Her Secondhand Groom(59)

Wordlessly, Patrick removed his boots and trousers. “Here,” he said huskily, guiding her petite hands to his hips. Juliet sank to a sitting position on the edge of the bed and had only the slightest hesitation before letting her hands leave the ridge of his hips to knead the sinewy flesh of his thighs. Her roaming hands sent sparks of desire and excitement shooting through him each time they came close to his erection. Would she be bold enough to explore him there? He nearly cursed and groaned at the same time. Yes. He had no doubt his Juliet would certainly be bold enough to do just that. And when she did, the groan he’d been so diligently suppressing could be contained no longer.

“Did I hurt you?” The delicate hand she had wrapped around his shaft, loosening its grip.

“No,” he choked. “Don’t stop.”

Her grip tightened again, her fingers massaging him in the most erotic way imaginable. She slid her hand down his shaft then back up, squeezing a fraction tighter as she went. Her thumb traced a slow line around the edge of his tip. “It’s both hard and soft.”

“That’s exactly how you want it to be, trust me,” he said unevenly. He sucked in a harsh breath when her thumb brushed the sensitive skin of his tip. He glimpsed the satisfied smile on her lips, and smiled, too. She might not be able to see him smile at her, but it didn’t change the pride he felt on her behalf of being able to draw such a response from him.

Juliet licked her lips. “D-drake?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you―I mean, do gentlemen, like being touched this way?”

Patrick’s hand covered hers and tightened affectionately. “Yes, Juliet. I like it when you touch me this way.” He ran the pad of his thumb across her line of knuckles before letting go of her hand and letting her explore him further. When he could take her torturous ministrations no longer, he eased her hand from his shaft. His long, blunt-tipped fingers circled around her wrists, holding her arms out in a way that allowed him to view all of her bared flesh.

He released her wrists and stepped closer to her. She really was a beautiful woman. Why he hadn’t realized it until last night, he’d never understand. But he’d realized it then and he certainly realized it now. He sank to the floor in front of her, bringing his face within in an inch of hers, his hands tenderly massaging her thighs. He brushed his lips across hers. Then again.

Her lips parted, and his lips, so close to hers, could feel her uneven puffs of breath. Without warning, he closed the space between them, hungrily capturing her lips and refusing to let go. His fingers squeezed her thighs then parted them just enough for him to maneuver his body between them. Juliet’s arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers twining in the curly hair on the back of his head, holding him tightly.

Patrick’s hands closed around her waist, his thumbs and forefingers sinking into the softness of her luscious body. He pulled his mouth from hers. “Lie back,” he panted, rolling forward onto her as she followed his command. Patrick placed an arm on each side of Juliet’s face, his face hovering just above hers. He leaned forward and pressed a line of kisses across her forehead then down her nose and to her lips.

“Drake,” she sighed against his mouth, his tongue relentlessly seeking entrance. She opened to him, allowing him to once again taste her sweetness.

Shifting his weight to his left forearm, Patrick skimmed his palm up her ribs then to her breast, his fingers applying gentle pressure as they closed around it. Her nipple tightened instantly against his palm. He applied a hint more pressure in response to the sudden fullness he felt. His mouth left hers, his lips set on kissing a path to join his hand. His fingertips closed around the crest of her breast, gently squeezing and rolling the point. Her back arched and a sound he was sure was borne of pleasure broke the tensioned silence. He paused for a brief second, his body reeling with excitement at the way she was responding to his touches.

He parted his lips and dropped a line of partially open-mouthed kisses down her sternum then along the delicate bottom curve of her right breast. Even swollen as they were at the moment, her breasts weren’t what most would consider large, but to him, they were more than enough. Her left filled his hand to perfection and he was certain her right would fit flawlessly inside his mouth.

Her body trembled as his mouth covered her breast, taking in as much as he could hold. His tongue circled her nipple, his teeth gingerly scraped the sides then nipped the tip. Juliet’s fingers tightened painfully in his hair and her body tensed under his. He ran his tongue around her hardened peak once more, then pulled away to taste the other.