Chapter Twenty #2
Moisture collected in her palms, and her throat dried. “What is that for?”
“You want me to show you depraved.” He raised a brow in challenge. “I’m going to touch and kiss you wherever I want—and you’re going to see all of it.”
A spike of heat gathered in her core as Matthew removed his topcoat, then his undershirt, revealing the tanned, lean muscles on his chest. A dusting of dark curls trailed down to his navel, to the dip in his hips.
Instead of stripping completely, he kept his breeches on. He knelt down on one knee on the floor next to the bed and made sure her eyes were on his.
“Before we start, we need to set rules. You can always say no. If you don’t want it, I don’t want it.”
“I’ll stop you if I don’t like something.” She gave him a confident grin. “But I’ll trust you enough to try.”
“Good.” He smiled. “I’ll be worthy of that trust.”
She reached out and gently brought him close for a tender brush of lips. Then another. Unsure where to put her hands, she entwined them around his neck and held him close.
“What should I do?” she breathed.
“What I say, when I say it,” he whispered against her neck. His tone shifted, no longer light but masculine and deep. He brought her hands to his mouth, kissing her wrist, then her knuckles. “If you weren’t injured, I’d tie your wrists to the bedpost.”
She imagined being tied up, completely at his mercy. He could touch wherever he wanted, do whatever he wanted. Even enticed by the prospect, she raised a brow. “You don’t want me to touch you?”
“I’m only good for one round. When you touch me, the game ends.” He kissed her cheekbone. “But I can pleasure you for hours, and you have no idea what that will do for me.” Poised above her, he purred, “Now that you know the rules, are you ready to play?”
Diving in, she kissed him again. “Yes.”
Between them, Matthew unfastened her cloak and removed it from her shoulders, revealing her thin silk nightgown. His jaw slackened, his eyes widened, and he marveled at her.
Having come too far for modesty, Jasmine sat on her knees and lifted her nightgown over her head, baring herself to him.
The peaks of her breasts pebbled in the night air, gooseflesh rippled over her skin, and her cheeks burned.
For the slightest second, she felt inadequate.
Embarrassed to be naked in front of him.
But those feelings evaporated when Matthew whispered, “My God, Jasmine. There aren’t words in any language to describe the things I want to do to you.”
He pressed on her shoulders until she was on her back underneath him. He kept his kisses gentle, but his work-roughened hands mapped her, grazing along her back, her hips, and under her breasts. When she went to unbutton his breeches, he lifted her hands above her head.
“These stay here.” He held her wrists to the bed with a gentle squeeze.
Her frustrated groan turned into a whimper as he traced the curve of her breasts with his tongue.
Tantalizingly slow, he sucked one peak into his mouth.
She cried out. Toes curling, back arching, she leaned into his touch.
Clutching at the bedclothes, she struggled to keep her arms above her head.
He licked at her breast with the tip of his tongue, took her nipple between his teeth…
And waited there.
She writhed under him. “Matthew, please.”
Granting her reprieve, he soothed her with his tongue.
Wrapping one arm around her, he lifted her by the small of her back, encouraging her to a seated position.
Then he moved behind her, resting his back against the headboard.
He spread his legs and patted the space between them as he had on the lawn.
“Are we going to do what married couples do?” she teased, settling in with her back against his chest.
“Many times over.” With both hands, he gathered her hair to fall over one shoulder and nuzzled into it, softly inhaling. “You always smell so good.” The cloth of his breeches scratched over her skin as he adjusted, pressing his hardness into her lower back. “Put your hands behind my neck.”
Obeying, she braided her fingers together at the nape of his neck.
The position stretched out her torso, leaving her on full display, aided by the mirror in front of them.
Their gazes met in the reflection, and she watched his hands moving over her, keeping eye contact with her all the while.
He splayed his hands over her hips, letting her get used to the feel of him.
“Have you ever touched yourself?” He continued his descent, rubbing his palm down her thigh. “Placed your hand between your legs and explored?”
“No. I’ve never—” she choked on her words as his fingers found the hollow of her hip. “Ladies don’t do that.”
“You will after tonight.”
He trailed his fingertip in, over the curls at the apex of her thighs, and up. Sliding over embarrassingly slick skin, he stroked right over a place so sensitive she instinctively tried to jerk away, but only pressed her harder into his chest.
“Too much pressure?” he whispered. “How about this?”
He gently grazed that spot again. Sparks formed behind her eyelids—brighter than the sunrise, darker than sin.
“This place right here”—he circled his fingertip in slow, lazy circles and she gasped—“can give you immense pleasure.”
He breathed in through his teeth and applied more pressure. She bucked into his hand unwittingly, chasing the feeling.
“See how perfect you are?” He opened her legs wider, exposing her completely. “Look how well we fit.” Moving his hand lower, he stroked his finger into her, then back out, only to press in even deeper.
Overcome, she gripped his hair and buried her face in his neck. Sound escaped her without thought. With every shuddering inhale, she begged him for something nameless.
“That’s it, give it to me,” he growled. “Seeing you like this, moaning for me, wanting me…” He increased his pace and pressure. “You’re worth it. Every damn minute I waited.”
Scorching heat radiated through her, concentrating on one singular point. So intense, she threw her head back and squeezed her eyes shut.
“For your first one, I’ll let you close your eyes.” He bit the shell of her ear. “Next time, you’ll watch.”
He buried his finger into the knuckle, curled it in just the right way, and she shattered, crying out her release. Matthew eased his movement, extending her pleasure until she trembled in his arms.
He hummed approvingly. “How was that?”
She gave an unsteady laugh. “I don’t think there are words in any language to describe it.”
His reflection gave her a devilish smirk. “Can you take a little more?”
