Page 85 of Beyond Scandal and Desire
“I don’t care. When I am with you, I feel as though, for the first time in my life, I am real, I am seen. It’s difficult to explain, but I want to experience everything with you that a woman can experience. Would you make love to me?” she asked softly, and yet his body reacted, growing hard and tense, as though she’d licked the words over his skin.
“If I touch you, Aslyn, I’m not going to stop touching you until I’ve touched every aspect of you.”
“I don’t want you to stop.”
“You will leave here ruined.”
“You won’t ruin me.”
“I will take your virginity.”
“You can’t take something if it’s given to you.”
He was not worthy of her, yet even knowing that, he couldn’t stop himself from lifting her into his arms and carrying her to his chambers.
Cradled in his arms as he trudged down a hallway, she’d never been more sure of anything than she was of him and her. It was imperative he understand what he meant to her, that she cared for him in spite of his origins.
She was not like the duke and duchess; she did not judge people based on aspects of their life over which they had no control.
He burst into the bedchamber, a huge four-poster taking up a good bit of the room. She had no doubt it had been made especially for him. He came to a stop near it, lowered her feet to the floor.
“You haven’t a tree in here. I suppose we’ll have to make use of the bed.”
He laughed, deeply and richly. “What a tart you’ve become.”
“Only for you.” She began working on the buttons of his shirt.
“Be sure, sweetheart,” he said solemnly, causing her to recognize the gravity of what they were doing, how it would affect her life. She was opening one door, but closing all others.
“I am sure, more so than I’ve ever been.”
When half the buttons were undone, with a growl, he dragged the shirt over his head and tossed it aside, before turning his attention to her. With a swiftness she’d not expected, he had all her clothes in a heap on the floor and she found herself standing before him without a stitch of clothing. She thought she should have been embarrassed. Instead, she felt free.
“My God, but you’re beautiful,” he said reverently. “Perfect. Every inch.”
“Hardly.”
“To me you are.”
He claimed her mouth so sweetly, so tenderly, that she nearly wept. She wanted this man as she’d never wanted anything else. She ran her hands over his bare chest, while his traveled over her bare back, and she sensed that he was striving to go slowly for her, only she was weary of being pampered. She was the one who broke off the kiss, who stepped beyond his reach. “The boots need to go.”
He dropped into a nearby chair. “Onto the bed with you,” he ordered while tugging off a boot.
She clambered onto the mattress, resting back on her elbows, watching him. When he was down to his trousers, he placed a knee on the bed. She held up a hand. “No, no, no. The trousers go.”
“Later.”
“Now.”
He held her gaze. “You’ve never seen a man when he’s aroused. Let me ease you into it.”
“No.”
“Aslyn—”
“We’re going to come to this bed as equals.”
He gave a brusque nod. “As you wish.”
