Tears blurred her eyes and she blinked them back. A single drop slipped down her cheek. This gift, was about so much more than simply a material possession. It was about a link to her innocence, stolen by the profligacy of a shameful parent.
Harry caught it with his thumb. “Even if I couldn’t have you, Anne, even if you wed Crawford, I needed to know your pianoforte was cared for.” His voice grew hoarse. “I’d rather it sit here unused, out of tune, with me holding onto this sliver of you. Touching the keys you once
touched—”
Anne kissed him. She kissed him as he’d taught. Kissed him as she’d longed to since that first meeting in Lord Essex’s conservatory.
Harry froze and then claimed her mouth with his. He pulled her into his arms, swallowing the small, startled squeak that escaped her lips. With a remarkable ease, he turned around and marched the same path they’d walked a short while ago, upstairs, effortless and… “Oomph.” He collided into a wall.
A breathless laugh escaped her as he cursed and then strode quickly through the magnificent townhouse; down the long corridors, up the stairs, three doors down, to his chambers. He paused and pressed the handle. He shoved the door open and carried her inside.
Harry kicked it closed with the heel of his boot. He set her down in a way that her body slid down his. “Look at me.”
She suspected if he spoke in that commanding, silken whisper, she couldn’t very well deny him anything. She met his gaze.
He cupped her cheek. “You once came to me and asked me to teach you the art of seduction.” He placed his lips against her temple. “Tonight, I’m going to teach you the art of seduction.” He moved his lips on a determined path, caressing her cheek, her nose, the corner of her mouth. “I’m going to teach your body how to sing.” He trailed his lips lower. “I’m going to caress you until you aren’t capable of a single word.” He palmed her breast.
“I…” She fought to muster words to tell him she was very nearly there.
“I’m going to love you until you are capable of nothing else but feeling.”
She drew in a shuddery breath. “Harry?”
He lowered his brow to hers. “Yes, Anne?”
“Get on with it then, already.” The words hadn’t even left her mouth when he’d swept her into his arms and carried her over to the massive four-poster bed at the center of the room. He carefully laid her down and came over her.
She shoved herself up on her knees and appreciated the moment he disrobed before her. He shrugged out of his elegant black jacket and tossed it aside. His white shirttails followed suit. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his broad, muscular chest, dusted with a sprinkling of tightly coiled golden curls. She caressed him.
He groaned and encouraged while Anne trailed her fingers over the flat nipples that puckered under her attention. Harry sucked in a breath. He gently undid the fastenings of her robe and tossed it atop a heap of rapidly growing garments. He reached for the hem of her robe.
She pulled away, more aware than ever before of the vast difference between her and the voluptuous, scandalous women to come before. “Don’t,” he commanded when she folded her arms across her chest. He pulled the nightshift over her head and dislodged her arms. Silence reigned. She shifted, her body heated with embarrassment at Harry’s silent perusal. She kicked him with her toes.
He winced. “What was that for?”
“You aren’t doing anything.” And then mortified heat promptly coursed through her body at the bold-sounding words. “That is…What I’d meant to say is—”
He kissed her into silence.
She moaned and reached her arms up about his neck. “Must you always do that?” she managed to rasp as he came down over her and trailed his lips down her neck. “Must you…?” He closed his lips over the turgid peak of one breast and she cried out. He drew the fortunate nipple deep in his mouth and sucked. Oh you must. You really must. Anne’s hips shot off the bed and he lowered his hand between her legs. Harry found her center and proceeded to work her with his clever fingers
She tugged at his hair and forced his attention to her other breast. Hardly fair to leave one so horribly neglected…ohhh… “Harry,” she cried out as he slipped another finger inside her. “I’m…” Going to shatter into a million shards of nothing.
“Yes?” he asked, his gruff tone hinted at the thin shred of control he retained.
And somehow that empowered Anne and filled her with a wanton desire to show him the same pleasure he now showed her. She reached between them instinctively and stroked her hand over the swell in his breeches.