She returned a soft smile.

Kyle raised himself onto one elbow, his gaze roaming over her face. “How is it that you’re even more beautiful in daylight?”

“How,” Selena demurred, “does one answer a question like that?”

A grin curved the corners of his mouth. “By kissing me.”

He bent his head then and gave her a long, leisurely kiss that set her pulse racing. “Do you know,” he said at last, murmuring against her lips, “that we’ve never made love in the daytime?” And before she could answer the question, he lowered his head and brushed his lips against her nipple. The bud was tender and sensitive, so that even the lightest touch aroused her. Selena drew in her breath and arched her back involuntarily.

His tongue flicked out to continue the delightful torment. “Don’t you think,” he mused, “that we should remedy the oversight?”

Selena’s eyelids fluttered shut, and when she responded with a breathless “Yes,” it was the last coherent word she spoke for a long while.

It was even longer before she found the energy to slip out from under the muscular arm that Kyle had thrown over her in exhaustion and leave the bed to wash and dress.

She found the water pitcher half-full and performed her ablutions with haste, for Kyle was watching her shamelessly. He had pulled himself up to lounge against the headboard, making no effort to hide his nakedness.

To her own shame, Selena found herself stealing surreptitious glances at Kyle. He looked starkly masculine and gloriously rugged with that growth of dark stubble shadowing his jaw. The sight made her skin tingle with remembered pleasure. And when Kyle met her eyes knowingly, holding her in a lazy gaze, she realized he was quite aware of how his nudity was affecting her.

He remained silent as she donned her chemise, but when she picked up her corset, Kyle shook his head. “Leave it. I want my woman to be a woman, not some trussed up goddess.”

Selena cast a startled glance at him. “Very well,” she said doubtfully, and obediently let the corset drop to the floor. When Kyle grinned with a quick, boyish warmth, Selena felt her heart flutter. She returned his smile shyly, realizing how much she wanted to please him.

Their intimate glance was interrupted, however, when a thumping knock sounded on the door. Selena had only enough time to snatch up Angel’s wrapper before Angel herself came bustling into the room.

The redhead was carrying a tray piled with food, and she grinned broadly as she surveyed Selena. “I brought you two lovebirds some breakfast. Thought you might be in need of a little sustenance after so much exercise.”

Selena’s cheeks turned the color of the brocade counterpane, but Kyle answered with an easy grin of his own. “Angel, my love, you know just how to win a man’s heart.”

“Sure hope so. Otherwise, I’d be outta business, now wouldn’t I?” As she set the tray on the table, Angel’s glance took in Kyle. He had modestly covered the lower half of his body with a sheet, but his rock-hard stomach and well-muscled chest were exposed to her appreciative gaze. “You know it’s past noon?”

“Is it?” His tone was bland.

“Yeah, and I gotta have somethin’ to wear.” Angel went to the wardrobe and pulled out a high-necked dark blue gown. “Can’t go around in evenin’ attire on a Sunday. Wouldn’t be proper.”

“I suppose,” Kyle said, casting an amused glance at where his wife stood rooted to the floor, “we should thank you for the use of your room.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do after the way you ran off those Bible pounders.”

“All quiet downstairs?”

“Downstairs, yes, but not up here, I reckon. Lord, a body can’t get any sleep with all the caterwaulin’ goin’ on.”

Her pointed reference to the cries of ecstasy coming from the room made Selena’s face flood a deeper shade of crimson, but Angel appeared not to notice. With a swish of skirts, she crossed to the door. Before she left, though, she turned to wink at Selena. “You just keep it up, honey. I’d say you’re doin’ fine.”

Ready to sink through the floor, Selena stood still even after the door closed, her face burning. She couldn’t look at Kyle.

She heard his soft chuckle behind her as he got out of bed. “Why are you so embarrassed, Moonwitch? I’m the one who ought to be mortified. Seduced by my own wife in a brothel! It’s a good thing my crew isn’t around to witness it. They would roast me alive. Now come and eat breakfast before it gets cold.”

Selena ventured a look at Kyle, and her embarrassment turned to shock. He meant to eat without any clothes on, she realized. And he seemed totally unconcerned by his nudity, for he flashed her a teasing grin as he held out a chair for her.

When she hesitated, his grin deepened. “Selena,” he murmured, laughter in his eyes, “it’s a little late for modesty between us.”

She took her seat then, trying to appear unconcerned, as well. But she was grateful when he settled himself across the table instead of next to her.

Kyle kept up a stream of light conversation as he served both their plates, and listening, Selena realized she had never seen him so cheerful.

Eventually his good humor began to affect her, too, and she started to relax, despite the savage splendor of the bare, bronzed chest facing her. Halfway through the meal she was even responding to Kyle’s bantering remarks. By the time Kyle pushed away his plate, Selena’s guard was down. She wasn’t at all prepared for his suddenly serious question.

Tags: Nicole Jordan Historical
Source: readsnovelonline.net