Without another word he went to work on the hook and eye clasps, on the ties of her stays, removing her plain linen chemise until she stood before him, naked and exposed.
He stepped back and surveyed her form as though she were an exhibit of fine art. When he clasped his hand over his mouth, she feared there was something wrong. Henry had refused to look upon her like this, and she had a sudden urge to clutch her clothing to her chest and hang her head in shame.
"Wh-what's wrong?" she found the courage to say, moving her arms to cover her breasts.
"Wrong? Why would you think there's anything wrong?" He took her hands in his and held them out wide as his hungry eyes devoured every inch of her. "You're perfect. Perfect for me. Perfect in every way. And your breasts, well, the word spectacular springs to mind."
Her cheeks burned. She found she admired him a little more for the compliment.
If only she'd met him a year ago.
"Come," he said taking her hand and guiding her towards the bed. "There is something we must rectify before we can continue."
Curiosity burned away inside. "Now I'm intrigued," she said, her husky tone revealing her desire.
Elliot touched his lips to hers, pulled her to his hard body and moved so her breasts rubbed against the dusting of hair on his chest. The muscles deep in her core pulsed again. As their tongues became lost in each other's mouths, he lowered her down to the bed.
He came down on top of her and the slightest frisson of fear resurfaced. What if she felt squashed? What if she felt as though all the air was being squeezed from her lungs? Panic would set in. She would be plagued by nightmares of Henry.
She pushed at his chest, and he raised himself up on his arms. "Your trousers," she said by way of a distraction, just to give her a moment to catch her breath. "You need to remove them."
"In a moment. I won't hurt you, Grace. I'm about to show you how much I want you." He cast her a wicked smile, and her heart melted; all negative thoughts subsided.
Perhaps he sensed her fear; perhaps he could hear her thoughts.
Plundering her mouth with a swift but wildly erotic kiss, he moved to rain featherlight kisses down her neck, moving lower still.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest when he took her nipple into his mouth, teasing it to peak. The fluttering sensation travelled all the way down to her toes. Grace threw her head back and closed her eyes to stave off her embarrass
ment.
But then he moved lower still, his tongue dipping into and circling her navel as he hooked his arms under her knees and bent her legs.
She was exposed to him now, laid open and bare. "Elliot, don't look. I … I can't …"
"Hush," he whispered. "Trust me."
When his mouth moved against her most intimate place, she gasped for breath, clutched at the coverlet. But he continued to torment her, sucking, licking and kissing, the tip of his tongue penetrating her entrance.
She should have felt shame. She should have tried to stop him.
But it felt so wonderful, so utterly divine.
Elliot lavished her with attention until her breathing grew raspy, until her mind grew foggy and she struggled to rouse a coherent thought. Her body tingled in response, the muscles in her core tightening and she reached down, grabbed his hair and rubbed brazenly against his mouth.
She heard a distant hum. Whether it came from his throat or hers, she didn't know, and she could feel herself being drawn towards a magical abyss.
It came upon her swiftly. The waves of intense pleasure rushed through her entire body. She writhed and moaned against him, called his name. The muscles in her core spasmed, clamped down around his tongue as he thrust it inside her shamelessly.
"Elliot. Oh, I … I …"
Her legs shook. She arched her back, surrendered to the strange yet glorious sensation rippling through her, lifting her from the bed and carrying her away to a heavenly place.
Feeling giddy and a little disorientated, she lay there until she found the courage to open her eyes.
Elliot raised his head, an arrogant smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Now I'll remove my trousers."
Unbuttoning and sliding out of them with speed and efficiency he threw them to the floor, and she gasped again at the sight of his jutting erection.