“You can give me more?”
“When I said hours, I meant it.” He pressed his finger inside her again. “Want to keep playing?”
“Yes.” She rolled her hips into his hand, desire coursing through her again. “Do we have time?”
“Just enough,” he assured her. “Switch places with me.”
She did as he asked, resting her back against the cool headboard. Kneeling before her, he spread her legs wide. He trailed kisses from her lips down her chest and lower. Warm breath ghosted over her center as he carefully lifted both of her legs over his shoulders.
“When you touch yourself, think of this.” He licked her, flicking where his fingers had—but so much better.
A sob caught in her throat, and she struggled for air.
It was indecent, but so right. His eyes blazed onto hers while he teased her with each swipe of his tongue.
Wantonly, she raised her hips, and he groaned.
The sound vibrated perfectly down to her toes. She closed her eyes—
And he stopped.
“Matthew,” she whined. “Why?”
“Keep your eyes open,” he breathed between her legs. “You’ll watch me bring you to release”—he ran the tip of his tongue over her—“or I won’t bring you there at all and you’ll have to do it yourself.” He nipped at the inside of her thigh. “Up to you.”
“You call me cruel,” she lamented. “Will you let me touch you now, at least?”
“As much as you like, and as rough as you want.” He lowered his mouth to her. “Pull my hair, dig your fingernails into my skin. I can take it.”
She slid her hands into his hair, scraping her nails along his scalp, delighting in his low moan.
He combined his tongue with his finger inside her.
Every breath drew her closer to that peak.
Her eyes locked fiercely onto his. There was no space for shame between them, and she surrendered to him.
Losing control of her senses, she gripped his hair, yielding to wave after wrenching wave of pure ecstasy.
He lifted his head to kiss her mouth, and she tasted herself on his tongue. She held onto him, coaxing him closer, because she knew there was more and she wanted it. She reached for his breeches—faster than a gunshot, he backed away and crossed the room.
Cautiously, she moved to step out of the bed.
“Don’t step foot on my floor,” he warned. “Stay where you are.”
“Let me help.” She slid her foot back on the bed and scowled at him. “I want to touch you.”
“If you do, I will bury myself in you—and I won’t be able to stop,” he spoke through his teeth. “This is fine. I’ve taken myself in hand countless times with this exact fantasy, so give it to me. Show me what you learned.”
Jasmine sat up, mouth agape. “You can’t possibly want me to—”
“Touch yourself,” Matthew commanded. “Prove you can do it without me.”
He sat down in the chair, unfastened his breeches and released his erection—large male flesh nestled in a thatch of dark curls, and it looked… well. Rather painful, clear from his clenched jaw. With a slow hiss, he moved his hand over himself. If that went inside her…
There’s no way it’ll fit.
She must have spoken the words aloud because he responded with a groan. “How I would love to prove you wrong.”
She paid attention to his movements and imagined her hand on him. Of him inside her. Desire rose anew at the sight of Matthew pleasuring himself—because of her.
So she did what he taught her.
With her fingertip, she explored her sex. Clumsy at first, and then—she found a way she liked. Chasing that cliff, she worked out her own rhythm, rising and falling. As she learned herself, his stroking matched her pace. Wild curls slicked to his brow.
Her Matthew—panting and helpless.
She purposefully pressed her finger into her body, exactly where she wanted him. Once, twice, and every inch of her exploded in excruciating bliss. He groaned, throaty and primal. Testing him, she lifted her hand, looked him directly in the eyes…
And licked her finger from the knuckle to the tip.
Pupils blown, Matthew arched in the chair and gave a choked curse. His own release spilled from him, and he continued to rub himself until his body jerked. With one deep exhale, he relaxed into the chair, and his hands fell to his sides.
For some time, the only sound in the room was their ragged breathing.
With every ounce of energy drained from her, she lay on her side until her body calmed.
Once it did, the world came back into focus, and she gazed at her reflection.
Hair mussed, lips swollen, face and chest flushed. Every part of her body was sore.
Warm and bubbly, she giggled.
“Zounds, Matthew, that was—” she struggled for the words, and settled on, “So much fun.”
“So fun.” He released a breathless laugh. “The way you move. Blazes, Jasmine.” Then, he was out of his chair and at her side. He leaned over her and gave her a deep kiss. “You were magnificent.”
Even though she was exhausted, she wanted to do it again.
With all of that pleasure at their own fingertips, how did anyone get anything done?
Matthew walked to the washstand, poured water from a pitcher onto a washcloth, then cleaned himself up. Every muscle along his spine was toned, from his shoulders to his glorious behind. He noticed her appraisal and quirked a brow.
“Do you like what you see?”
“Yes, all of it,” Jasmine admitted whole-heartedly.
He shook with laughter. “Lay back and let me finish the job.”
Brazenly, she lay back on her elbows and spread her legs. “Yes, my King.”
He gave another groan and rubbed the washcloth along the inside of her thighs, then to her sex. She drew in a sharp breath as the cold cloth soothed her hot flesh. Finished with his task, Matthew studied her.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked. “Was I too rough?”
“Not at all.” Making a better effort to communicate with him, she said, “I liked everything you did to me. Truly. I can’t wait to do it again.”
“Me too.” His laughter echoed in the room. He handed her clothing to her, then redressed. Jasmine slipped her nightgown over her head and fastened her cloak. Matthew took his pocket watch from his chest pocket and sighed.
“Time’s up, love.”
A hollowness settled in her stomach. She wanted to stay and fall asleep in his arms. Instead, she allowed him to lift her and carry her from the room. Soon, they wouldn’t have to sneak around. One more week and he could propose.
Then she could spend the rest of her life with him.