Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
At first, Eric thought one of the servants had carelessly left a lantern burning in the library.
Although irresponsible, it was a godsend since he’d navigated the manor in the dark.
Halls were one thing, but he couldn’t discern one book title from another without light.
It had been short-sighted not to carry one with him, but his mind had been on other things.
Juliet Coldpepper’s lust-filled stares for one. Her soft lips for another.
After grabbing the abandoned lantern, he had climbed the ladder searching for The Secret Life of Gentlemen.
Unfortunately, the book wasn’t where he’d left it.
Since he could use a few lessons on satisfying a woman, he’d been slightly disappointed.
However, he’d shrugged it off. His short relationship with Caroline Bisoff had provided him a foundation.
From there, his instincts would be his guide as he took cues from Juliet.
He’d been about to descend the ladder when, thanks to his heightened senses, he detected the faint sound of stilted breathing. Knight Roamer had keen hearing, after all. Luckily, he was also skilled at moving in the dark without making a sound.
He’d studied the room, deducing the nervous breather was beneath the desk.
It occurred to him that it might be Juliet if she had returned for the book.
If so, the two of them were alone. At night.
While the rest of the household slept. The devil take him, but he’d wanted to kiss her.
He’d shone the light in the dark corners, searching for her too-small slippers to no avail.
There was always a chance it was a servant hiding, he’d decided. Then, he’d allowed his jaded thoughts to run rampant, imagining someone nefarious breaking into the house, intending to harm the inhabitants. But that scenario was even less likely than it being the woman he desired.
He’d moved stealthily, adjusting his weight to keep the ladder from creaking. With a few rungs left, he’d dropped to the ground, landing in a low stance. He’d remained in his crouched position, trying to decide what to do.
He'd decided that if his unknown visitor happened to be a servant searching for a book, he’d not say a word. On the other hand, he’d knock out a marauder, tie them up, and deliver them to the closest jail.
But if it was Juliet…bloody hell! The possibilities were endless, and the consequences could be life-changing. The smart thing would be to ignore his need and wish her a good night. But this wasn’t what he wanted.
He desired to kiss her, strip her naked, explore her body, then sink himself deep. And the thing is, he had reminded himself, if she has the book, it means she is as curious about these things as you are.
His body had heated, and the wind had been knocked from his lungs. In seconds flat, his lust-infused cock banged against his trousers.
As he’d crept closer to the desk, he’d inhaled Juliet’s spring-kissed scent.
Knowing it was indeed her did nothing to calm his out-of-control libido.
Perhaps denying himself these many years had been unwise, because the need coursing through him felt almost predatory.
Every part of him was aware that he was a man hunting down the woman he desired.
He’d clenched and unclenched his fists, attempting to calm down the beast roaring inside him. And then there’d been a thunk. Juliet was moving about. Restless perhaps? Hopefully, she had no idea who was in the room with her because it would kill him if she were purposely hiding from him.
Overcome with the desire to see her, he’d reached under the desk, intending to help her to her feet.
Perhaps he should have announced his presence instead of grabbing for her like some gothic horror monster, because now Juliet stood before him, her entire body shaking.
If he’d terrified her because he was overcome with raw need, he’d never forgive himself.
The book dropped from her hand and bounced off his boot.
It seemed the dashed volume had it out for him.
“So... sorry,” she stuttered.
But he was the one who should be apologizing.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He placed the lantern on the desk and pushed it to the side so that it was not shining in the poor woman’s eyes.
Juliet simply gawked at him. Her long, golden hair was secured in a loose pink ribbon, one thick curl hanging over her shoulder.
The lantern illuminated her from the side, making her white nightdress so diaphanous that he could see her nipples poking through the thin fabric.
Her exquisite toes dug into the carpeting.
Angelic and tempting all at once, this woman.
She dropped her gaze to his chest and swallowed. Wondering what she was staring at, he peered down. He’d dressed hurriedly, not bothering to fully button his shirt, leaving a dusting of neatly trimmed chest hair visible.
She licked her lip. “You have caught me again.”
Nonplussed, he waited for her to elaborate.
“Trying to…well…peek at the book,” she added, her voice soft and dare he think it—flirtatious?
