Page 36 of Ensnaring the Dove

Colombia thrilled at her own courage.

Never would she have spoken thus to a man—never would she have made her desire so clear.

But this evening, in the back room of this squalid popina, she was fearless.

Some moments were meant to be seized or the opportunity would never come again.

And so, she stepped back from him and wriggled out of her tunic before shedding her wispy underwear.

Moments later, she stood before Aedan naked.

Goosebumps rose upon her skin, her nipples pebbling. It was cool inside the tiny room, but that hadn’t caused her body’s swift reaction. Instead, the heat of Aedan’s gaze bathed her and brought all her senses alive.

Aedan stood there watching her, his blue eyes dark in the flickering light of the single lantern that burned by the bed. “The Maiden be blessed, you’re lovely,” he whispered, his voice catching slightly.

He shrugged off his tunic and started to unlace his bracae.

Colombia swallowed, her mouth going dry as a blend of nerves and excitement churned through her.

Minerva, she couldn’t believe they were doing this—and thatshehad instigated it. Who was this lusty, bold woman?

Aedan’s clothing fell to the floor, and he kicked it aside.

Breathing shallowly, Colombia raked her gaze down his body, as he had with her, drinking him in.

He was tall, lean, and long-limbed, yet well-muscled and strong. His skin was pale, with a light scattering of freckles across his smooth chest.

He was simply beautiful.

And when her gaze traveled lower, Colombia stopped breathing altogether.

Thick, long, and tapered, his shaft thrust toward her from a nest of light-auburn curls. It was even bigger than she’d expected, and a deep throbbing ache started to pulse between her thighs.

He was going to pushthatinside her?

Aedan moved close then, drawing her into his arms, and capturing her mouth with a wild kiss. His hands slid down her back, cupping her backside, before he hauled her hips hard against him.

And unlike when they’d kissed moments earlier, there were no layers of clothing separating them now.

The heat of his rod throbbed against her belly.

Colombia whimpered, desperate for more of him. Her hands smoothed over his skin, tracing the hard planes of muscle that sculpted his body.

Tearing his mouth from hers, Aedan left a trail of kisses down her jaw and neck before he cupped her breasts with his hands. He then lowered his head and started to suckle one. He worked the nipple gently at first before drawing it deeper into his mouth.

“Gods,” Colombia gasped, her legs trembling under her. Each suckle sent pleasure arrowing through her core and turned her weak.

“You have delicious tits,” he murmured as he tore his lips from one swollen nipple and focused on its twin.

He walked her backward then, moving her toward the bed.

Colombia lowered herself onto it, lying upon her back. Her breathing came in ragged gasps as he stretched out next to her, his hot gaze sweeping over the length of her trembling body.

And shewastrembling—not from fear but want.

Propping himself up onto one elbow, Aedan gently stroked his fingertips down the valley between her breasts, tracing a path over her ribcage and her belly to the soft flaxen hair between her thighs. “Open for me, little dove,” he murmured.

Little dove. The intimacy of the name made Colombia catch her breath.