Dauntless (Gentlemen of the Order 1)

“She feels every hard muscle moving between her sweat-soaked thighs.”

Hell! Eva knew exactly what to say to raise a reaction. “It takes a special maiden to command such power.” He drew his gaze down her body, noted her erect nipples pushing against the simple sprig muslin. “It takes a woman like you, Eva.”

She stroked the elegant column of her throat as if hot, parched. “This is an interesting conversation, though I have never been more aroused than I am at this moment.”

Noah was aroused, too. His cock was so hard it was about to burst from his breeches. “Then ride me, love. Take me to Nirvana.”

His provocative invitation brought a sensual glint to her eyes. “You believe I know the way?”

“I know you do.”

She laughed. “Then hurry, make space.” Her urgency was evident in every shallow breath.

She did not need to tell him twice.

In a mad flurry of activity, he wrapped the pie in the muslin cloth and placed it in the basket. An excitable energy charged the air as she handed him the slab of cake, quickly gathered the plates and made room on the blanket. He snatched the wine bottle, was about to force the cork into the neck when she grabbed the bottle from his hand and took a swig.

“Don’t be shy,” he teased, though he loved that she felt free enough to express herself. “May I have some?” She offered him the bottle, but he shook his head. “I want to drink from your mouth, Eva.”

Her eyes widened. She shuffled closer, took another sip, came up on her knees and kissed him. The rich burgundy trickled into his mouth, but he was more intoxicated by her than he was the wine.

She pulled back, the seam of her lips stained red. “Would you care for more, Mr Ashwood?”

“You know damn well I would.”

A growl rumbled in his throat. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her to his body. There was no time for slow coaxing, for being gentle. With a surge of carnal lust, he penetrated her lips and mated with her mouth.

Hunger clawed at his insides.

Urgent. Restless.

Every sweep of her tongue hardened his cock. The need to lay her down and spread her wide consumed him. The urge to pleasure her, love her, threatened to destroy all rationale, too.

He tore his mouth from hers, snatched the wine bottle from her hand and took a large swig. And then he threw it to the ground and kissed her again. The rich wine mingled in their mouths, dripped down her chin. He licked every drop. He rained kisses along her jaw and throat until the fire inside became a raging inferno.

“Ride me, love,” he panted. “I need to be inside you.”

Breathless, and with eyes glazed with desire, she glanced at the blanket. “Tell me what to do. Show me how to please you.”

Damn. Did she not know that simply being with her brought him untold pleasure? Did she not know that everything about her—her smile, her witty comments, her caring nature—drew him like a magnet?

Love filled his heart.

The feeling burst through his body with such force it left him desperate for their union.

“I shall lean against the apple tree, and you can sit astride me.”

“Then hurry, Noah. What about our clothes?”

“We cannot undress here during the daylight.” They could visit the secret garden on a night when the moon was a waning crescent, strip naked and indulge their fantasies.

Noah moved to sit on the grass, the trunk of the small tree providing support. Eva watched, open-mouthed, as he unbuttoned his breeches and drew his cock free.

A pleasurable sigh breezed from her lips as she bunched her skirts to her thighs and came to sit astride him.

“Take me into your body, love.” Anticipation burned. “Claim me, Eva, as no one else can.”

Her nerves only heightened the experience. While he took himself in hand and acted as guide, she lowered herself down slowly, so damn slowly they must have heard his groan in the house.