Page 31 of Mr. Notorious and the Nefarious November

She laughed. “No. You passed the test. Truth be told, I wouldn’t have minded all that much if you hadn’t because we’d be tangled up together on the bed right now. You see, either way this temptation progressed, I couldn’t lose.”

“And now we both win,” he said. His gaze dipped, and she felt the rush of heat she was accustomed to feeling every time he looked at her. But now there was no cloth between them—well, except for his clothing. She was completely revealed.

She put a hand on his knees, slid them open, and stepped between them. Then she rested her hands on his shoulders. “Any ideas as to how we should fill the rest of the hours in the day…and night?”

His large, warm hand came to rest on her hip, and she took a shaky breath.

“I have a few,” he said. “I still can’t quite believe you’re here.”

“Shall I pinch you?”

“I can think of a better idea.” He tugged her close and wrapped a hand about her neck, pulling her down for a kiss. Sheexpected the kiss to be wild and unfettered, but it was gentle and sweet. A lump formed in her throat, and she had to blink back tears. Why had she thought lying with him wouldn’t mean anything? Why had she thought it would be fast and frantic, and then she could forget all about it?

“You don’t have to hold back,” she whispered, knowing her words were for naught, knowing she was completely undone already by a simple kiss.

“I’m in no hurry,” he murmured, the hand on her hip sliding down to cup her bottom. “I plan to savor every inch of you.”

That was exactly what she’d been afraid of. She could still walk away. He wouldn’t hold her to their agreement if she said she’d changed her mind. As though he sensed the direction of her thoughts, he pulled back. “Are you certain you want this? If you’ve reconsidered—”

She put a finger over his lips. Sweet, sweet man. This was why she’d fallen in love with him. This was the side of him no one else saw. He needed to feel wanted, needed to feel loved. And for so long he’d loved her without anything in return.

“I want this,” she said, kissing him softly. “I wantyou, Munro Notley.”

In the next instant, she was on her back, the mattress under her and Munro looking down at her. “You are so beautiful. Your eyes…” He kissed each eyelid when she closed them. “Your nose.”

“My nose?”

He ignored her and kissed the tip. “Your cheeks.” He brushed his lips over her cheeks softly. She looked up at him. He kissed her forehead.

“You’re forgetting something.”

“What’s that?”

“My mouth.”

“I’d never forget your mouth. I dream about your mouth.”

“Then kiss me.”

He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss felt almost reverent at first. She could imagine herself a new bride, and he a bridegroom who didn’t want to frighten her. His hands slid slowly down her body, his touch lighting little fires wherever his fingertips strayed. Gradually, he deepened the kiss, and his touch became more insistent. She gasped at the gentle squeeze of his hand at her breast and shivered as he slid down her body to cup her between her legs.

“You’re ready for me,” he whispered.

“I was ready as soon as you stepped into the room. Why are you still dressed?”

“Patience, sweetheart.” His mouth traced her jaw and dipped down to her neck while his fingers stroked her. She arched for him, biting her lip as he slid over the sensitive nub between her legs. His mouth slid lower, and he nuzzled the hollow at the base of her throat as one finger entered her. She clenched around him, and he chuckled. His breath tickled her skin, making her breath come even shorter. Then another finger slid inside her, and she moaned as he used his thumb against that place that throbbed and ached for his touch.

The bed chamber slid away, and her focus narrowed. In those moments, there was only him and only her. His touch existed and nothing else. His mouth on her caused her heart to beat. His hands made her blood race. She panted, trying to catch her breath as his lips found her nipple and tugged lightly. Between her legs, his thumb made lazy circles that drove her mad.

“Munro, yes.”

“I love when you say my name.”

She opened her eyes and found him looking down at her. “You’re ravishing, Beatrice. You take my breath away.”

“Please,” she begged, and he gave her a knowing smile. He was the beautiful one. He was the one no woman could resist.And when he looked at her like that, she fell completely under his spell. He adjusted his touch and the pressure, his thumb moving in quick circles on her aching flesh. Her breath hitched and caught.

“That’s it, sweetheart.”

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