, vaguely aware that she was babbling—her voice hoarse and desperate—her pleas filling the small room.
The last of the tremors had not yet died away when he kissed her sensitive peak and raised himself over her.
“Will you take me, Benna?”
She tilted her hips in answer and he lowered his body over hers, guiding himself to her entrance.
He entered her with a single, long thrust, his thick shaft filling and stretching her. “So good,” he whispered as her body accommodated his. He kissed her temple and then propped himself up on his forearms, smiling down at her, his eyes glowing with something more than lust. Affection? Joy?
“Are you ready?” he asked, flexing inside her.
“Please, Jago.”
He pulled out slowly, and then plunged back in, working her with deep, thorough thrusts, rubbing against her core with every stroke, taking his time and shoving her slowly, but inexorably, toward bliss.
Sweat beaded on his brow as he pounded into her, his eyes locked with hers. “Need to feel you come,” he said, his voice harsh with the effort of holding back, his hips drumming a brutal, relentless rhythm.
Benna tilted her pelvis and dug her heels into the bed, urging him deeper.
His control frayed a bit with each thrust, until his lips were curled into a feral snarl as he stared down at her, “Can’t—hold—much—aaargh!” His last word was a muffled roar and he slammed into her, hilting himself exquisitely deep. His body froze as his shaft thickened and swelled inside her, flooding her with warmth.
Benna’s mind exploded and her climax swallowed her whole. “Jago,” she gasped, holding him tightly enough to hurt, tears squeezing out of the corners of her eyes.
How had she ever believed that having him once was better than never having him at all?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cornwall
1817
Present Day
Benna woke to the feel of a warm body beside her.
Lost between sleep and wakefulness, it took her a long moment to recall where she was. But then she turned and saw the dark head on the mattress beside her.
Jago had carried her to the narrow bed after he’d woken from their lovemaking. The last thing Benna remembered was him kissing her and asking her if she was warm enough and comfortable. She must have been both because she’d instantly dropped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Outside it was full dark and the rain had slowed to a gentle patter. The wind had died and the storm appeared to have blown itself out.
Jago slept on, his beautiful face even more gorgeous in repose.
She considered waking him.
No doubt he would be eager to head back—back to the material world and away from this intimate fantasy for two.
Whatever decision he might make, Benna decided to let it wait a while longer.
Instead of waking him, she took the opportunity to gorge on his masculine beauty.
Like most people, his face was more relaxed and youthful looking in sleep. His full lips were slack and slightly parted and his night beard was dark against his pale skin.
As Benna looked at him it took her a moment to identify the emotion swelling inside her; she felt safe.
But it wasn’t only that. She’d felt safe with Geoff—at least at first, after he’d rescued her from a beating.
No, this was something more complex. Not only did she trust Jago, but,