Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
The front door hadn’t even clicked shut when his lips captured hers. The searing frenzy made desire rip through her. This was still so new to her, but she wanted it. She wanted him.
There was a shuffling noise in the hall and she pulled herself back, looking around.
“It’s just Thistle,” Giles assured her.
Embarrassment made her skin prickle. “I didn’t realize we had an audience.”
Giles chuckled, not looking the least bit concerned. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Without asking permission, she extinguished all sources of light in his bedroom, even pulling the curtains shut.
He closed the door quietly, but there was no sound of footsteps coming toward her. “Are you sure you want this?” he asked, still standing by the door.
“Yes.” She felt her way around the bed and reached out until her hands landed against his chest. “I’m sure.”
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her in, his lips firm and demanding.
His tongue danced with hers for just a moment before sliding along her jaw to her ear.
“Darkness has its advantages.” He curled his fingers into her hair and pulled her head back.
She was completely at his mercy, but she was safe with him.
His tongue traced a meandering path from the hollow at her throat before dipping into her mouth. It was just a brief possession, but it left her utterly breathless as he moved on to her other ear. “Get those clothes off and I’ll show you just how much fun it can be.”
His hand was gone from her hair, and so was the rest of him as he slipped around her and disappeared into the darkness.
“I don’t hear any clothes rustling yet.”
She struggled to catch her breath. She reached around and opened her belt, followed quickly by her skirts. Her stomach quivered, her nerves heightened by not knowing where he was in the room. She stepped out of her skirts and started on the buttons of her blouse.
“Are you naked yet?” he asked from across the room.
She could hear her own nervousness in her laughter. “Are you?”
“As much as I’m going to be. Now turn around and I’ll help you with your laces.”
His hands were warm on her shoulders, and his lips even more so against her neck. The pressure of her corset eased, and he reached around to unhook it. But when his lips left her neck, she reached up to pull him back down, her fingers curling into his hair.
“I wasn’t done with that yet.” She surprised herself with the bold command. But his low purr vibrated against her skin. Clearly, he liked her brazenness.
“As you wish.” His teeth scraped gently over her neck before he bit her shoulder, sending a chill down her arm. “Where else would you like to make use of my mouth tonight?”
Dear Lord. His salacious words made warmth blossom between her thighs. “I very much liked what you did last night.” Her voice was weak with desire and her heart raced.
“Did you?”
She nodded urgently.
“And you want that again?”
“Yes, please.”
He chuckled against her neck as his hand claimed her breast. “So polite.” He squeezed her nipple, forcing a moan from her. “But I don’t want polite. Not in the bedroom. So this time, you’re going to take what you want. Get naked.”
He gave her backside a firm squeeze, and then he was gone. She heard the bedclothes as he threw them back and climbed onto the mattress. What did he mean, she was going to take what she wanted?
“I’m waiting,” he said from the bed.
Pushing aside her concerns, she quickly divested herself of her remaining clothes and walked to the side of the large bed. She climbed in and laid her head on his shoulder. How was it possible for him to be so warm and inviting?
“What do you think my mouth is going to do all the way down there?”
She pushed herself up and claimed his lips. He kissed her in return, but otherwise, just laid there on his back.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” she admitted.
“Anything you want my mouth on, you’re going to have to present to me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Do you want me to lick your nipples?”
“Yes,” she said desperately.
“Then bring them to me.”
Feeling a bit shy, she climbed slowly up until her breast was over his mouth. His tongue flicked over it, sending a bolt of need straight to her core. The pleasure from each pass of his tongue made her twitch, and she struggled to hold herself up.
He turned his head to reach the other one and she called out as desperate desire pooled between her thighs.
“Don’t you want to feel my mouth other places?” He flicked over her nipple again.
“Yes. I do.”
“Between your legs?” He drew her nipple into his mouth, making need throb in that very place.
She nodded eagerly. “So much.”
“Then bring it to me.”
“I don’t…” She didn’t even know what to say, let alone how to do what he was asking.
“Timidity doesn’t suit you. Climb on up here and straddle me.”
Her breath left her in a whoosh.
“Unless you’ve turned bashful and would rather we just go to sleep.”
