Wedding Violet (Fair Cyprians of London 4)

“Take me to bed, Max.” Her whisper was hoarse with desire, but although the passion of his kiss gave her no reason to doubt he was as eager as she was to feel her skin against his, his response was tempered.

“Not too fast, my darling. I want to savour you.”

She drew back slightly, surprised at the intensity of his look.

He dropped his hands. “Can I see you undress for me, Violet?” he whispered. “We’ve shared so much, but I want this to remember. I want to see what you look like.”

How extraordinary that a whore could feel embarrassment at such a request. But whores were required to do as they were asked by the men who paid them.

He must have seen the reflection of such a sentiment flash across her face, for the moment she started unbuttoning her cuirass, he put a hand on her wrist to stay her.

“Only if you would do it willingly, though.” He pressed his lips together as if he were anxious he’d offended her. “Only if you’d do it for a man you…”

He seemed to struggle for the words, and, with amusement, she supplied, “For a man you love?” She drew in a breath that forced up her breasts and slowly began to work on the row of tiny buttons at her front, as she smiled at him.

“Say if you want me to hasten the process. I’d hate you to get bored, my love,” she said breathily, causing him to close his eyes and put his hand to his head in a gesture of supposed agony.

“By God, you torment me, woman…and I love it!” His eyes shone with amusement. “Go slow, I beg you, so that I can savour every second.” He took a step back, crossed his arms and, with a small inclination of his head and a wicked smile, signalled for her to begin.

The slow burn within Violet’s breast was already making itself felt in her lower regions. She tried to tell herself this was merely business. She tried to act as if it was, but it was hopeless.

All she could feel was fevered anticipation as she worked first the buttons to remove her slim-fitting bodice, then the hooks that kept her swathed skirt in place, until she was clad only in her corset over her combinations.

“Dear God, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Let me help you.”

Before she had time to respond, Max’s hands were on her, stroking the swell of her breasts and contouring her slim waist. He held her to him a moment, tipped her face and gently kissed her lips.

Thinking Max would want to remove her corset and to enjoy the skin to skin contact that was his preference, she turned her back to him and held out the laces.

“Truly, you’re a sight for sore eyes. But I’m too impatient for that,” he growled, drawing her round to face him. “We’ll save that for next time.”

Next time. It was music to her ears.

Then Max’s hands were on her, stroking the swell of her breasts and contouring her slim waist. He held her to him a moment, tipped her face, and brought his mouth down to hers.

It was like a match to tinder. She’d thought she’d inured herself to the shock of his touch, but this was something altogether different. Like releasing the beast within her; the wounded soul. The wanton lover.

The simple woman thirsting for love.

Stumbling back, Violet fell back upon the bed, Max upon her, their lips still fused while his hands roamed the length of her, seeming to be everywhere at once. Stroking her thighs, smoothing her hair from her face, fondling her nipples.

Finding the sweet, sensitive place at the juncture of her thighs which made plain how ready and willing she was to receive him.

He kissed her there, each stroke of his tongue sending shudders of longing, pleasure, and anticipation through the core of her; filling her mind with the fevered madness of desire.

She’d never felt more vulnerable. Or full of need.

“Is that where you like it, my sweeting?” he murmured, raising his head a moment and piercing her heart with the intensity of his narrow-eyed gaze.

“Oh yes.” Nearly at the pinnacle, it came out as a rasping breath of rapture, before she drew him upwards and insinuated her hand within the linen of his trousers to grasp his rigid shaft. He stiffened and shuddered; closing his eyes and clenching his jaw as she deftly removed the last of his clothing and took him in her mouth.

“Egad, you know how to please a man.” He arched his back and touched her hair, gasping his enjoyment until he gently disengaged her, and drew her up so they were eye to eye.

“Enough. I want to do this together.”

Together. She’d never heard a word so sweet.

He rose above her, caging her body with his, supporting his weight with one hand while he positioned himself at her entrance. Violet lay on her back, her breathing shallow due to the corset she still wore, her body swimming in lustful pleasure.