“So I’ve heard.” His hand curled around hers and he raised it to his lips, pressing a kiss on the back of her hand. “I didn’t dare hope you had.”
“Perhaps I could make amends for your suffering.”
“Oh?” He didn’t let go of her hand, but pulled it against his chest, his thumb making lazy circles in her palm. “How is that?”
“We could take a walk to help pass the time.”
“That sounds . . . promising.”
“I could ask Cook to make a basket lunch to take with us.”
“So it would be a long walk. Even better.”
“A long walk,” she agreed, her smile inviting. “Down to the old castle, perhaps.”
“I like the castle.” His eyes danced.
“You could show me the ruins. We could take a blanket and have our lunch.”
“Hmm. I admit it sounds like ample recompense for my suffering. There’s just one thing . . .”
“What’s that?”
He wrapped his hand around her wrist and whisked her up the hall into his study. Closing the door, he put his hands on her waist, pulling her against him. “I think that first a small sample of your offering would be in order.”
“I have no objection to that.” Laura smiled and linked her arms behind his neck.
“Make that a large sample,” he murmured, and his mouth came down to take hers.
James gathered her up in his arms. Laura clung to him, lost in his kiss. When at last he lifted his head, his face was slack, his eyes dark with desire. He pressed her body into his, his hands traveling slowly over her, and nuzzled her neck. “In fact . . .” He roamed back up the tender skin of her throat, his lips evoking bright shivers all through her. “I believe we might not go to the castle at all.”
He reached back and locked the door. Then, sweeping her up in his arms, he strode over to the rug in front of the fireplace and set her down. His fingers went to the buttons at the top of her dress. Laura’s eyes widened. “James! Here?” She glanced around. “Now?”
“Here. Now.”
She laughed and went to work on his waistcoat. They undressed each other, pausing to kiss or caress the flesh that they revealed bit by bit. It seemed wanton and daring to do this in the light of day—and thoroughly exciting. James kissed her until she trembled, his hands busy on her skin, seeking out all the most pleasurable spots. Laura had never before realized how many places on her body were so erotic.
She could not hold back a moan when his fingers slipped between her legs, exploring that most intimate spot. She leaned her head against his chest, her legs suddenly weak. “Oh, James . . . I . . .”
“Mm?” He was kissing his way across her collarbone. “You what?”
“I don’t know. You make me feel . . .” She shook her head, blushing. “I can’t describe it. Shivery.” She lifted her head, looking into his eyes. “I hardly feel like myself.”
His grin was slow and wicked. “You feel very much like yourself to me.” To emphasize his words, he curved his hand over the fleshy mounds of her buttocks. “And that, by the way, feels very, very nice.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder as his hand returned to tease between her legs again.
As his fingers opened and stroked her, flooding her with desire, he trailed his mouth down to the curve of her breast. His tongue circled her nipple, making it harden even more. Everything in her ached for more. She wanted his mouth to take her nipple, to feel the warm, damp suction tugging at her. She wanted him inside her, filling her. But the long, slow building was a wonderful torment, enhanced by the fulfillment she now knew awaited at the end.
And when at last he closed his mouth over her nipple, the wave of intense pleasure that washed through her made it worth the wait. She stroked his arms and shoulders, running a hand up the back of his neck and sinking her fingers in his thick hair. She delighted in the heat that flared in him at her touch, the sharp inhale of his breath, the faint tremor in his skin.
James slipped a finger inside her, his thumb settling on the little nub of flesh, and Laura gasped at the new sensation. The heat and urgency inside her flared even higher. Her knees felt like melting wax; Laura thought she would have simply oozed down to the floor if it had not been for his arm around her waist. James raised his head, gazing down at her intently, as his fingers continued to work their magic.
Laura suspected she ought to feel embarrassed under his gaze, but she was too deeply caught up in her passion, too near that shattering explosion of bliss, to care. Her eyes fluttered closed as she felt it begin to take her, and then it rampaged through her. She shuddered, letting out a moan.