It sounded so primal, so carnal.
He brushed the damp hair away from her forehead, a smile that was just shy of smug playing at the edges of his mouth. ‘See? You’re not hopeless at this. You’re a natural.’
Poppy trailed a fingertip down his sternum rather than meet his triumphant gaze. ‘So...forty-two minutes, huh? Did you set a stop-watch or something?’
He pushed her chin up so her gaze was level with his. ‘Being a considerate lover is a responsibility I take very seriously as a man. No woman should feel rushed to meet a timetable that isn’t hers. Your body will have different moods and needs. What works well one time may not work so well another time.’
Poppy traced her index finger over the contour of his lower lip, her softer skin catching on his stubble like silk on sandpaper. ‘You seem to know your way around a woman’s body.’
‘I’m still getting to know yours but what I’ve discovered so far is delightful.’ He captured her fingertip with his lips and sucked it into his mouth. She shivered as she felt the intimate pull of his warm mouth, his eyes glittering with primal intent as they held hers.
Poppy sank back with a blissful sigh as he moved over her, balancing his weight on his arms so as not to crush her. The sexy abrasion of his masculine leg hair against her smoother skin was a potent reminder of how different he was from her. His mouth covered hers in a sizzling-hot kiss that fired up all of her nerve-endings all over again. His tongue played with hers in a commanding way, taming hers into submission, then backing off, making her come in search of him, encouraging her to be bolder, more daring. She took up the challenge, enjoying the deep murmurs of approval that came from his throat as her tongue danced with his.
His hands glided over her breasts, touching, teasing in unhurried strokes that made her heart race. He worked his way down her abdomen, those lazy caresses over her belly, hips and thighs making her skin tremble all over with need. She felt his erection move against her and got a sense of the urgency that was building in him from the increased rate of his breathing. It excited her that she was the one doing that to him, that she could have that sensual power over him.
He reached for a condom from the bedside drawer and tore the little packet with his teeth before applying it. He was not only a sensitive lover, but also a safety-conscious one. How different from her mother’s experience with her father, who had only wanted to slake his lust without a thought for the consequences.
‘Are you still sure you want to go ahead with this?’ Rafe asked.
Poppy touched his steely length, her body already pulsing with a longing so intense it was like a pain deep inside. ‘I want you to make love to me.’
His eyes meshed with hers for a long moment of intimacy that made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world he had ever wanted or would ever want. ‘I’ll go really slowly,’ he said in a gravel-rough voice. ‘Tell me if I’m hurting you.’
She put her arms around his neck and kissed his mouth, breathing in the male scent of him, the raspy feel of his stubble on her softer skin making her celebrate her femininity in a way she had never done before.
He moved against her, guiding himself as he gently nudged her apart. ‘All right so far?’
Poppy nodded. ‘I’m OK.’
‘Relax, ma petite.’ He waited for her to let go of her tight muscles before he tried again. ‘You’re in control, remember?’
She felt the glide of his body within hers, her own moisture making the passage far easier than she had thought possible. He was so big, yet her body stretched to accommodate him. She was feeling really proud of herself, but then he went that little bit deeper and a sharp pain tugged at her. ‘Ouch!’
He stopped and held her steady, his deep-brown eyes full of concern. ‘Sorry, ma chérie. That was too deep, yes?’
‘No...I’m OK.’ She took a little breath. ‘I’m sorry for being such a drama queen.’
‘You’re not being a drama queen.’ He brushed the hair back from her forehead. ‘You’re tiny. Just try not to tense up. Your muscles need to be relaxed to accommodate me. Let your legs go.’ He kissed her softly on the mouth, making her melt into him as he slowly went deeper. Her tender flesh caught on him but it didn’t hurt as much this time. She lifted her hips and he went in with a smooth, gliding thrust that made her gasp in pleasure.
He paused again. ‘All right?’
‘Mmm...’ Poppy caressed his back and shoulders, getting used to the feel of him deep inside her. He started to thrust, the friction of his body within hers stirring sensations that spiralled out from her core. She felt the tight ache of want building inside her; it was a thrumming pulse that reverberated throughout her body.