“Be done with it,” she murmured aloud and quickly opened the door.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Cullen standing near the burning hearth. He had taken the time to light a fire and chase the damp chill from the large room.
He turned with a smile and held his hand out to her.
She went to him, and when she slipped her hand in his, he grasped hold and swung her back against him, wrapping his arm around her waist and leaning down to nibble at her neck.
“You smell of fresh spring, like flowers at first bloom or berries ripe with sweetness.”
She smiled and tilted her head back, exposing her neck to his nibbles.
“Lord, how I’ve wanted to taste you.” He nuzzled near her ear. “All of you.”
She shivered at the thought, and he turned her around in his arms as the first roll of thunder sounded in the distance.
“The horses need securing before this storm hits,” he said. “You have a choice. I’d be more than delighted to disrobe you, or you can be waiting in bed naked when I return. I leave it up to you.” He kissed her then and headed to the door. “Be quick in your choice for I won’t be long.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, Sara rushed out of her clothes. She wanted him, but self-doubt still invaded her senses. She might smell sweet to him, but how would he view her body? She wasn’t exactly petite, though she curved quite nicely at her waist and hips, or at least thought she did. Would he think so too?
She blessed her sister for having brought fresh bed linens and climbed beneath the pale blue coverlet, pulling it up to her chin. Then, realizing how foolish she must appear, she settled the blanket just above her breasts.
The door opened, and her breath caught when her husband entered and shook raindrops off after latching it behind him. He was such a handsome man, broad in shoulders, thick in chest, his dark eyes smoldering with passion.
Cullen stripped as he approached the bed, dropping his garments as he went, not caring that by the time he reached her, he stood completely naked.
His nakedness didn’t startle her. He had stripped before in front of her. Besides, it was as if he announced proudly that he had nothing to hide from her. He was willing to bare all, show all, give all, and in a strange way, it eased her trepidations.
She pulled the blanket back, inviting him in.
He smiled, slipped beneath the cover and stretched out on his side next to her. He tugged the blanket from her firm grip to rest lightly at their waists.
“We have nothing to hide from each other, and I ache to see your beauty.”
Sara almost protested his compliment, but he pressed a finger to her lips, preventing a single word from escaping.
“You are beautiful, Sara Longton,” he said, a kiss replacing his finger while his hand stroked her full breasts and along her curved waist.
It took only mere moments for her body to flare to life and for her hands to reach out and eagerly explore him.
They were soon teasing each other and laughing softly. She moaned as they became intimately familiar with each other. It was as if they had been reunited after a long absence. Nothing seemed strange or unfamiliar, but as it should be and once was, as though they had been together many times before.
His hands traced over every line and curve of her body, settling in intimate places and causing her to gasp, smile, and moan with pleasure, and then she did the same to him. Their lovemaking was a synchronicity of long-shared partners who knew each other on the most intimate levels.
When his mouth settled at her breast, she knew he belonged there, that she had been waiting for him and him alone to bring her pleasure.
He raised his head and stared at her with bewildered yet passionate eyes. “This feels so right, so very right.”
She understood, for she felt the same. She had hoped to enjoy their lovemaking; she had never expected it to feel as if they were destined to be together, that they were meant for each other.
The thought served to heighten her pleasure and passion, and she reached out, needing him to fill her and fulfill her. She couldn’t wait another minute, did not want to, needed him now, right now.
Her hand cupped him gently then stroked him, her fingers enjoying the velvet feel of him. “I can’t wait any longer.”
“I haven’t tasted all of you yet,” he whispered on a moan.
“Another time,” she begged.
“Is that a promise?”
“You have my word,” she said with a kiss.
He eased over her, nudging her legs farther apart with his knee. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“I’ll honor it.”
“I’ll see that you do,” he murmured before kissing her with a hungry need that she returned with equal fervor.