Time to give herself to what was happening to them.
Did she know how much he desired her? He suspected not. The ways of men were an unknown country to her.
A realisation came to him, plunging through him.
Will I be her first?
Emotion scythed through him, flaring in his eyes..
‘Elisabetta.’ He spoke softly, so softly, letting his voice pour through the liquid syllables.
His hands curved around her bare shoulders. Her skin was warm to his touch. He rested his thumbs along the delicate bones that arched to her throat and let them smooth her minutely. He felt her tremble beneath his touch.
She was still gazing up at him, her eyes huge, and in them was a longing that was unconscious in its intensity. It jolted through him, tipping him over the edge.
He could resist her no longer.
Slowly, infinitely slowly, he lowered his mouth to hers.
She gave a soft, helpless sigh, her eyes fluttering shut.
He kissed her slowly, very slowly. It was a soft kiss, a caress of her lips with his, and he could feel them shape themselves to him uncertainly, exploringly.
His mouth glided over hers like silk on water.
He took his time, an infinity of time.
This must be perfect for her—perfect.
He mustn’t rush this, must take it at her pace, take her with him slowly, exquisitely, on the journey.
His mouth left hers, left her lips parted as his moved on, across the line of her jaw, to the hollow beneath her ear, gliding like silk, like gossamer, to where with the lightest of touches he caressed the outline of her earlobe.
One hand had slid around the nape of her neck, fingers teasing at the fine tendrils of her hair, while his other hand spanned the arch of her throat.
He felt the low, soft gasp vibrating through his fingers, and then his mouth was on hers again, teasing and caressing, until, with a sigh, she opened to him.
His body surged at the sheer sensuality of it as his tongue glided within. He felt her still, as if with shock, and then, as he intensified his kiss, he felt that moment come again as she yielded to his desire.
His hand swept down from the nape of her neck, along the naked length of her back. His fingers sought the fastening of her dress and, with a skill honed with practice over many years, he released the hook, and slowly, very slowly, slid down the zip.
He felt the bodice loosening against his torso and his hand at her throat moved downwards.
He wanted…He wanted…
Dio, but she was exquisite. Full, and soft—and yet as he cupped the silken mound he felt it ripen at his touch. Against his palm, her nipple flowered.
He felt his body surge again, insistent and demanding. Slowly, sensuously, he palmed her fullness.
She seemed to gasp in her throat, and arched her back, pressing herself against him.
It was all he needed. Desire drove through him, and he swept her up into his arms.
The world tilted on its axis, and her eyes flew open.
Rico’s eyes were blazing down at her, vivid even in the low light. Her heart was soaring like a bird in flight, which was strange, because she felt boneless, weak, helpless in his arms as he carried her the few strides to his bed.
He lowered her gently, tenderly, as if she were a delicate, precious flower.