With one step, he closed the distance between them. His fingers wound around the back of her neck. He angled her head. And then his mouth plundered hers. She hooked her hands into his jeans and hung on tightly. The room swayed around her. His scent, masculine and spicy, filled her senses. He tasted like a cross between chocolate and coffee. For someone who never liked coffee, it could make a convert out of her. She pushed herself up on tiptoes to get closer. Josh’s palm flattened at the small of her back, crushing her against him.
After an eternity, his mouth left hers. They were both panting. Out of breath from passion and need.
“Turn around.” His hands were on her hips, turning her before the words had left his mouth.
Caroline was unsteady as she put her back to him. Softly, he swept her hair away from her neck, and she heard the zip of her dress as it slowly lowered. All of her clothes were at the castle waiting to be burned. All she had was this dress and the lavender lace lingerie set beneath it.
“So soft,” he whispered.
He trailed his lips down her neck and across her shoulder, before returning to her spine. She heard him lower to his knees as he slowly removed her dress. His kisses followed the path of the dress until it crumpled at her feet on the floor.
“Beautiful.” His hands gripped her hips as he swirled his tongue in the small of her back.
Caroline’s eyes fluttered shut as she swayed in place. What was he doing to her? How was it possible that a kiss on her back made her insides tilt? His strong hands turned her.
He groaned at the sight of her. “We need to get you more lingerie.” He smiled up at her. Making her painfully aware that his mouth was level with her breasts. And she knew exactly how good that mouth felt on her. “When we’re at home in the castle, you should only ever wear lingerie and nothing else.”
Before she could answer, he leaned forward and sucked a nipple into his mouth, right through the lace of her bra. She gasped. Her hands flew to his head. Her fingers tangled in his hair.
“Delicious.” The word was a rumble against her skin that sent tingles to her core.
Caroline clutched him, like an anchor in a storm, as Josh kissed and bit and sucked. Her mind soared. Nothing existed except the sensation of Josh’s touch. Gasps and moans punctuated the air. Her head fell back as her knees weakened. Josh’s hand caressed its way up her back, and she felt the clasp of her bra give way. A second later, the bra was gone. His breath was hot against her skin.
“You are perfect.” He sucked her into his mouth so hard that it made her scream. Her knees gave way. Josh caught her and placed her on the bed. Her hips rested on the edge, her legs dangling over the end. All thought was lost in the fog of desire that had overtaken her mind. Before she could catch her breath, Josh had stripped her of her underwear. He pushed her knees apart. Caroline struggled to think through what he was doing. Her brain wasn’t fast enough. His mouth was on her before she figured it out. And then all thought was gone. All she was aware of was his tongue tasting her. Teasing her. Touching her.
Caroline felt pressure tingle and build within her stomach. Her breath came in desperate pants. She clawed at the bedspread beneath her. Unconsciously, she pushed closer to his wicked, wicked lips.
“Josh,” she moaned.
He didn’t answer. Instead he growled against her, sending vibrations throughout her body.
“Josh!”
Her head spun. Or maybe it was the room.
“Baby,” he rumbled. “So good.”
Her toes curled. Her thighs tensed. Her head arched back. And she was flying. A word fought its way from her throat. A long, aching moan of a word. “Josh.”
As she slowly came back to herself, she felt Josh crawl over her body. He moved her boneless body further up the bed. Her limbs were too heavy to help. She was at his mercy.
Josh nibbled his way up her throat until his mouth met hers. His kiss was deep and sensual. Caroline curled her arms around his neck and hooked a leg over his thigh. Bare flesh met bare flesh. At some point Josh had taken off his jeans. Caroline’s heart pounded so loudly at the thought of a naked Josh. Part of her wanted to push him back and look her fill. But she couldn’t. She was lost in the weight of his body against hers. The sensation of firm muscles rippling over her softer form. She clasped her hands tightly around his upper arms. His biceps tensed. The power in his muscles made her body shudder.
“I’ll go slow, baby,” he whispered against her lips. “Tell me if you need to stop.”
It wasn’t until she felt him press against her that she realised what he meant. She held her breath as Josh slowly, steadily filled her.
“You are perfect. You feel so good.”
Caroline arched up into him. At last, he settled his frame flush against her. His fingers stroked her face. Caroline’s gaze met his. The blue had been swallowed by black. Her internal muscles clenched at the sight, making him groan. It was wonderful. Nothing had ever felt so right to her. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that she’d fallen in love with him. Only the certainty that anything romantic would ruin the moment made her stop. Josh didn’t want romance.
But he did want her.
“Are you okay?” He placed a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth.
“Amazing. I never knew…” She let out a shuddering sigh. “It’s amazing.”
He smiled against her mouth. “It’s about to get better.”