Merely the Groom (Free Fellows League 2)

Gillian smothered a giggle against his shoulder blade.

If the footman noticed the shaking bedclothes, he was too well schooled to show any signs of it.

“My bath was fine,” Colin told him. “But I feel certain that my bride will want a hot bath as soon as she rises.”

“Yes, of course, sir.” The footman looked at Colin. “We’ll begin preparations right away.”

“Heat the water,” Colin told him. “I’ll ring when she’s ready for it.”

“Yes, sir,” the footman said. “Shall I bring you your coffee before it gets cold, sir?”

“No,” Colin said. “Thank you.”

The footman bowed. “You’re welcome, sir, and felicitations to you and to Lady Grantham on the occasion of your nuptials.”

“Thank you.”

“Very good, sir.” The footman turned and left the room.

?

?Is he gone?” Gillian propped herself on her elbow and peeked out from beneath the coverlet.

“He’s gone,” Colin confirmed, shifting his weight and rolling from his side to his back. He looked up at her. “Now, where were we?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Where were we?”

Colin grinned up at her. “You were telling me you liked looking at me,” he reminded her. “And I was about to kiss you good morning.”

“Is that where we were?”

“Aye.” The one word was a deep, rumbling Scottish burr. She leaned closer.

“If you’re willing,” he continued in that same deep, rumbling burr.

Gillian was mesmerized by the expression on his face and in his eyes. “Willing to do what, my lord?”

“Willing to let me choose the time and place.”

She nodded.

His voice quavered a bit when he met her gaze. “I need to hear you say it, Gillian.”

“I’m willing,” she said softly.

“Good.” Colin rolled Gillian onto her back, then closed the distance between them, kissing first her lips, then her cheeks and chin and eyelids. He tangled his fingers in her hair and tilted her chin up so that he could kiss the soft spot beneath her ear.

Gillian shivered beneath his touch, tilting her chin even higher to allow him better access to her neck and chest. Colin took full advantage. He used his tongue to trace the flesh visible above the neck of her nightgown. He sat back on his heels, then reached down and untied the neat satin bow at the neck of her white silk nightgown, and worked the tiny pearl buttons loose from their tiny loops.

He opened her bodice and spread the sides wide so he could feast on the sight of Gillian’s rounded breasts. “You’re beautiful,” he breathed.

Gillian recognized the look of admiration in Colin’s warm green eyes and knew that he meant it.

He leaned forward, cupped one smooth, satiny globe in his hand, and touched his lips to the dark center.

Gillian sucked in a breath at the wonderful sensation his tiny kiss evoked. Desire gripped her. Eager for more, Gillian reached up and threaded her fingers in Colin’s thick blond hair and held his head to her breasts. “Again,” she ordered.

Colin obeyed, touching and tasting, and gently nipped at the hard bud with his teeth. And then he suckled her, and Gillian thought she might die of the pleasure, as her nerve endings became gloriously alive and sent tiny electrical currents throughout her body, igniting her responses.