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CHAPTER THREE

As night fell, Angelica grew more and more nervous. She still couldn't believe her own audacity—she had propositioned a gentleman to undress for her. And to her even greater surprise, the gentleman agreed. Was she completely barmy? Why would she do such a reckless thing?

Curiosity, whispered a small voice in her head.

Curiosity and a desire to know. Mr. Drent was so handsome, his body so tempting to her artist's eye, that she simply couldn't resist the urge to draw him again.

But her imagination only went so far. She wanted to know, to see, to finally understand what made him so attractive to her.

Somehow, she sensed that this mystery would be solved once she saw all of him.

And then what, the voice in her head asked. What would happen once he was undressed in front of her, and she had finished drawing him? The thought sent a shock of feeling between her thighs.

She had never been tempted before—no man had ever made her heart swell and her body clench with need like he did. And no man had ever intrigued her the way he did.

Even so, she remained unsure as to what to do.

A scratch at her door jerked her out of her thoughts. For a moment, she couldn't move—her body frozen with apprehension and excitement. Then, moving awkwardly, she approached the door and opened it a crack.

On the other side of it stood Mr. Drent, wearing a loose white linen shirt and low-hanging trousers. His eyes sparkled, and his lopsided smile sent her heart fluttering out of control.

"Come in," she whispered, opening the door fully to allow him entrance. He walked in with ease, as if he were accustomed to visiting young maidens in their bedchambers at night.

"We must be quiet, as my mother sleeps but a room away," Angelica whispered.

He answered with a widening smile. "Whatever did you think we would be doing to cause noise, Miss Hutton?"

Angelica blushed and stuttered, "I… Well, I…" Unsure what to say, she met his eyes and blurted, "I need you to… Please take off?—"

"Please take off my clothes?" Mr. Drent met her gaze, his smile turning predatory and his eyes glinting with desire. Without lowering his gaze from hers, he slowly pulled his shirt from his trousers and lifted it over his head.

Angelica gasped at the vision he presented—strong, capable arms framed his lithe form, and the muscles in his chest and stomach were well-defined.

A scattering of curly blond hair trailed down from his chest to his abdomen, and disappeared beneath the line of his trousers.

His skin was pale and smooth, and his bare feet were well-shaped and elegant.

"Why, Miss Hutton, you would make a grown man blush with your mere gaze," he said, his voice unsteady.

When she returned her eyes to his face, Angelica saw he was no longer smiling.

Instead of humor, there was a hint of uncertainty in his expression.

Could it be that this experienced rake was uncomfortable with her perusal?

"You are magnificent," she whispered without thought, and immediately blushed at her boldness.

"And you are the bravest young lady I've ever met," he responded.

"Are you sure you want to continue? I could still put my shirt back on and leave your chamber, and I would never mention a word of this to anyone.

" His look was so sincere that Angelica had no doubt he would do just that—but she also knew she wasn't done looking at him yet.

"No, I want to continue," she answered, reaching for her red notebook, which was still hidden under her mattress. She took the pencil lying by her nightstand and returned her gaze to Mr. Drent's form.

"Alright, then." He nodded. "Tell me this, Angelica—have you ever seen a naked man before?"

Angelica's body flushed to hear her name roll off his tongue. "I've seen pictures of statues—David for example."

Mr. Drent chuckled. "A real man—especially aroused—looks quite different. And I must admit," he added, his cheeks flushed with color, "that I am quite aroused at the moment."

Angelica noticed the bulge in his trousers and swallowed a whimper. She finally had a chance to find out what lay underneath those clothes. She would not be a coward now.

"I understand. Please remove your trousers, Mr. Drent."

He groaned and whispered, "No more of this 'Mr. Drent' business. Call me Nev."

"Nev," she whispered back, reveling in the intimacy of it.

Nev smiled again, placed his hands on the falls of his trousers, and began unbuttoning them. Slowly.

Angelica followed his actions, riveted by the revelation of his body. With each button he opened, she saw more pale skin and blond hair. Finally, when all the buttons were undone, he slowly pushed down his trousers and stepped out of them.

Oh, dear. He was so much larger than David.

His member was erect and flushed a deep red, the tip glistening with a drop of liquid.

Angelica stood rooted to the floor at the image he presented—he resembled an ancient god of Greek mythology, an Apollo or a Hermes, all ethereal beauty and earthy lust. She licked her lips nervously, then shook her head to clear it.

She wanted to draw the man, so draw him she shall.

"Please lie on the bed," she commanded quietly, and Nev complied. He lay on his side, his hand supporting his head, and looked at her with an inquisitive gaze.

Angelica approached the edge of the bed, where she sat gingerly and opened her notebook.

Then, after a deep breath to calm her nerves and steady her hand, she began to draw.

At first, she blushed every time she looked closely at Nev's naked form. But after a few moments, as the movement of the pencil calmed her, she began seeing lines and shadows instead of a body. And what beautiful lines there were—his strong jaw, the muscles in his calves, the contours of his stomach. Angelica couldn’t draw fast enough to satisfy her desire.

She captured every movement and expression, every hard line and soft shadow.

Nev's eyes followed the sure strokes of her hand and roamed over her body, his gaze hungry.

After she knew not how long, she was finally satisfied. The notebook's white pages were filled with images of Nev's glorious physique—as many as she could draw. Her hand ached from exertion, but her soul was elated.

She smiled at Nev, who leaned forward and gently took the notebook from her hands.

As he leafed through it, his expression turned to one of wonder.

