Page 20 of A Rogue for Christmas
He dropped a kiss onto her mouth. “I like it. It can be your special name for me.”
This was verging into dangerous territory. She couldn’t have a special name for him. She was just one woman among many.
She should protest. Tell him that he didn’t have to pretend with her. That she’d come to terms with the fact that they’d only be together a short time after which they’d both move on with their regular lives. Him to new adventures and other women and her to a respectable marriage to someone who would never make her feel the same way he could.
Her thoughts scrambled when he swept her into his arms and crossed the room to the bed. Instead of dropping her onto it and doing wicked things to her, he settled her onto her feet next to it.
He stared down into her eyes for several seconds before speaking. “I’m going to be careful, but you should know there will be pain.”
His concern touched her. “I know what to expect, but I fear you might find me lacking.”
He gripped her chin. “Never.”
CHAPTER11
She didn’t believe him. Which of course made her a wise young woman. But she’d learn soon enough that he was telling her the truth.
“Am I your first?” He suspected that he knew the answer already.
She nodded. “My sister said that there are things you can do to ensure I don’t fall pregnant?”
A sudden image invaded his thoughts. Iris round with their child, smiling at him. The thought should terrify him, but he was beginning to realize that Thornton and Seaford just might be correct. His feelings for Iris went far beyond desire. He wanted forever with her.
He nodded by way of answer. He wanted to tell her that it didn’t matter since he would take care of her, but he wasn’t sure she’d believe him. He’d never offered false promises to a woman, but she wouldn’t know that.
He would worry later how to convince her there would never be another woman for him. But first he had to go about the business of ensuring Iris became so addicted to his touch she’d never want another.
He stepped back and began to disrobe. Her eyes were wide as she watched him remove his coat and waistcoat and drop them on the floor. Then he removed his cravat and shirt, tossing both garments onto the pile. His valet would lecture him tomorrow morning about taking better care with his clothing, but right now Wentworth couldn’t stop.
He enjoyed the way her eyes were glued to his chest, her mouth slightly open. It pained him to move so slowly, but he had to be sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her. That she wouldn’t change her mind.
So he stood there, bare to the waist, and waited to see what she would do.
She didn’t disappoint him when she settled onto the bed and leaned back on her elbows. “You may continue,” she said with a wave of one hand toward his trousers.
He laughed, charmed.
He unbuttoned the fall of his trousers, his gaze fixed on her. Her breath was coming a little faster now. He wanted to tease her, but he would do that another time. He was already harder than he’d ever been in his life, and he wasn’t sure how long his patience would hold.
He removed the rest of his clothing, the weight of her gaze tracing over his skin like a caress.
“I can see now what all the fuss is about.”
He frowned, hating that she’d heard others gossiping about him. He wasn’t surprised, not really, but the thought bothered him more than it should. Right now, here in this bedchamber, it was just the two of them. He didn’t want Iris to think about anyone else.
He waited for her to look her fill. When she finally met his amused gaze, she smiled. “You can hardly blame me for being curious.”
He settled onto the edge of the bed, sitting close without touching her. “Perhaps you’d do me the honor of satisfying my own curiosity.”
Heat flooded her face, but her hands rose to the ribbon that was tied at the front of her chemise, holding it in place.
He waited, but it seemed Iris might have reached the limits of her bravado. His fingers met hers, and he pulled at the ribbon, his eyes fixed on the way the fine white fabric parted, revealing her breasts.
“I’m not well endowed—”
He stopped her protest with a hungry kiss. “You’re perfect, Iris.”
He allowed her to take the lead, enjoying the way her gaze, then her hands wandered over his shoulders and his chest. “You’re so hard.”
