“If you want to talk about perfection—” he paused and reached behind her, releasing the clasp of her bra “—you’re the one who’s stunning.”
The appreciation in his dark eyes stole her breath. But when he cupped her breasts with both hands, then kissed each hardened tip, her knees wobbled and she had to place her palms on his chest to steady herself.
The moment her fingers came into contact with the thick pads of his pectoral muscles, he shuddered and she knew he loved having her touch him as much as she loved having him touch her. Inspired to give him as much pleasure as he was giving her, she continued her exploration of his body and let her hands drift down to his belt buckle.
When she paused to glance up at him, he grinned. “Don’t stop now, sweetheart. This is just starting to get interesting.”
“That’s one of the things that I’ve always found amazing about you,” she said, unbuckling the tooled leather strap of his belt.
“What’s that?” he asked, his breathing sounding a bit labored.
“You openly encourage me to do the same things to you that you’re doing to me,” she said, releasing the button at the top of his jeans.
“That’s a big part of making love, sweetheart” he said, teasing her nipples with the pads of his thumbs. “It’s about trust and the freedom to learn what we like and how to bring the most pleasure to each other.”
She wasn’t all that experienced, but she had a feeling not all men were willing to be vulnerable with their partner. Her heart swelled with emotion at the thought that Blake was secure enough in his manhood to trust her that much when they made love.
When she smiled and took hold of the tab at the top of his fly, he drew in a deep breath. “Don’t get me wrong. I love what you intend to do,” he said, his smile so sexy it sent her pulse racing. “But an excited man and a metal zipper can be a real bad combination.”
She gazed up at him as she eased one hand inside his jeans between his cotton underwear and the zipper. “Maybe this will keep you safe,” she said, delighting in the heat she detected in his eyes as she eased the offending zipper down over his insistent erection.
But she hadn’t anticipated the effect his arousal would have on her. The feel of the hard ridge against the backs of her fingers caused heat to flow through her veins and her insides to feel as if they had turned to warm pudding.
By the time she finished the task of unzipping him, she felt as if she might go up in a puff of smoke. But when she looked up at Blake’s handsome face, his eyes were closed and a muscle worked along his lean jaw as if he might be in pain.
“Are you all right?” she asked, concerned.
He opened his eyes and his slow, sexy grin sent a shiver up her spine. “Sweetheart, do you have any idea what it does to a man when a woman touches him like that?”
“Even through your underwear?” she asked playfully.
Laughing, he nodded. “It’s a thin barrier and a real sensitive area. I’d have to be a eunuch not to react.”
Moving her hands to his sides, she carefully pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down his lean hips and muscular thighs. When she lowered them to his ankles, she caressed the backs of his knees and strong calves. Rewarded with his deep groan, she realized that something as simple as skimming her hands down the backs of his legs could bring him pleasure.
When he stepped out of the denim and cotton, then kicked his clothing to the side, she bit her lower lip to keep a tiny moan from escaping. “You’re absolutely beautiful. I’ve always thought so.”
Shaking his head, he pulled her to him. “Women are all gentle curves and soft, smooth skin. That’s beautiful. But men are too angular, hard and hairy to be anything but passable at best.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” she said, gazing up at him.
He surprised her when he raised one dark eyebrow. “Really? I’m standing here without a stitch of clothes on and you had to mention the word short?”
In truth, he was a man who had nothing whatsoever to be insecure about and the humor in his eyes told her he knew it. She couldn’t help but giggle as she placed her hands on his wide chest.