Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
That evening, Trent watched in awe as Ash played the piano for them in the ballroom.
A group of servants stood at the back, enjoying the performance, as well.
He was even more talented than Trent realized.
As he played, he seemed to lose himself in the music, closing his eyes, his body moving with the ebbs and flows.
That was how he had survived all those years of horror.
Music. Probably a more acceptable outlet than punching things, but Trent had never had access to something as extravagant as a piano.
After dinner, they all squeezed into Maggie’s room for story time.
Not that it was actually a tight fit. Even her room was larger than any Trent had ever seen before coming here.
Ash was the only one not wearing nightclothes.
It was hard to imagine his brother in something as casual as pajamas.
Ash read a story, and Trent two, before Maggie finally drifted off and they could all sneak out.
He stopped at Samantha’s door to wish her a good night. He needed to go down for backgammon, at least for appearance’s sake. But he had every intention of returning to her bed.
“I’m going to take over your game tonight. I hope you won’t mind.” Ash clapped him on the shoulder. “Good night to you both.” With a polite nod, he continued down the corridor.
Samantha watched him go before looking up at Trent. “Did he just give you his permission to come to my room?”
Trent shrugged. “Perhaps, but the only permission I care about is yours.”
She smiled before opening the door, taking his hand, and pulling him inside. He pushed it closed and leaned against it. “How would you feel about keeping the lamps on for a while so that I might enjoy the view?”
“I don’t mind if we leave the lamps on, but I think perhaps we need to talk.”
He shook his head. She wanted to try again to convince him that he shouldn’t marry her. He took her hand and drew her in for a kiss. She didn’t resist.
When they were both breathless, he pulled back.
“We’ll talk after. I’ve been fantasizing about this lesson all day long.
” He reached for the tie at her neck and opened it, followed by the next one down, and the next.
“It’s like unwrapping a gift.” But then he stopped.
“Unless this isn’t something you desire. ”
She huffed. “I want it desperately.”
A low growl vibrated in his throat, and he pushed the garment off her shoulders. He rolled his eyes at the repeating layer beneath. “I don’t know why there has to be a nightgown and a wrapper, when they both cover you from your chin to your toes. A bloody nuisance, if you ask me.”
“Well, if it’s not worth the effort to see what’s beneath….” She had the audacity to shrug.
“You.” He pulled her in for a kiss, reaching his arms around her to squeeze her backside. Her resulting groan filled his mouth. “Do you like that?”
“I’d like it more if it was skin on skin.”
“Done.” He reached down and pulled her nightgown to her waist, his hands returning to her backside. “Better?” Dear God. It was certainly better for him. Her bottom was soft and smooth and perfect.
“So much better. But you’re going to have to open these buttons if you want the nightgown to go over my head.”
“Is that an invitation?”
“I suppose it is, although I’m quite enjoying this for the moment.” She moaned as he massaged her luscious backside.
He reclaimed her lips, pulling her tightly against him. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He licked along her jaw and around the shell of her ear. Her eyes were dazed with desire when she pulled back from him.
“Trent Gibson, I think you might be a liar.”
“A liar?” He was startled by the accusation, but she was still smiling.
“You’re far too good at this to be a virgin.”
He laughed with relief. “Well, if I do happen to be any good at this, it’s only because I want you. So much. Will you allow me to explore tonight? I want to taste every inch of your body.”
Her eyes grew wide, but she nodded.
“Good, let’s get this off, then.” He started on the buttons at her throat.
“This first,” she said, tugging at his pajama top.
He didn’t argue. He did want to feel her skin against his again. After his shirt, he pulled her nightgown over her head. Lord, she was beautiful. The lamplight highlighted every curve. There was a sprinkling of freckles over her creamy skin, and her blushing nipples reached for him.
He kissed a single freckle on her left breast. “I'm going to make it my mission to kiss every freckle on your body tonight.”
“I have a lot of freckles. That could take all night.”
He pressed a kiss over a group of them on her shoulder. “Do you have somewhere else to be?”
“Definitely not.”