“You,” she said, swatting his chest. Sleep was definitely not what she wanted. She pushed up onto her knees beside him. “Show me what to do. I don’t want to hurt you.”
He chuckled. “You’re not going to hurt me. One knee on either side of my head.”
The image that his words conjured pushed her into action. She stood over him. “Which way am I supposed to be?”
He reached up and wrapped his hands around her waist. “I’ll help you. Just kneel. Slide your feet under my shoulders, just like that, and hold onto the headboard.”
She knelt above him. This couldn’t be right. But then his tongue flicked over her, ripping a moan from her throat. The pleasure vanquished her reticence.
“Don’t make me reach for it.” He licked her again, sending another bolt of pleasure through her. “Sit down.”
“Sit down? I’ll crush you.”
“Then I’ll die a happy man. Show me how much you want it, Christina.”
She did want it. She pushed her knees apart, lowering herself onto his waiting mouth, and was met with sheer ecstasy. He groaned, as if he’d also been desperate for it. She gripped the headboard as a storm of pleasure careened through her. How was this even real?
Every inch of her hummed with sensation.
Nothing had ever felt so incredible, and his obvious enthusiasm dispersed any lingering reluctance.
A shiver raced through her body, quickly turning into shaking as she neared her impending release.
When he found just the right spot, its sudden arrival was violent, triggering an involuntary scream.
And another with its second wave. It was amazing.
He was amazing. Slowly, the gale calmed, but she still trembled.
His hands were around her waist, once more, helping her to move back and sit on his chest. His thumbs rubbed gently against her stomach.
Ordinarily, that probably would have tickled, but perhaps her body wasn’t capable of feeling that after such an explosion of sensation.
Her breathing was labored, and she still gripped the headboard.
“Are you ready to lie down now?”
She nodded, but wasn’t entirely sure how.
“Let me help you, sweetheart. Let go of the headboard, I’ve got you.”
Somehow, she was soon stretched out beside him, his warm chest against her back, and his arms holding her tight. He even managed to pull the blanket up to tuck around them.
“What about the rest of it?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“Greedy little thing, aren’t you?”
“I was thinking of you, actually. I am more satisfied than I ever knew was possible.”
“Then it would be a shame to ruin it with something that might hurt you.”
“But—”
“Shhh. Your body is exquisite, and I am thoroughly looking forward to being inside it again. But I will survive a night without it so that you can recover.”
She snuggled back against him, and that’s when she realized only his chest was bare. This whole thing had been solely for the purpose of bringing her pleasure.
“If you’re not careful, Mr. Henderson, I might just fall in love with you.”
Christina’s words lingered long after she’d drifted off. So powerful, they seemed to fill not only his head, but the entire room. What if she did fall in love with him? What if he fell in love with her? What if he already had? That couldn’t happen so quickly, could it?
She was incredible. He knew that much was true. And he certainly no longer regretted marrying her.
Eventually, he did sleep for an hour or two, during which, she must have crept out and donned a nightgown.
For some reason, she didn’t want him to see her body.
Did she still not trust him? Even after all they’d done?
He rolled his eyes at the thought. A few nights of intimacy couldn’t possibly make up for all the ways he’d wronged her.
She just needed more time. And in the meantime, he would savor everything she was willing to share with him.
Their train ride passed mostly in silence.
A few times, pink tinged her cheeks when he looked at her, and he could guess where her mind had gone.
He’d also been replaying the night’s events in his head.
He was only disappointed he hadn’t been able to see them.
But perhaps it wasn’t all bad. Not being able to see seemed to heighten the rest of his senses.
He could still imagine her delectable flavor and aroma.
He’d felt each twitch of her pleasure against his tongue.
He’d enjoyed it so much, in fact, if he could, he’d do it again, right here on the train.
He shook himself. She was watching him, and her green eyes sparkled with hunger.
“Tonight,” he promised. No other explanation was necessary.
It was strange how quickly he’d gone from despising her to needing her.
And it wasn’t just about the sex. He liked her fire.
Liked that she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him and put him in his place.
She made him want to be better. Be something she could be proud of.
But first, he had to face his cousin, which had every potential to be humiliating and painful. Especially after his last visit.