Page 86 of Her Impeccable Scoundrel
He tamped down his lust and hugged her, reminding himself not to undo six months of patience in one hasty coupling.
While he was getting his private parts into check, she was shrugging off the shawl, letting it slide to the floor and kicking it aside.
“I’m feeling rather warm,” she said. “My dress hooks are at the back.”
Thank heavens. He smiled into her hair, slid his hands under the thick mane, and began working his way down.
In moments, she kicked the gown aside also, and standing in her chemise and stays, pushed off first his coat and then his waistcoat.
And then she stepped back looking shy again. “You wanted to eat first.” And then she blushed a deep rosy pink. “I mean, you want to have supper before…”
“My darling girl.” She thought he was too stuffy for that sort of dining. “Whatever pleases you is what will please me. Come here and let’s make you more comfortable.”
The stays came off, and he seated her on the bed and removed each shoe, garter, and stocking.
Praise heaven, she was not wearing the long drawers women had started adopting.
He helped her to her feet. “Shall I assist you with the chemise?”
“Perhaps, just this time, so I can put on this scandalous wedding gift, you would turn around?”
Chuckling, he did. He had the rest of their lives to see her naked.
He kicked off his shoes and tore his shirt over his head. His banyan was draped over a chair, so he fetched it and was shoving one arm through when a hand yanked it back.
“No.” Blythe pulled the garment away and tossed it back on the chair. “I want to see all of you.”
It was his turn to blush. All of him. The silky nightgown outlined her curves, especially her decolletage. All of him came alive. One part in particular.
He didn’t want to frighten her… but of course, she’d been married.
She dropped to her knees, reached under the trouser legs and rolled down first one stocking and then the other, all the while giving him a view of her magnificent bosom.
When she stood and reached for the trouser button, he clamped his hand over hers.
“Oh,” she said, stepping back. “To be fair…” She slipped a strap of the gown over one shoulder revealing all but the tip of one luscious breast.
“Now your buttons,” she said. “I must insist.”
“Must you?” He opened the fly and pushed the trousers around his hips.
She slipped the other strap and the gown pooled at her waist.
“I’m being brave, you see,” she said, voice shaking.
“My darling girl,” he said, holding his control by a thread.
He wanted to ravish her.
“Let us do this together,” he said as pedantically as possible, and his tone stirred a faint smile. “On the count of three?”
She nodded. Her gown slid all the way to the floor, and he shoved his trousers all the way off. And then she was in his arms, and he was carrying her to the bed.
Graeme had made love to her more patiently a second time before the loud growling of both their stomachs led them to the table and the food and wine set out for them. After filling their stomachs, they moved to the warmth of the hearth, and he took her onto his lap.
“I saw Sir William speaking with you,” she said. “What’s afoot?”
She held her breath waiting. Graeme wasn’t one to tell State secrets, but she knew that, besides agricultural matters, he was avidly interested in the affairs of government. Those, truly, were his first interest. He was young and capable, and she’d worried she might harm his career prospects. But Sir William Taylor and his wife had been kind and welcoming, and she’d had a chance to mingle with diplomatic staff during their time in London.