“I’ll try not to get too distracted.” He flicked his tongue over her nipple, and she sucked in a breath. “But perhaps you should lie down and get comfortable, just in case.”
He folded back the blankets, and she climbed onto the bed, lying on her stomach. She looked over her shoulder. “You did say my whole body.” Then she giggled and moved to turn over, but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
“I did say that.” The sight of her naked body, laid out for his perusal, had his manhood straining against his pajamas.
“And I meant it.” Her skin was smooth and supple as he dragged a finger down her back and over her bottom.
“I think I could spend an entire evening just staring at that backside of yours.” With his finger, he jiggled the flesh, and she laughed.
Carefully, he climbed onto the bed and lifted one leg over to straddle her.
“Is this alright? I think it’s going to be the most efficient position for me to be able to see”—he leaned down and pressed his lips against her shoulder—“and kiss, every, single, freckle.” He accented each word with another kiss.
“It seems like the most logical approach.” She sighed as he traced his tongue over her shoulder blade.
Her arms were up, supporting her head, and the sides of her breasts were pressed out by the weight of her body.
She groaned as he licked her there. “You are so incredibly soft. I’m sorry my hands aren’t smooth like a gentleman’s. ”
“I like your hands. The roughness shows that you’re not afraid to work hard. It means you’re strong enough to carry me when I need it.”
“But what about when they rub over your skin?” He shifted lower and slowly dragged both hands all the way down her back to settle on her bottom. Goosebumps rose on her skin.
“It sends chills through my body.”
Now that he was closer, he could see faded scars on her bottom. He pushed down his anger and his questions. He would not allow it to seep into this incredible experience. Instead, he pressed his lips gently against one of them.
“Do I have freckles there?”
He chuckled. “I may have lost track of the freckles. Does it bring you pleasure when I kiss you here?” He placed an open-mouthed kiss to the other side of her bottom.
She groaned and looked at him over her shoulder. “Do you really not know what you’re doing to me? Perhaps you should give me a chance to do these things to your body so you’ll know.”
“Not tonight. I’ll just have to imagine it for now.” He pressed a kiss against the back of one of her thighs. “You don’t have very many freckles down here.” He pushed himself up on his knees. “Why don’t you turn over so I can explore the other side?”
As she rolled, she moved her feet to the outside of his legs, spreading herself open for him. Dear God. He’d never actually seen that part of a woman. Not like this, at least. He closed his eyes and pulled himself together. Freckles. He was supposed to be kissing her freckles.
“Did I just hear you say freckles?”
He laughed, embarrassment warming his cheeks. “Probably. I didn’t mean to say it aloud. I was just trying to remind myself of the task at hand. The sight that you’ve presented me with is quite distracting.”
A coy smile turned up her lips. “Is this something new for you?”
He nodded. “You must think I’m pathetic. A grown man who’s never seen a woman’s body and has no idea what he’s doing.”
“Actually, I find it endearing, and knowing that I get to be your first, that my body is the one you’ll be learning from, entices me in unexpected ways.
It makes me eager for every touch. In some ways, this is new for me too.
I’ve never had someone cherish my body. The freckles will still be there tomorrow, and you can pick up where you’ve left off.
Why don’t you come closer so you can have a proper look? ” She spread her legs wider for him.
Slowly and carefully, he lowered himself down and laid his head on her thigh. He held his hand up for her. “Show me where I was touching you last night.”
She guided his fingers to the little nub at the top of her sex. It was hot and glistened with wetness, allowing his fingers to slide over her. She groaned appreciatively, but took her hand away, allowing him to continue on his own. He trailed his finger down lower, to what must be her entrance.
“Is this where I’ll go?”
“Yes. With your finger, you can feel what the inside is like.”
That sounded inviting, but he shook his head. “My fingers are rough. Remember?” What he wanted was to taste her. Her fragrance was incredible. “May I kiss you here?” He touched the place that seemed to bring her pleasure.
“I don’t… No one has ever…”
He didn’t wait for her to finish. With his tongue, he licked over her nub.
“Oh!” The word seemed to be dragged from her throat.