her ribs, mapping her shape, needing to feel her. Wanting so much more.
She sighed as he touched her breast, cupping the full, lush weight in his palm. His lips moved to her neck, kissing the silken flesh. Her soft sighs urged him on. The other hand gripped a handful of her skirts, raising them so he could cup her thigh. The skin was warm beneath her stockings. He craved to feel her flesh.
He moved higher to the crease of her thigh, and he felt her then. The silken perfection. The hitch in her breath had him stopping.
“Christ, what am I doing?” He didn’t release her, instead holding her in his arms. Pressing her head to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want you to be sorry. I wanted this, Daniel. Still want it.”
“No, please don’t say that. There can be nothing between us. Your family would never allow it, as they shouldn’t.” Daniel released her, urging her back a few feet away from his tight, hard body, but she simply stepped closer once more.
“Why do you keep saying that? You’re an intelligent man and worthy of any woman. Birth plays no part in that.”
Her cheeks were flushed and her lips pink. He knew what her body felt like now, and that had been a mistake.
“This is not about me, it’s about you.” He hadn’t meant to growl the words, but they came out that way.
“And I have no say in this? No dictate as to who I want to spend my life with?”
“Y-you don’t want to spend your life with me. I am not—”
“If you say you are not good enough for me, Daniel, I will be extremely angry.” She was removing her shawl now. “Yes, my brother is an earl, but that makes him no better than you—”
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Taking off my shawl and then unbuttoning my dress.”
“No! Dear Christ.” Her fingers were forcing buttons through holes, and he could see the pale skin of her chest beneath. She didn’t stop until the last button was open, then stood there looking at him with the fine lawn of her chemise exposed.
“What do you want from me?” He moved closer even as he called himself every kind of fool. His eyes devoured what she’d uncovered and could see the frantic rise and fall of her chest. She was nervous, and yet still she had done this because she wanted him as he did her.
“Abby,” he cupped her cheeks, “surely you see this would change everything.” He kissed her softly, just a brush of his lips over hers.
“D-don’t you want this, Daniel?” The thought had her stepping back this time, her hands going to the buttons.
“You are not seriously asking me that?” He followed, sliding a hand around her waist, he pressed her to his hard body. “Feel what you do to me. I’ve never wanted a woman more.”
He took her lips in a slow kiss, teasing, urging her mouth open, and then he plundered. Yes, she was innocent, and yes, he had to find the strength to not take this too far, and yet he could no longer deny that he wanted her more than his next breath.
Daniel lost all reason, and simply felt.
“Oh, I’ve never felt this way,” she sighed as his lips kissed above the bodice of her chemise. He found the satin ribbon and tugged it open, exposing the swell of her breasts.
“You’re beautiful.” His eyes traced the pale skin. Unable to stop, he lowered his head and licked a slope. The breath caught in her throat as he circled a nipple.
Sliding her skirts higher, he moved closer, brushing the soft curls that hid her secrets.
“Sssh,” he whispered as she tensed. “Let me make you feel better, Abby.”
He touched her, stroking his fingers over the soft, damp folds between her thighs.
“Oh, Daniel.” The breath caught as he touched the hard little nubbin, stroking it as he kissed her breasts. He knew what she was feeling, and when she was close to her climax, only then did he ease a finger inside her. She shuddered beneath his hands. He caught her cries with his kiss until the last shudder shook her body.
She slumped against him, his arms holding her up.
“Th-that was quite wonderful.”
“Yes, it was.” He kissed the top of her head and tried not to focus on the pain he was in. “And now you must go to bed.”
Her hand went between them to touch the front of his breeches. He gripped her wrist, walking her back