Page 36 of The Gilded Lady (The Gilded West #3)

She nodded again, and he shifted his hands, circling her nipples with his thumbs.

She gasped and bit her lip, leaning into his touch.

He could barely make out their shadow in the dim light, which taunted him, making him want to see her even more.

Gently, he stroked over her nipple, drawing another sound from her lips.

“When you’re ready, untie the ribbons so I can taste you.”

Glory felt her nipples harden even more under the skillful touch of his hands and fingers.

He continued to gently knead her breasts, playing with her nipples which were hard little peaks under her chemise.

She moved slowly, her fingers trembling, but she untied the ribbon and the fabric gaped apart.

Wanting nothing more than to feel his hands on her bare skin, she grabbed them and brought them to the opening.

He pushed the fabric aside, his fingers eagerly seeking her skin.

His callused palms were slightly rough as they raked over her smooth breasts, sending flares of heated pleasure across her skin.

His hand was so large as it closed over her that it encompassed her entire breast.

They were opposites in so many ways on the outside, but on the inside they were the same.

He understood her in ways she couldn’t explain.

He worked her nipples between his forefinger and thumb, tugging slightly.

She gasped as darts of electricity shot directly to her belly.

Liquid heat pooled between her thighs, making her rub her thighs together to alleviate some of the tension.

“I want your mouth,” she whispered.

A soft growl came from his lips as he closed his mouth over one the beaded peaks.

The rough hum sent desire spiraling to her center.

From his rough hands to the purely masculine sounds he made, she loved every part of him.

His gaze never left hers as he tugged with his mouth and teased her with his tongue.

The strength went out of her knees, forcing her to hold onto his shoulders to keep upright.

She felt drunk all over again, only this time he was her brandy.

Finally he pulled back, placing a kiss on each breast before pushing her chemise down and off her arms so that it fell to the floor.

She was left naked before him, completely exposed in a way that she didn’t think she’d be comfortable with.

And she wasn’t. The vulnerability had an immediate dampening effect on her need for him.

The familiar squeeze of panic in her chest made it hard to breathe. Her fingers felt numb on his shoulders, craving his warmth but unable to feel it. This was a mistake. She should’ve insisted on staying clothed. Her scar was there, between them, and it would always be there no matter what she did.

She meant to step back, but his hands tightened on her hips and he slid off the bed onto his knees before her.

He stared up at her as if she were perfect.

His hands moved over her skin in a caress far too gentle for their size.

Bending slightly, he kissed her stomach, her navel, and below to the vertical scar that stopped at her pubic bone.

She didn’t realize that she was breathing in short pants until he raised his head to give her that hint of a smile that she’d come to associate with him.

“Beautiful.” It was one word, but it said so much. She didn’t pay attention to the scar or the fact that he could see it. She was so consumed with him that she couldn’t see anything past him.

Her fingers gently brushed his black hair back from his face, and he turned his head, placing a kiss on her palm.

Then he went back to kissing her belly, her legs, only to place a final one on the russet curls that covered her sex.

A shiver went through her body, cold and hot at the same time.

A mix of pleasure and anxiety to match the push and pull going on within her.

His large hands moved up her leg, past the bend of her knee to gently knead the muscles of her thighs.

She widened her stance to give him room and he took advantage, taking his touch higher before retreating again.

He did this a few times, and each time she held her breath as he got closer to the apex of her thighs.

A pleasurable ache had begun to bloom there.

The concept of arousal wasn’t foreign to her.

She’d felt it before, particularly when he kissed her, but she’d never experienced it like this.

With a man ready and waiting to stoke the flames higher.

She could even feel the tension coming off him.

If she looked down, she knew that she’d see the large bulge in his pants that had pressed against her earlier.

He was as aroused as she was, and he was holding himself back, drawing it out to make it as good for her as he possibly could.

Tenderness swelled in her heart as she stared down at his face, a face that had become precious to her.

The next time he moved his hand up her inner thigh, his fingers grazed her sex.

She gasped aloud at the sensation, the ache became a dull throb, begging for more of his touch.

When he brought his hand up again in that slow, teasing caress, she took it with hers.

His heavy lidded stare dared her to go further, so she brought his fingers to her.

He grinned, gently moving his fingertips over her, spreading the dampness he found there.

She moved her foot out farther to ease his way, and he found her swollen.

Waves of need pulsed through her when he touched that particular place.

Using her own moisture, he slicked the pad of his finger over her again and again until she was panting aloud.

Her cry filled the air when she felt the wet heat of his tongue replace his finger.

He rose to his feet, but didn’t stop the delicious motion of his hand.

His other came up to tip her head back so that he could claim her mouth in a deep kiss.

She liked it. She actually liked the way his hand gripped her hair, the way her naked breasts were pressed against his solid chest, and especially the way his other hand gave her pleasure between her legs.

She even liked that she could faintly taste herself on his tongue.

Her hips rocked with his movement, needing even more.

When he broke the kiss, she actually laughed.

He smiled down at her, but his brow was furrowed at the same time in question.

“I didn’t think I would enjoy it this much.

” She confessed. Relief mingled with the pleasure, giving it sway to coil ever tighter in her belly, asking for more.

More of him. More of this. Her own palms moved down his smooth chest to rub over the rough hair that led down into his pants.

Hesitant but determined to overcome her anxiety, she moved her hand down farther, stroking over the bulge in his pants.

She was rewarded with his rough exhale of pleasure.

“We don’t have to do more than this,” he whispered. His hands moved to her hips and she got the distinct impression that she’d just made him go weak in the knees. A thrill of power surged within her.

She squeezed gently, testing out the feel of him. She wasn’t certain how far she could go with him, but she hadn’t reached her limit yet. “I want to see you.”

He reached down and finished unfastening the buttons down the front of his trousers.

She watched his movements with her breath stuck in her throat, anxious to see all of him.

Slowly the fabric parted and he pushed his pants down his thighs.

His manhood sprang free to stand tall and thick against his belly.

He didn’t move, giving her the time she needed to study him.

She’d been prepared to feel the familiar coldness of fear creeping over her, but she didn’t feel that.

Or rather it was a faint echo pushed to the far reaches of her mind.

Curiosity had taken its place with need following close behind.

She gently took him in hand, enjoying the way his breathing became harsh in response to her touch.

He liked what she was doing and that knowledge somehow fed her own desire, making it burn hotter.

His skin felt like silk here and so hot.

Her fingers couldn’t quite touch her thumb as they wrapped around him.

His large hand covered hers and he showed her how to stroke him and bring him pleasure.

As she moved, she was torn between watching her movements and watching his face.

His eyes were hooded, mere slits in his face as he stared at her.

They were nearly black. Yet, despite the intensity of his expression, he managed to keep his gentleness.

He never touched her or urged her further than she wanted.

She felt that if she turned away from him in that moment that he would honor her need for time, and that, more than anything, urged her forward.

She let him go to draw him down for a kiss.

Her tongue stroked his, and the hard length of him pressed hard and eager against her belly.

An answering pulse beat between her thighs, and she moved against him, loving how hard and strong he felt against her.

She wanted more, and that knowledge was exhilarating. It spurred her forward to take a leap of faith and go further. “More,” she whispered against his lips.

His answering groan reverberated inside her.

The heat in her belly coiled even tighter and higher, reaching for something.

“Glory,” he whispered, placing open-mouthed kisses across her jaw and down her neck.

His teeth raked over her skin, sending the flame of pleasure burning in her belly ever higher.

She closed her eyes and gave into all the good things he made her feel.