Page 39 of Tempting the Marquess

There was a long moment of silence, and her spirits plummeted. William didn’t want her. He thought her soiled goods. Now he would throw herout.

“That man was a complete fool,” said William, his tone so low and rough, she quivered. “If that had been me, I would have taken my time. Spread you across my bed and worshiped every inch of you until you were so wet, so ready, you begged me to fillyou.”

Samantha blinked in confusion. “Wet? Do people usually bathe during the act? I don’t understand.”

He smiled, a slow, wicked grin that hardened her nipples and set a pulse throbbing between her legs. “I know some couples enjoy being intimate in a bathing chamber together. But I am speaking of something different. When a lady is prepared…properly prepared…her body creates a special wetness to ease a man’s way inside her. And it doesn’t hurt, it feels good. Very, verygood.”

“Then why, my lord,” she murmured, lighting running her fingernails against his chest, “are we still here in the foyer when we could be upstairs?”

“You’re sure?” William stilled her venturing hand, serious now. “Because once I have you in my bed, I’ll want all of you. And once won’t nearly be enough.”

Heat jolted through her and she squirmed, the heavy cloak and chemise she wore far too much for her suddenly sensitive skin. “Iinsist.”

Seconds later he scooped her up in his arms as though she weighed nothing at all, and walked toward the wide, sculpted staircase leading to the upper floors. Every step was both a delight and a torment, as he held her tightly against him, and her breasts rubbed back and forth against his chest. By the time they reached the marquess’s bedchamber she was desperate, her taut nipples aching to be touched, and the pulsing between her legs unbearable.

“Welcome to my quarters,” said William as he set her down in the center of the surprisingly warm room, the roaring fire adding heat as well as light. An oversized four-poster bed draped with bronze satin brocade curtains dominated the east wall. In another corner was a screened off area for bathing and dressing, and two comfortable-looking chairs sat facing each other along with a low table in front of the fireplace. The walls were plain cream, but the burnished wood paneling and bronze-striped rugs thick enough to sink into gave the room an elegant, opulentfeel.

“It’s beautiful,” she replied, her breath hitching when he trailed the back of one knuckle along herjaw.

Oh God. This was really happening.

Her fingers trembled and she fumbled with the clasp of her cloak, eventually managing to shrug the garment off. “I’m not really sure what to do. Last time…I didn’t disrobe.”

William’s eyes flared, and he nodded. “Good. Because I’m going to enjoy unwrappingyou.”

Then he leaned down, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. It may have started sweet and gentle, as though to reassure her, then the flame sparked to life, and all thoughts were forgotten in a mad, needy tangle of lips and tongues. They didn’t stop, even when a few expert flicks of his fingers unfastened the ribbon of her chemise and tugged it over her head. Helpfully, she sent her slippers flying with two inelegant kicks behindher.

“My stockings,” she said, starting to bend down and unfasten the little rose garters holding themup.

“Leave them,” he growled, his gaze both approving and appreciative. Then he cupped the lush fullness of her breasts in his hands and dragged his thumbs back and forth against her swollen, jutting nipples.

Samantha moaned at the exquisitely pleasurable sensation. But here she was, practically naked, and he was still fully dressed. This wouldn’tdo.

Reaching up, she grappled with the collar button of his shirt. After a few frustratingly unsuccessful attempts, she gripped each side and tore the fabric in two. “There.”

“My lady is impatient,” said William with a grin, but soon it was him breathing unsteadily as she explored his hot, smooth skin and the sprinkling of dark hair on his chest.

“Indeed I am, my lord, “she replied in a husky, sultry voice she didn’t even know she possessed. “What are you going todo?”

“Take you tobed.”

Again he lifted her as if she weighed nothing, and carried her over to the bed. After pulling back the embroidered quilt and setting her down on crisp linen sheets, he began to unfasten his trousers. She swallowed hard at the size of his erection, but he didn’t fully remove the garment. Instead, he gently parted her thighs, and shifted position so he knelt between them. It was a strange sensation, being so open and vulnerable. And yet the absorption with which he was studying her breasts and belly and the secret place between her legs gave her a heady feeling of power, too.

“Well, William? Are you going to touch, or justlook?”

“So impatient,” he murmured, although his lips twitched. Finally he leaned down and cupped her right breast, capturing her nipple between his teeth and scrapingit.

She jerked, crying out. Yet he was merciless, tormenting her nipples with his mouth as he alternately bit and sucked them until they were so sensitive she could scarcely bear it. Her legs were shifting in agitation, wanting to press together to ease the ache between them, but she couldn’t. “Please.”

As though he understood, William trailed his hand along the soft skin of her leg, stroking behind her knee then continuing further up. She nearly stopped breathing when he reached the tangle of blonde curls guarding her mound, but instead of cupping and pressing, he skated up and around and back down again. Samantha groaned.

“Again, so impatient, darling. Anyone would think your clitoris was in desperate need of attention. Or is your aching quim the issue?”

Uncertain, she frowned at the unfamiliar words. “I…I don’tknow.”

William’s gaze sharpened. “Ah. Allow me to demonstrate, so you may make an educated decision. This,” he said parting her nether curls and pressing a spot near the top that forced a gasp of delight from her throat, “is your clitoris.”

“There!”