Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(11)

A quiet cough brought him back to the moment, although how he’d gotten lost in thought when—

“Are you going to show me your back? I thought you’d agreed.” Her breath heated the upper curve of his biceps.

She was so close he’d only have to reach out and …

“Yes, of course. I am sorry.” He turned so that he faced where he imagined the door must be.

“You’re beautiful, like a gift from the gods. I never knew a man could be beautiful. You look like those sculptures I wasn’t supposed to see. Mother never understood the beauty of an unclothed body. Granted, I am not really sure Mother understood beauty at all.”

He could feel her, feel the movement of the air, sense her very presence. His groin tightened further.

“I am going to touch you now,” she whispered.

And then her fingers were on him, only two—her pointer fingers, he imagined. One finger at the top of each shoulder. She ran them outward, tracing the lines of his body, and then downward, defining shoulder blade to spine. And down his spine, delicious trails of sensation.

He felt her lean forward—and then her lips were upon him. Just a gentle kiss, a taste, right below his neck. And then another taste, a little lower, and then another.

He squeezed his thighs tight and thought of Mother England—anything to hold off, to stay distracted, to not …

Her hands were still on him, moving in pattern with her mouth, feeling everything, squeezing, testing, petting. It was a massage and more—the most erotic thing he had ever experienced.

Her mouth paused just above the edge of his trousers, her tongue moving to the edge of the fabric and then retreating. His hands clenched into fists, his nails biting deep into flesh.

He’d never cared much for anal play, never quite understood the attraction. He was more than happy with a woman’s *, damp and sweet.

And anal play upon himself … the thought was repulsive.

But now, as Grace’s mouth moved lower, all sorts of forbidden thoughts entered his mind.

She didn’t know anything. She’d believe whatever he said was customary.

Only …

Only if he was going to have her put her mouth someplace, he could think of places he would rather her lips be.

He groaned.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, drawing back.

“No—or only in the best of ways. It feels so good it’s hard to hold back.”

He felt the question she did not ask.

“I will explain later. For now, know that if you do something I do not like I will tell you, very clearly but without anger,” he continued. “If I do not ask you to stop I do not want you to. And the same will be true later. Anytime you request that I stop or that you say no, I will obey. Instantly.”

“Oh.”

He couldn’t see her. She wasn’t touching him and yet he knew her thoughts, knew she wondered what he might do to her, might expect her to do.

“Touch me,” he said. “I want your hands on me. I feel bereft with them gone.”

Instantly her soft palms found his waist, her fingers kneading his flesh. “Like this?”

“Yes.” He allowed a small sigh of satisfaction to pass his lips. “And your mouth. I love the feeling of your mouth upon me, the feeling of your tasting me.”

“You do?” Her voice was filled with question—and delight.

He groaned as her tongue once again delved along the edge of his trousers. “Very definitely. I could stay like this forever.” Well, actually he wasn’t sure that he’d manage more than another minute, but she didn’t need to know that. “Although, if you’re curious I could show you more. Your tongue seems very eager to find my secrets.”

He heard her swallow, loud and not very ladylike. It charmed and thrilled him.

“I do believe I would like that.” Her hands moved about his waist, reaching for the front fasteners of his trousers, brushing against his erection.

He caught her hands and held them. He felt her stiffen, her fingers instantly stopping their progression. Damn, she was skittish. “Let me do it. I don’t want things to happen too fast.”

Her hands tried to pull away.

“Do you understand what I mean by ‘too fast’?”

“Yes, of course,” she answered, fast and breathless.

“I do not believe you. This will only work if you trust me, are honest with me. Do you know what I mean?”

“No.”

“That is as I thought. Thank you for your honesty. I will do my best to reward it—but I imagine you don’t know what I imply by that either.”

Another soft “No.”

“I will have to show you, but we will save that for later. For now I ask again for your trust in me. I will tell you if I do not like something you are doing or I wish you to stop. If I do not say something, do not make assumptions. Am I understood?”

“Yes.” She leaned forward and placed her face against him, hiding from he knew not what, but choosing him as her place of safety. Something within his chest swelled with satisfaction.

“Now, would you like me to remove my trousers?”

He felt her nod.

With shaking fingers, he released himself, pushing his trousers down. They caught where she pressed against him and then fell to the floor as she pulled away.