"These are beyond amazing," he whispered reverently. "You are a true artist, Angelica."

Her smile widened at the compliment. "You were a very good subject," she returned.

Nev chuckled. "All I did was lie still and try not to reach for you," he retorted, his eyes boring into her.

"Why would you try to reach for me?" Angelica asked, dazed. She was still lost in the joy of drawing, not fully registering the fact that she was in bed with an undressed man.

"Because I've never wanted to touch a woman as much as I want you," Nev replied.

"Oh," Angelica gasped. Her joy shifted under Nev's passionate gaze, melting into desire—an ache that pulsed through her, foreign but inviting. Suddenly, her nightgown felt constricting, her breath rushing faster and faster.

"You want to touch me?"

"Yes. With every fiber of my being."

"Then touch me," she replied.

Nev closed his eyes, his face contorting with a pained expression.

"I am a right bastard," he whispered, reaching for her face. His soft palm caressed her cheek, thumb brushing her lower lip. The flutter of his fingers sent jolts of excitement down her body, between her legs, to the apex of her sex.

Then, his hand moved lower to caress her neck and the sensitive skin above her breasts.

"You are so lovely, I can hardly contain myself." Nev moved closer to her, his body's heat penetrating through the thin nightgown. His mouth lowered over hers, and she trembled as his tongue traced her closed lips.

"Will you let me kiss you again, my angel?

" He whispered, a note of desperation in his voice.

Angelica felt the pull of his heat and scent and leaned in, sliding her tongue against his.

Nev moaned, his hands pulling her into a tight embrace.

Angelica wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened her kiss, abandoning all sense of propriety.

It was blissful, beautiful, and so right to kiss Nev.

"I want you, angel," Nev muttered fervently. "I want your body, your mind, your heart. Let me show you pleasure."

"Yes," she gasped, her own hands beginning to explore his slender shoulders and soft skin.

Nev hissed as her hand passed over his dark nipple, and his member jerked and grew even more erect. Angelica was mesmerized by it—it was crude yet tempting. She reached her hand to touch the glistening tip of his cock, and to her immense pleasure, she heard Nev's gasp.

She met his eyes and saw a fire there, no longer banked but flaming high.

"Do not touch me again, angel, or I will spend. Remove your nightgown," he commanded, and Angelica felt her breath quicken as she slowly pulled the long cotton shift over her head. Now she was just as exposed as Nev, her skin pebbled with gooseflesh from excitement and desire.

"Lie on your back. Yes, and spread your legs for me."

Angelica felt apprehension as Nev moved between her thighs. Was this the moment? Will he take her maidenhead with his large member? Would it hurt?

But instead of hovering over her, Nev slid to the edge of the bed and pulled her thighs closer to his face. Angelica gasped at the feel of his warm breath on her mound. What was he doing?

As if he read her mind, Nev said, "I want to taste you, sweet girl. I want you to unravel under me." And he licked right through her lower lips.

A cry almost escaped Angelica, but she clasped a hand over her mouth just in time.

His tongue was sliding between her folds, lapping at her liquid desire, bringing her pleasure beyond belief.

With every stroke of his tongue, he curled it around the sensitive nub at the apex of her sex, causing her to whimper uncontrollably.

Higher and higher she climbed, her pleasure almost painful in its intensity.

Then, suddenly and without warning, she felt as if a bubble burst within her, flooding her with searing heat and lust. Such immense joy engulfed her, pulsating from her sex to every nerve ending in her body.

Her cries of passion were muffled by her hand, but she couldn't control the undulations of her body as it moved against Nev's mouth.

Slowly she began breathing normally again, as he removed his lips from her with a smile. "You come so beautifully," he whispered against her thigh. "Are you ready for me now?"

Angelica nodded, her head heavy with the fog of lust.

Nev got up from his position and stood between her spread legs, his hands caressing her calves. He pushed her knees up, opening her even more, and positioned his thick cock at her entrance.

"I will go slow, darling," he said tenderly.

Angelica felt the pressure of his penetration at her entrance. It was tight, yet pleasurable, her body stretching to accommodate him. He slid in slowly and gently, his thrusts growing deeper with each push of his hips.

She felt no pain as he finally sank in to the hilt, his face flushed and his eyes hooded with desire.

"You feel so perfect, sweet girl. So right."

Nev began moving his hips, pushing into her in gentle thrusts that hit an inner point of pleasure.

Angelica gasped as his rhythm intensified, his expression one of joy.

He pulled her thighs closer and thrust again and again, until the bliss building inside her threatened to consume her.

She gasped and writhed, and Nev groaned as his movements turned wild.

"Yes, darling. You lovely girl," he rasped.

His hips jerked, and his member swelled even thicker inside her.

Angelica's tender muscles spasmed, and she tumbled over the edge of another orgasm.

Her shallow breaths rushed out of her as she recovered from a pleasure so intense she nearly lost her senses.

At the same time, Nev stifled a shout, pumping into her—his cock hard and full—as he found his own release.

He collapsed beside her, panting, and immediately pulled her close.

"Oh, Angelica. My angel. My darling girl," he whispered in her ear, his hand caressing her shoulder.

She curled into his warm body, sated and more aware of her body than ever before. It felt natural to lie naked in Nev's arms, as though she had always belonged there. She looked at her red notebook, still open on her nightstand, and smiled. She never wanted to leave his strong arms again.

Angelica’s eyes fluttered closed, Nev's caresses growing gentler and more tender, as she slipped into a dreamless sleep.