Regency Collection 2013 Part 1. Louise Allen

into the sun.

      ‘Are you planning to answer today?’ he asked. ‘Because you have been quiet for a very long time, and I find it unnerving. If you wish more time to consider, I will understand.’

      ‘No. No, really I am fine.’ Tim had said she should let him charm her. And he was only asking her to do what she had secretly wanted for quite some time.

      ‘And?’ He made a gesture, as if to coax more words out of her.

      ‘Oh. Yes. And … Well … Although I did not expect it, I do not see anything unreasonable about your request. You are right. I will inform Tim, if he should flirt with me again, that his attentions are inappropriate. And I will …’

      He raised his eyebrows, and gestured again.

      ‘Accede to your request for …’ she searched for a word that was not too embarrassing ‘… collaboration.’

      He smiled. ‘Thank you. Shall we begin?’

      ‘Now?’ She slid down the couch to be as far away from him as possible.

      ‘I fail to see why not.’ He slid after her to be near to her again, and covered her hands with his. ‘I do not mean to take you here, if that is what frightens you. Now that I have your consent, it is not as if we need to rush.’

      ‘Oh.’ Her heart was hammering as his hands stoked up her arms, to touch her shoulders.

      ‘But I do find you quite fetching this evening. Which gave rise to the jealousy of a few moments ago. I feared that other men had noticed what I was seeing in you. For how could they not? Can you forgive me?’

      She blinked.

      ‘It was foolish of me. You should not have to bear the brunt of my mercurial temper.’

      She blinked again, and took a shaky breath.

      ‘I am afraid I have an overly passionate nature. But as such, it would be most out of character for me if I did not try to steal a kiss or two, to celebrate our last night in London and your successful entrance into society.’

      ‘A kiss.’ The words came out of her mouth on a sigh. And she nodded.

      ‘Or two.’ He reached behind her, to undo the hooks of her gown.

      ‘Then why …?’ She started forward, which only brought her closer to his body, and his hands worked to loosen her stays, proving again his knowledge of lady’s underthings.

      ‘I have been told that, although they are lovely, ballgowns tend to be rather constricting. It will be easier for you to relax if we undo your lacing.’

      ‘Oh.’ Perhaps he was right, for it was becoming difficult to catch her breath, especially when he held her the way he was doing now.

      He felt her trembling, and rubbed his cheek against hers and whispered, ‘You have not been kissed before?’

      ‘You did, once. When we first came to London.’

      He reached out, and took the glasses off the bridge of her nose, folding them up and setting them aside. ‘This will be very different, then.’ As his lips moved from her temple down to her mouth, she quite forgot to breathe. And her sudden gasp for air pulled his tongue into her open mouth, which, judging by the way he was using it, seemed to be his object, all along.

      He pushed her back into the cushions of the couch, and the kiss became harder, and he sucked, to bring her tongue to him, urging her to stroke and lick in return. This was no ordinary kiss, for there was no sweetness in it, just raw desire. And she opened herself to it, loving the feel of him, wanting her and claiming her for his own.

      And suddenly she realised the true reason he had opened her gown, for in her movements under him, her breasts had slipped out of the low bodice, and he was massaging them with his hands, and teasing the tips with his fingers, until she squirmed under him. Then his kiss travelled from her chin, to her neck, to her bare shoulder, before his hands cupped her breasts to bring the nipples, one by one, into his mouth. He settled his head against her, and began to suckle at them, the stubble on his chin rough against them, and the hair of his head, so very soft in contrast. His mouth pulled hard upon them, until she was arching her back, and moaning in pleasure. And then she felt the feeling rush through her body until it left her trembling in his arms.

      As he looked up and smiled at her, the clock on the mantel struck three. ‘That is enough for tonight, I think.’

      She tried to ask him what he meant, in stopping, but the words that came out of her were unintelligible.

      ‘Technically, I think I have fulfilled my promise.’ He was still smiling. ‘For that was one kiss. Two at most. I don’t recall stopping at any point in the last hour. Do you?’

      An hour? Had it been so long? She shook her head.

      ‘I could go longer, but it is late, and we are travelling tomorrow, as I promised. But your initial response was most favourable. I think it bodes well for our future together.’

      Their future? If tonight had been an indication of things to come, then she hoped the future was not distant. ‘When?’

      His smile broadened. ‘I am not sure. There is an art to these things. I would not want to hurry, but neither am I willing to wait too long. Some time after we have gone home, and can lie in our own bed for as long as we like, taking pleasure in each other.’ His hand dipped to her skirt, and he raised the hem. ‘You may let me know when you are ready.’ His fingers trailed up her leg, until they were above her knee and had searched out the top of her stocking. He ran his fingertips lightly along the bare skin above the silk, before untying her garter. The stocking slipped, and he pressed the pad of his thumb against the naked flesh of her inner thigh.

      She felt her legs trembling at the touch, and moaned in response.

      ‘Not that way, although it is music to hear, darling.’ He pulled the ribbon down her leg and waved it in front of her. ‘You will be ready when you are brave enough to take this back from me.’ And he tucked it into his coat pocket, and offered her his hand. ‘Now sit up, so that I may put your clothing back together, and we will go upstairs to let the maid take it apart again.’