She’d been shaking until she noticed his bare chest and neck, so perhaps it was desire fueling her forthright statements.
What a thrilling prospect. If anyone had ever bothered to ask him, he’d have vehemently declared that cravats were overrated.
Hell, he’d burn the couple he owned and never fully button his shirt if she preferred him in this partially undressed state.
And, by Jove, he loved her honesty—so much so, that he’d honor it with a confession of his own.
“I couldn’t sleep because I wanted to look at it, too.” That and the fantasies about the indecent things he wanted to do to her made him restless.
She giggled, warming his soul.
“What a pair we are,” she said.
“Indeed.” He wanted nothing more than to be the other half of her pair. And, hopefully, she wanted to kiss him as much as he needed to kiss her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him.
Sighing, she pressed her lips to his. After only one practice session, her heady kisses, nips, and licks were already more confident and demanding.
Red-hot lust consumed him in its searing flames.
The devil take him, he wanted to burn. Right here. Right now. With her.
Eric trailed kisses down her neck and along her shoulder. She tasted as if she’d bathed in lilacs and honey. Her contented sighs tickled his ear, and the hair on the back of his neck rose.
“Oh, Eric,” she breathlessly murmured.
He lifted her off her feet and settled her on the desk. Smiling, she tapped his leg with her toe—twice. There was no longer any doubt in his mind; his sweet temptress was definitely flirting, and by God, her playful touches were a potent aphrodisiac. Call him completely seduced.
He stepped between her swinging legs to nuzzle the crook of her neck, inhaling the promise of spring lilacs in the winter cold.
“Eric,” she whispered.
“Yes?” he asked as he trailed kisses to her ear.
“There is a picture in the book.” She pointed at The Secret Life of Gentlemen, lying at his feet.
“What about it?”
Her exhale blew across his cheek, sending a pleasant shiver down the back of his neck.
“The man had the woman’s breasts in his mouth,” she said. “Do you think that feels good?”
Did she mean for the woman or the man? Not that it mattered because his answer was the same either way.
“I believe it does.” Craving her sweet flavor, he nibbled on her ear.
“Oh,” she said breathlessly.
“Would you like to know for sure?” Please let her say yes.
She bit her lips as she bobbed her head.
God, yes. He’d give this woman anything she wanted. He’d pluck stars from the heavens if she desired them. He’d collect an ocean’s worth of rainwater in a thimble if she asked. And her request hardly required a sacrifice on his part since he wanted to explore her body.
First things first, he needed to get her out of her nightdress. Taking his time, he slid the fabric from her creamy shoulders. The gown fluttered downward to pool around her waist.
His very own Aphrodite sat in front of him, her small, firm breasts bared, and her pupils unfocused.
He cupped those beautiful breasts in his palms, gently kneading the silky flesh with his thumbs.
Moaning softly, she arched her bosom upward.
Her sensuality combined with her innocence and sunny disposition had unraveled years of carefully honed discipline in a matter of days. Not that he begrudged her anything. He, in fact, adored everything about her.
He slowly traced circles around her areolas, spiraling inward to her rising peaks. The little red buds stiffened beneath his fingertips.
“They are so beautiful,” he said.
She worried her kiss-swollen lip. “You don’t think they are too small?”
Hell no. She wasn’t meant to be Rubenesque. She was a lean, graceful swan. “They are perfect.” And he had every intention of showing her just how perfect they were.
Salivating, he took one of her rosebuds into his mouth and suckled. As he’d anticipated, her nipples were as honey sweet as the rest of her. He suckled gently at first, and when her breath grew more erratic, he used his teeth to tug gently.
Sitting tall, she hissed with her undulation.
Pretending that he was a feather, and she was a flower petal, he brushed soothing, tender lips over her tips. Her eyelids drifted closed. she tilted her head back and moaned. Every utterance she made vibrated deep in his pelvis.
Already addicted to her flavor, he licked a circle around her areola before flicking his tongue over her nipple a half dozen times.
“Hmm,” she murmured as her fingers threaded through his hair.
He pulled her breast into his mouth and repeated the pattern. Suckle, suck with a gentle tug, taunt, lick, flick.
“Ahh,” she moaned as she writhed.
“So does it?” he asked while caressing her breasts.
“Hmm?” she asked.