The Legend of a Rogue - Darcy Burke Page 0,31

he possessed, Tavish broke the kiss. “Elspeth, I should go.”

She didn’t release him. In fact, her grip tightened around his neck. “Don’t. Please. I want you to stay.”

“If I stay…” He stared down at her. “If I stay, I’m going to take you over to that bed.”

An exhalation of relief passed through her kiss-swollen lips. “Good.”

“Should we handfast, then?” he asked.

“What is handfasting but a promise to try to determine if we are suitable for marriage? I promise to expend every effort.”

Tavish couldn’t help but grin. “You are a singular woman, Elspeth. I promise to do the same. Starting right now.” He looked down at her ivory gown with its embroidered stomacher, assessing how to undress her.

Elspeth plucked the pins from her stomacher and took them to the table, where she set them down. Tavish joined her as she removed the stomacher and placed it atop the pins. Then she turned to him. “Better?”

“Slightly,” he said wryly.

She gave him an apologetic smile as she untied the front at her waist. “This is the one dress I own that requires help.”

“Why did you wear it here?”

“Because I wanted to impress you.” The statement was so simple, so honest, he couldn’t think of what to say. So he kissed her instead.

“You look beautiful.”

“Help me take it off,” she whispered.

He lifted the gown over her head and laid it over the back of one of the chairs. She was already untying the quilted petticoat, and a moment later, he swept that from her in the same fashion. After depositing it on the chair, he helped her remove the panniers, grateful they were a rather narrow variety and saying so.

“I am thankful I have no need for the wider kind.” She stopped and stared at him. “You’re a lord. If we are handfasted, will I need wider panniers?”

He laughed softly. “No.”

She smiled in relief as she began to unlace her stays.

Arrested by the sight of her in stays, shift, and stockings—she’d apparently removed her shoes earlier—it took a moment for Tavish to act. He took her hands and gently pushed them aside. Taking over the task of loosening her stays, he pulled at the laces, the sound of them coming free an erotic whisper in the air.

When he was finished, she turned. “You’ll need to loosen the back.” She swept her hair over her shoulder, giving him access.

Distracted by the pale column of her neck, he managed to coax his fingers to work, plucking at the laces until the stays were sufficiently loose. Then he gave in to temptation and pressed his lips to her nape. He kissed along her neck and shoulder, then down across the blade of her back until he met her spine. She shivered.

Gripping the stays, he pulled them over her head and dropped them to the floor. Her shift was made of a thick linen, likely because it was December. Thus, the fabric wasn’t sheer enough to see through it. No matter since she wasn’t going to wear it much longer. He picked her up, prompting a gasp from her as she put her arms around his neck.

It was a short walk to the bed—too short, for he loved holding her—where he set her on the edge. Intending to finish undressing her, he froze when she shook her head.

“Your turn. You’re wearing too many clothes.” She slid back on the bed and watched him as he undressed.

Tavish couldn’t remember a woman ever looking at him the way she did. He resisted the urge to strip everything away as quickly as possible since she seemed to be enjoying watching him. Instead, he went slowly until he was wearing just his shirt and breeches. “Should I keep going?”

“I think you must.” Her voice had darkened to a sensual rasp.

His body thrumming with desire, Tavish drew the shirt over his head and let it fall to the floor. She answered by removing her shift. He held his breath as each inch of her flesh was exposed.

Unable to help himself, he reached for her, his fingers gliding up her thigh and across her hip. Then up along her ribs until he met the swell of her breast. Her rose-hued nipples went taut as he cupped her. He leaned forward and put his mouth on her, taking his time to go slowly as he used his lips and tongue to caress her.

She closed her eyes and cast her head back with a soft moan. He withdrew long enough to remove his breeches, then moved