He lowered his head and she rose up onto her toes. They met somewhere in the middle, and he didn’t hold back his murmur of pleasure. This wasn’t their first kiss, but it was the most satisfying. As he’d longed to do when she first entered his bedroom, he buried his hands in her hair and tilted her head to the side so he could gain better access to her mouth.
She stiffened when he touched his tongue to her lips but opened for him after a moment. He moved slowly, drawing out the pleasure for both her and himself. The way she melted against him when he stroked his tongue along hers told him that she did find pleasure in his kiss. The soft mewl she made at the back of her throat was almost his undoing.
“Ellen…” His voice was rough as he tore his mouth away and began to rain soft kisses along her throat. “I want to show you so much.”
She took a deep breath before replying. “That’s why I’m here.”
But the slight tremor in her voice had betrayed her—she was still nervous about what was to come. Unfortunately, he was powerless to reassure her with words alone. He’d have to show her that he could be trusted. When they finally did come together, she would be as eager to consummate their union as he.
He straightened and looked down at her. “Forget all your expectations. I’m going to touch you now, but I promise I won’t hurt you or rush through this to reach my own satisfaction. If I do anything you don’t like or that causes you any distress, you have only to tell me and I’ll stop.”
He waited for her nod of assent before bringing his mouth to hers again. She liked kissing him, so he’d start there.
His emotions soared when she responded with eagerness. Holding her against him, feeling the way she came alive in his arms, tested his self-control to the breaking point. But he’d vowed to make tonight all about her, and he meant to see that through.
He shifted, bringing her along with him, until the backs of his calves hit the chaise longue. Hoping the sudden change in their positions wouldn’t frighten the delightful woman in his arms into fleeing, he lowered himself onto it. At the same time, he shifted Ellen slightly to the side so she was sitting across his lap. He was careful not to settle her onto his aching erection, however.
Ellen’s breath caught in her throat when she registered the change in their positions, but her mouth never left his. It took only a moment before she settled more fully against him, and his heart stuttered when she took control of their kiss. He allowed it, knowing instinctively that this was the first time she’d ever done so. The way she ran her hands across the breadth of his shoulders caused him to lose focus. He’d long imagined Ellen touching him. That she was doing so now over his shirt didn’t matter. Ellen was on his lap, kissing him with enthusiasm, and that was enough. One day soon, he vowed silently, they’d be skin-to-skin.
Continuing to move slowly so he wouldn’t alarm her, he placed one hand on her knee, expecting her to stiffen. Instead, she made another soft sound of assent before pulling back.
She glanced down at his hand and then back at him. “You’re not going to get far touching me over my nightdress.”
“You’d be surprised what can happen over one’s clothing.”
She gave her head a small shake, but her lips curled at his gentle teasing. “I don’t believe you.”
He grinned back at her. “That is a challenge I’ll readily accept another day. As for now…”
He kissed her again, and her response told him she found pleasure in his touch as he moved his hand below the fabric of her nightgown, slowly inching his fingers along the inside of her thigh. Lust coursed through him when he discovered she wasn’t wearing any undergarments. The heat of her skin urged him to continue.
When he reached the top of her thigh, she didn’t open for him, but she didn’t stop him either. She might not be an innocent, but she clearly had no knowledge of everything a man and woman could do together.
He pulled her leg to one side. She allowed the movement but let out a soft gasp of surprise when he touched her between them.
“Have you ever touched yourself here?” he asked as he moved his fingers along the length of her slit. He felt her heat first, then moisture. She was enjoying this as much as he’d known she would.
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth before nodding. He almost said something flippant but held back the urge. This was Ellen as he’d never seen her—vulnerable and open to him. There would be plenty of time for her to discover there could be light teasing in the bedroom, but right now he wanted her to concentrate on the enjoyment she was experiencing.
Her hands were anchored around his neck, holding her stable as he caressed her breast with his other hand. She began to shift away from his touch but stopped when he brushed a finger over the pearl that rested at the top of her folds. When she arched into him, he took her mouth again, intent on completing his assault on her senses.
This time it was she who tore her mouth away, but he could tell from the flush on her face and her ragged breathing that she was close. He redoubled his movements and her breath caught. He could only stare at her in awe when she closed her eyes and let out a small keening cry as she reached her peak. He didn’t even care that she was squeezing his neck so tightly she threatened to leave bruises.
He stopped his onslaught on her senses, then and cradled her fully against him, one hand stroking along the length of her back. His own breathing was not as steady as he would have liked.
He waited as her heartbeat slowed to a more normal rhythm and her breaths steadied, using the time to rein in his frustration. He was still hard and knew she’d be able to feel it where she remained curled around him on his lap. Her arms loosened from their tight grip and soft gasps of air tickled the side of his throat.
“Was that all?”
He didn’t have to see her face to know she was confused. “That wasn’t enough? We can always do it again.”
She let out a soft sigh and lifted her head to meet his gaze. “It’s been my experience that men care more about their own pleasure that that of the woman with whom they lie.”
He wanted to scowl at the reminder of all she must have suffered at the hands of her husband, but he forced himself to keep his expression neutral when he replied. “I’ve already told you that you haven’t been with the right man.”
“Is that what you are? The right man?”
He smiled in response. When she made a slight scoffing sound, he couldn’t stop from barking out a laugh. “I am definitely the right man for you.”
She considered his reply for several seconds. “So we won’t be doing anything more tonight?”
She was so adorable when she was confused, and he couldn’t resist the urge to rub his nose against hers. “No, Ellen, we won’t. But I promise you there are more delights in store for you.”
“What makes you think I’ll be back for more? I’ve already had my satisfaction. My curiosity has been sated.”
He groaned at her not-so-subtle reminder that she was the only one who’d reached completion. He’d have to take himself in hand later, or there would be no chance of his falling asleep.
He stroked one hand along the inside of her thigh again, stopping before reaching the top. Ellen’s soft moan in response told him everything he needed to know.
He lowered his head to meet her gaze, desire surging to a conflagration when she closed her eyes and waited for his mouth to claim hers. Somehow he held himself back from doing just that. “That was but the beginning, my love. You have no idea what I have planned for you. And we both know your curiosity knows no bounds. You’ll be back.”
Her eyes opened, and she met his gaze for several moments before resting her head against his shoulder. That small movement told him, without the need for words, that she trusted him.
They remained like that for a full minute before she finally took a shuddering breath and rose from his lap. His arms tightened in reflex around her, but in the end he allowed her to stand. The fabric of her nightdress fell to cover her legs. He would never be able to constrain this woman—not that he had any desire to. She had to come to him entirely of her own volition or not at all.
She looked down at where he remained seated on the chaise longue. “What are you doing to me, Charles?”
“I’m wooing you, Ellen.”
He could see that she finally believed him. This wasn’t a game to him. But instead of pleasure, he saw a hint of fear cross her features. He wanted to soothe away that fear. Instead, he said nothing when she pulled away from him and, without a word, left the dressing room. He remained frozen on the chaise, listening as she paused briefly. He imagined she was donning her robe in that moment.
Then, far too soon, she unlocked and opened his bedroom door, and he heard the soft click of it closing behind her.