He took a seat on the edge of the bed and removed first one dark boot and then the other. By the time he was done, his tight breeches were all that remained.
“I believe we’re even,” he said, sliding toward her on his hands and knees.
Jane panicked. “Usually when I’m up this late, it’s be—because I’m reading. Then I find I’m unusually tired in the morning.” It was a ridiculous thing to say, but nerves had quite got the best of her.
“You know what I think?” he asked, hovering over her.
“Wh—what?” she managed.
“You should be tired from being made love to all night. Not from reading.”
Jane’s throat went dry. All she could do was stare at the wide expanse of chest above her. Then he pulled her into his arms. His hands pushed into her hair and savagely tore out the pins. She didn’t even feel the slight pain.
His mouth was on hers, mastering her. His groin pushed against her most intimate spot. He was hot and hard and heavy, reaching for her. She pressed her lips together and looked up at him. “I want to see all of you.”
His smile was downright sinful. He rolled onto his back, undid the buttons under the fall of his breeches, and used both hands to pull them over his hips. The garment was gone in one quick movement, tossed to the end of the bed.
Jane’s gaze scoured him. He lay with his hands crossed under his head, entirely nude. “Look all you like,” he said in a teasing voice Jane found irresistible.
So look, she did.
The man was stunning. His broad shoulders and wide muscled chest tapered down into the flat plane of his abdomen and then …
His member looked enormous. Far too big to … fit, but she’d worry about that later. For now, she was preoccupied staring at her husband’s unbearably handsome body. Her husband. His legs were long and muscled. The was another scar at the top of his right leg. Amazing that he walked without a limp. She wanted to touch it. To kiss it. Her brave, strong Garrett. Her gaze trailed off at his ankles and his feet. He even had beautiful feet.
Levering up on one elbow, he pulled her spectacles from her face and placed them back on the table.
She sighed. “I suppose you’re going to want to see me now.”
He snorted. “God, Jane. You make me laugh. I love that about you.”
Jane shrugged. “Mama says gentlemen are rarely interested in ladies who are humorous.”
“With all due respect, your mother is wrong.”
“That’s what I said.” Jane pushed herself to her knees. “So is that a yes? You do want to see me naked?”
He grinned and quirked a brow. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
With shaking hands, she gathered her chemise in both fists near her knees and slowly pulled it up.
Garrett’s eyes turned a mossy green.
She pulled the garment over her head and tossed it aside, shivering as the cool air found her naked flesh.
He moved up to sit beside her, his eyes focused on her breasts. “Jane, you are … magnificent.”
Magnificent? She closed her eyes and smiled to herself. That was a promising start.
He leaned over her and followed her down. His mouth finding hers, his sleek, warm tongue sliding against hers.
“Can I touch you, Garrett?”
“All you like,” he whispered into her hair.
She wrapped her arms around his neck first, sliding her fingers through the dark curls. Then she skimmed along the broad column of his neck and across his muscled shoulders. His skin was bundled silk beneath her fingertips. She trailed her hands down his chest and pride swelled in her heart as his muscles jumped in response to her touch. He closed his eyes and Jane stroked his rough cheek. She ran her thumb along the firm line of his jaw.
“Stopping there?” His voice sounded strained.
Jane kissed his chest. She reveled in the feel of his hot skin beneath her lips. He smelled like soap and masculinity. “You want me to go lower?” she asked, the hint of a smile in her voice.
“If you insist,” he replied in a mock-resigned voice.
With pleasure, Jane resumed her exploration. She pushed her hand along the hard outline of the six muscles that stood out along his abdomen. Then she let her hand trail lower, and lower still, until she wrapped her fist around him.
Garrett groaned.
Instinctively, she slid her hand up and down. He groaned again. His forehead bunched into a look resembling pain. He pulled her hand away. “You are too good at that,” he said in a shaky voice that made Jane’s insides melt. “Let me touch you first.”
She trembled but lay back against the pillow and allowed him to scan her from top to toe.
“I was wrong,” he murmured, his tongue flicking against her nipple. Jane gasped. “You are beyond magnificent. You’re perfect.”