Introducing Miss Joanna (Once a Wallflower #2) - Maggi Andersen Page 0,73

covers. A large warm body lay against hers, and a broad hand settled on her hip. “The only one you must contend with tonight, Jo, is me.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “And I will be gentle.”

The mere glimpse of his naked body made her yearn to lift the covers. But Reade distracted her by untying the ribbons at her throat. He drew the silk away, and murmuring her name, gathered her to him. His masculine aroma teased at her. With her breasts crushed against his body, all satiny skin, sinew, muscle, and bone, her anxiety faded away. This was Reade, her husband, and she loved him. Her arms went around his neck to draw his face down to hers.

“You’re lovely, Jo.”

His mouth sought and demanded a response, kissing, nibbling, and lightly biting her lips. With a low, deep sound in his throat, his tongue teased her lips apart and thrust deep into the cavern of her mouth. Shocked at the intimacy, Jo moaned as a throb of yearning began low in her belly. He tasted of sweet champagne. Reade threw off the covers.

She barely noticed when her nightgown landed on the floor.

“You’re beautiful, Jo.”

He was magnificent. She had to touch him, running her hands over warm skin as muscles rippled across his back and arms. His proud member pressed against her stomach, and his long legs tangled with hers.

Reade teased, tantalized, and aroused her, circling the crest of a nipple and drawing it into his mouth. He ravished her with his mouth, nibbling, licking, finding places on her body Jo hadn’t known were so sensitive or arousing. His hand slid between her thighs, and he slipped a finger inside her.

“Oh!” He gently circled that sensitive part of her, and an urgent need made her oddly restless. On fire with longing, she murmured and clutched his head as he moved down to kiss her belly.

When his mouth replaced his fingers, Jo threw her head back and gasped. She arched against him restlessly, not knowing what she craved, but wanting more.

Reade moved up to join her on the pillows, his hand cupping her sex. Embarrassed at how wet she’d become, she turned her face away.

“Look at me, Jo,” he rasped.

Jo turned to gaze into his eyes, which were dark with passion. He parted her legs and shifted over her. His hands on her hips, he raised her to meet him, and she felt him, heavy and blunt at her entrance. He pushed slowly inside. “God, Jo, I love you.” he murmured.

One thrust, and he pushed deeper. Jo whimpered at the spark of pain.

The discomfort lessened as he moved. A sense of being one with him possessed her, and as he moved inside her, an urgent need gathered low in her stomach. She pressed kisses on the smooth skin of his neck and shoulder, her fingers stroking over his broad back. The sweet pain made her moan. She abandoned herself to pleasure. “Please,” she murmured, although she knew not what she wanted. She locked her legs around him and moved to meet each thrust.

With a groan, his thrusts quickened and carried her along, then caught her up in a rolling explosion of feeling which grew in intensity until she almost couldn’t bear it. She cried out his name.

A final groan and a rush of warmth inside her. He stilled, breathing heavily.

Panting, Jo sank back, loose, and floaty. She lost all sense of herself. When she opened her eyes, he smiled down at her.

She gave him a wobbly smile and licked her swollen lips, dismayed that tears had gathered at the corners of her eyes.

He eased himself off her and to the side and reached across to wipe away a tear. “Did I hurt you, sweetheart? It won’t hurt again, I promise.”

“Only a little, but Gareth, I loved it, I love you.”

He leaned on an elbow, a tender expression in his eyes. “I like to hear you say my name.”

“Gareth,” she said again. “It suits you.”

A wry smile raised his lips. “I wish I could tell my mother you approve of it. She chose it from among the family names.”

“Will you tell me about your mother?”

A shadow crossed his eyes. “I will soon,” he promised. “Not tonight, darling. You need to sleep.”

“Yes, I think I will.” Her breath and the pounding of her heart had slowed. Her bones seemed heavy. Lying beside his warm side, she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

Reade woke early after a surprisingly deep, peaceful sleep and marveled