The Raven Prince (Princes #1)(83)

Anna clutched him about the neck as she tilted. “Edward!”

“Darling?” He strode out the study door.

“The servants.”

“If you think, after that little display”—he took the stairs two at a time—“that I’d waste time worrying about the servants, you don’t know me.”

They gained the upper hall. Edward bypassed her room and stopped at his own.

“The door,” he prompted.

She turned the doorknob, and Edward pushed it open with his shoulder. Inside his bedroom, she glimpsed two heavy tables covered in books and papers. More books were stacked haphazardly on chairs and the floor.

He crossed to set her by his huge bed. Without a word, he turned her and began to unhook her dress. She caught her breath, suddenly shy. This was the first time she’d initiated their play when he knew it was her. He didn’t seem repelled by her boldness, however. Far from it. She was very aware of the blunt fingertips brushing her spine through the layers of clothes. The dress sagged about her shoulders, and Edward pulled it down as she stepped out of it. He slowly untied her petticoats one by one and unlaced her stays. She faced him in only her chemise and stockings. His eyes were heavy lidded and intense, his gaze serious as he rubbed one thumb over the shoulder strap of her chemise.

“Beautiful,” he whispered.

He bent and brushed a kiss over her shoulder as the strap fell. She shivered, whether at his touch or the look in his eyes, she didn’t know. She could no longer pretend that this was only a physical act between them, and he must sense her emotion. She felt exposed.

His lips slid along her sensitive skin and he nipped. He moved to the other shoulder and that strap fell as well. Gently, he inched the front of the chemise down, exposing her breasts. Her nipples were already tight. He spread his hands over both mounds, his palms warm and possessive. He seemed to examine the contrast between his dark hands framing her white skin. High on his cheekbones color flamed. Anna imagined her pale pink nipples peeking between his callused fingers, and her head fell back as if weighted.

He lifted her breasts and squeezed.

She pushed herself into his hands. She could feel his gaze on her face, and then he stripped the chemise from her and lifted her to the bed. She watched as he swiftly removed his clothes and he lowered himself beside her. His hand smoothed across her naked belly. She raised her arms to draw him to her, but he gently caught her wrists and placed them by her head. Then he slid down her body until his head was level with her belly. His hands were on her inner thighs, and he pressed her legs apart.

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to do with a woman.” His voice was black velvet.

What did he mean? Shocked, she resisted. Surely he didn’t want to look there? It had been different this morning when she’d been half asleep. Now she was fully awake.

“It’s not something a man can do with a whore,” he said.

Oh, Lord, could she do this? Expose herself so intimately? She craned her neck to look at his face.

His gaze was implacable. He wanted this. “Let me. Please.”

Blushing, she lay back, surrendering to him and his needs. She let her knees fall open, feeling almost as if she were offering a gift of love to him. He looked down as her legs widened, then widened more until he was kneeling between her outstretched thighs, her most private places exposed. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch him examine her.

He didn’t do anything more, and finally she couldn’t bear the waiting any longer. She opened her eyes. He was staring at her body, at her woman’s place, and his nostrils flared, and his mouth curled in a look so possessive it was almost frightening.

Anna felt her opening contract in reaction. Liquid seeped from within her. “I need you,” she whispered.

Then he truly shocked her. He swooped down and swiped right across her wetness with his tongue.

“Oh!”

He looked up at her face and slowly licked his lips. “I want to taste and tongue and suck you until you’ve forgotten your name.” He smiled carnally. “Until I’ve forgotten mine as well.”

She arched and gasped at just his words, but his hands were on her hips now, holding her down. His tongue searched through the folds of her femininity, each rasp going straight to her center. He found her clitoris and licked.

And she lost her mind. A long, low moan broke from her lips, and she twisted the pillow on either side of her head with her fists. Her hips bucked. But he wasn’t going to be kept from his objective. He relentlessly tongued the nub until she saw stars and shamelessly shoved her pelvis into his face.

Then he drew her clitoris between his lips and sucked gently.

“Edward!” His name keened from her as a wave of warmth flooded her body, rolling all the way to her toes.

He was up and over her, his penis invading her, before she had time to open her eyes. She shuddered and clasped him as he pounded against oversensitive flesh. And she felt the wave rising again, carrying her endlessly on its crest. Her thighs quivered helplessly open, and she ground her pelvis up against his hardness. He responded by hooking his arms beneath her knees and pushing her legs toward her shoulders. She was as open as possible, exposed and held down as he loved her. As she took all he had to give.

“God!” It burst from his lips, more a guttural than a word. His great body was shaking helplessly, and he stiffened against her.