Deverill’s husky voice came to her through a fevered haze. “I can imagine how wet you are for me, how hot.”
She thrust herself more urgently against his thigh, her pelvis undulating, her breath rasping.
“Easy, love. Go slowly….The better to draw out our pleasure.”
Slowly? What he asked was impossible. Her body was moving of its own urgent volition while he continued whispering against her ear.
“Just let yourself enjoy, Kate. Let me free you of all that rigid control.”
But her resistance was instinctive. “I don’t want…I can’t—”
“Yes, you can. Use your imagination. Picture me thrusting between your thighs…moving with you, loving your incredible body….”
She could easily imagine her most potent fantasy come to life: Deverill making love to her, loving her…joining with her in perfect union.
Her eyes shut, Kate arched against him as the spiraling pleasure built relentlessly. “What…is happening to me? The heat…”
“I know, angel. Don’t fight it. Just surrender.”
She didn’t want to fight it. She had no power over her body any longer, no power over the coiling tension.
Sensation swelled inside her, unbearably sweet. She rocked back and forth, her muscles clenching, her limbs tightening. This is how a lightning storm feels was her last coherent thought before heat and need exploded through her, so intense her lungs seized. Her keening cry muffled against his coat, she collapsed against Deverill weakly and buried her face in his shoulder as rippling shivers racked her.
For a long while, he said nothing, nor did she. She couldn’t speak. Her breath was gone, her throat dry. She felt dazed, shaken, while her body thrummed with sensual pleasure.
Secure in his embrace, Kate was grateful for the time to cool her overheated senses and reclaim her wits. She didn’t want to move. In truth, she didn’t want anything to disturb the wonder of this moment.
At length, though, Deverill reached up to stroke a wayward tress from her forehead. “That was your first climax, wasn’t it,” he murmured, a statement, not a question. “You are still a virgin.”
Kate kept her face hidden as embarrassment flooded her. Somehow he knew she had been fibbing. “How did you know?”
“Your startlement, for one thing. And you taste like innocence when you kiss. I thought you said you had known lovers before.”
“I might have exaggerated a tiny bit.”
His soft chuckle of disbelief made Kate lift her head to glare at him.
He traced a fingertip over her cheekbone, studying her with intent dark eyes. “Why did you claim otherwise?”
She ducked her head again, her cheeks flaming. “You are so experienced, I didn’t want you thinking me a complete novice at passion. I do have my pride.”
“Ah, darling Kate,” she heard him say with a murmur of laughter. “You never cease to amaze me.”
“I knew you would tease me mercilessly,” she muttered.
“No, no, this is not teasing. I am exceedingly glad you are inexperienced.” His tone was tender and amused. “Indeed, I am honored you chose me to educate you. It makes a man feel more manly to think he can give his woman pleasure.”
She made a scoffing sound. “I have no doubt you can succeed on that score. But I am not your woman and never will be.”
Not answering, he lifted her up to resettle her on his lap and gathered her in his arms. Kate couldn’t summon the will to resist. Instead, she laid her cheek against the fine wool of his coat, the pleasure lingering despite his amusement at her expense.
“You’re incredibly responsive,” Deverill added in a thoughtful tone. “I expected nothing less. That is a high compliment, by the way. I am taking your tutoring to heart.”
He intended to use her own advice against her? Kate was about to protest when Deverill spoke again in a low voice. “You had no need to pretend experience with me.”
Yes, she had. Her prevarication had seemed justified at the time. How did a woman explain her insecurities to a man, especially one as virile and masculine as Deverill? If she’d thought he hadn’t wanted her six years ago, how could he want her now that she was older and practically on the shelf?
While she debated her reply, Deverill nodded to himself. “It makes sense now. Frankly I was amazed to think your brother would allow you to take a lover.”