Chapter Fifteen
Xander shifted on the bench, breathing hard. His hands wrapped around the front edge of the seat to stop himself from grabbing Evie and laying her out to pound her. If he thought too hard about what she wanted, he wouldn’t need any help to explode in passion.
Plenty of pub patrons and even one or two of his employees had propositioned him, but Evie’s genuine curiosity and interest in giving him pleasure, not using him for her own, was the most arousing thing he’d ever heard.
Swallowing, he tried again to be a gentleman—something he’d been before that term had been associated with his title. “’Tis unnecessary. And frankly, not wise.”
She pouted; her expression was easy to read in the light shining out of the house windows over his shoulder. “That isn’t fair.”
He stifled a smile; he couldn’t disagree. But his mother had raised him to respect women, no matter their station. “I know. But you must know life isn’t fair. Aren’t you the one teaching me how to protect the working people from the ogres of the aristocracy?”
Evie dropped her head.
“Besides, I doubt I could teach you for more than a minute before, er, coming undone.”
Her face rose, a wicked grin on her lips. “Oh? I should like to see that.” She trailed fingers up his arm. “If you will na’ show me, I shall have to guess. And perhaps do what I want, rather than what you might like. It can be an…experiment.”
Her forefinger landed at the base of his throat, nestling there for a moment before she swept her hand up into his hair, gripping it to turn him toward the light. Releasing him momentarily, she scrambled up to kneel on the bench and reached for his shirt.
For someone who had seemed unfamiliar with kissing only days ago, she was a quick study and bold to boot.
Dissuading her would be the right course of action, but her fearless approach had his blood surging away from his brain.
Devilish thoughts shoved all gentlemanly teachings out of his head.
He swallowed and remained still, somehow justifying this interlude by the fact that he wasn’t initiating.
Too, he daren’t move for fear of clawing at her clothes as she was with his.
She tugged at his shirt, sliding it up and over his head. It floated to the ground in his peripheral vision as she sat back on her heels and stared. “Oh my.”
He raised his brows then realized she could not see the implied question. “What?”
“You’re so broad. Somehow bigger without clothes on, although one would expect them to add volume. And muscular. And slightly furry.” Her hand petted his chest hair. “And warm.”
A moan rumbled in his throat as her fingers left a trail of fire on his skin. His nipples had hardened even before she brushed over them. She came back to toy with them, and he couldn’t contain his gasp.
“You like that. I suppose it makes sense. I certainly loved when you—” She leaned forward and licked, and he nearly came off the bench. “Mmm. A tad salty, perhaps from our dancing exertions, but delicious.”
If she wanted salty, he could give her lots to taste. He gripped his cock through his clothing, unable to observe the niceties any longer. It was either grab himself in a woman’s presence or make a mess of his trousers. As it was, his cock spurted pre-cum at her eager touch and words.
“I need more,” Evie said, nearly undoing him further.
Hellfire, that was his favorite word on her lips. He rasped, “More what?”
“More skin.” Her hands were already roaming his back, kneading his muscles as though testing them.
She skimmed her hand across his waistline, teasing her finger between his trousers and his skin.
He’d caught her ogling his bottom more than once and he guessed she wanted to touch him, just as he’d love to grip hers as he feasted on her again.
She asked, “Would you prefer to move inside? Last chance, or I am undressing you here.”
He gulped. Of course, she’d never be able to undress him unless he allowed it, given their relative sizes, but having her warn him thus was almost his undoing.
He didn’t care about the rough surface or chill.
Hell, he’d had sex in all sorts of strange places.
The wine cellar of the pub, the stables, even over a keg once, although that last was his partner, not him.
They’d had to check for splinters after.
Evie was done waiting. Shoving his shoulders to lean him back, she unbuttoned his falls and yanked at the trousers.
Afraid she would catch his cock in the fabric, he helped. Toeing off his low boots, he shucked his trousers and smallclothes, giving in to the inevitable. Just this once, he’d relax and enjoy. After all, he’d tried to do the right thing. The aggressive little maid wasn’t having it.
In one swoop, she moved his tankard to the ground, laid him down, and straddled one of his legs, half kneeling, half standing over him to reach everything.
“Xander.” Her whisper was full of awe. “You are amazing. Not beautiful; you’re far too masculine for that word. Wondrous.”
Her innocence beguiled him; it was easy to forget she’d likely never seen a naked man before.
And—he glanced down—she could see all of him clearly now his shoulders weren’t blocking the house lights.
He needed to tread carefully here. Normally, he’d be guiding her head to his cock already.
Instead, he laced his hands behind his head to allow her to go at her own pace.
She ran her hands over him, settling them on his chest. Leaning down, she followed the same path with her mouth.
The moisture from her lips caught the night air, and he shivered at the contrast of heat from her touch and cold from the breeze. His biceps bulged with the strain of not reaching for her.
That drew her attention, and she skimmed her teeth along his arm muscles, drawing a groan out of him.
Her hip came to rest on his cock, and her upper thigh nestled against his bollocks as she leaned closer.
“Do you know what happens between a man and a woman, Evie?” he managed to ask.
“I have an idea. My cousin filled in the blanks Mama wasn’t comfortable sharing.” She pulled back and gestured to where most of his blood seemed to be collecting. “That goes inside me, and your seed can cause a…delicate condition.”
Despite her odd phrasing, the “your seed” made his cock jump and seep, and he blinked his eyes closed for a long moment before refocusing on her.
Blazes. She was staring at his member.
“Yes. And as you witnessed, it moves of its own accord sometimes as my pleasure builds. When I’m very aroused, my seed leaks out, both in eagerness and to help lubricate my path when I come inside you.”
Gah, the pronouns, speaking as though the two of them were actually going to have intercourse, was going to make him blow his load straight up in the air.
He gritted out, “I wanted to warn you so you would not soil your dress.”
She dragged her gaze away from his most eager part and cocked her head. “You’re even thoughtful when you’re in the midst of passion. You are the sweetest man.”
That might kill his erection. He knew she meant well, but who wanted to be called sweet, especially at a moment such as this?