Awaken to Pleasure - By Nalini Singh Page 0,39

this time around."

So serious, so solemn, like she was learning a lesson in school,Taylor's very innocence gave him the reins he needed to leash his escalating hunger. As a young man, he'd had very earthy appetites. He'd forcibly caged that part of his psyche for years, but when he'd seenTayloron that rainy night, it had shattered the chains and stretched awake. It had been gaining in power over the past week and tonight, he knew it would storm him. Before that happened, he needed to have her trust. Otherwise, he thought darkly, the strength of his passion could devastate her.

"I'm afraid of hurting you," he admitted. He ran the hand on her thigh up her side. Her skin was so smooth and silky that he just wanted to lay her down and indulge himself in her body. Tugging her hand off his shoulder, he pressed his palm against hers. "I'm so much bigger than you." Their differences were graphically illustrated by the way his hand dwarfed hers.

Eyes wide, she stared and then carefully intertwined her fingers through his. Pulling their clasped hands to her lips, she kissed his knuckles one by one, her lips velvety on his skin. The tenderness of the caress shook him. Biting sensual need was overlaid with a painfully soft emotion. No woman had ever touched him like that. As if she was afraid of hurting him.

"Cara."He released her hand and returned his to her curvy hip. "I want to give you only pleasure. Tell me what would pleasure you, my little wife."

"I'm not little." She glared and pushed her hands into his hair. "Well, only next to you."

"I'm the only one who matters." He kissed her once more, loving the taste of her. "What do you like?

This?" He moved his thumb on her thigh again.

"Yes." It was a whisper against his lips.

"This?" He reluctantly left her lips to press kisses along the tops of her breasts. He was careful to use only his mouth to caress her, aware that she had come to associate male hands on her breasts with pain.

"Oh, yes. Can you..."

He raised his head, the barbarian maleness within him scenting victory within his grasp. "Yes, piccola?"

Blushing, she shook her head. "No, it's okay."

"Tell me. I don't want to be a brute." He deliberately played up his helplessness. He was floundering, not wanting to scare her, but he also knew that for some reason he would never understand, his little wife was insanely protective of him.

"You're not!" She frowned at him, fingers digging into his flesh. "Don't you ever let anyone call youthat. "

He bit back his smile to nibble at her lips. "Tell me then. What would you like?"

She looked down and then back up. Her cheeks were pink. Dressed in strips of delicate black lace, she was sexy innocence personified. "I just wondered..."

"Yes." He cradled her nearer, pressing her against the heat of his body. The pressure of her full breasts on his chest pushed him one step closer to insanity.

She snuggled impossibly closer. "You know how I like to touch you?"

Did he know? He'd never been as aroused as he'd been last night. "Yes." It came out a rough growl.

"Um ... I thought since you liked it so much and I liked doing it ... I thought it might work in reverse."

Crazed with desire, it took him a few seconds to understand. He buried his face in her hair, trying to relearn to breathe. The scent of her twined around him, turning up the heat several degrees. He burned.

For her.

"No?" A faint whisper. "You wouldn't like that?"

Raising his head, he kissed her hard. "Like it? I feel like all my Christmases have come at once."

Her lips parted in surprise. "Why?"

He smiled, finding his footing again. "Because you're going to let me touch you." He stroked his hands to clasp her waist. "Kiss you." He pressed his lips against her jaw. "Fondle you." He ran one hand boldly to her breast and closed over it very, very gently, shocking a gasp out of her. "And do anything else I please." Grinning, he kicked off his shoes,then put her on the bed, lying down beside her, propped up on one elbow. "Can I touch you anywhere?"

Wide-eyed, she nodded. "It only seems fair."

Chuckling, he put one hand on her stomach. "Do you like everything I've done so far?"

Her immediate nod made him grin.

"What did you like best?" He leaned close, giving her the intimacy she needed to make her sensual requests.

She swallowed but