Page 71 of Just a Little Daring

“I know,” she said impatiently, and pressed her mouth to his, kissing him passionately.

August gave a brief huff of laughter against her lips before gathering her against him and giving her the kiss she wanted. He kissed her until she was giddy, plundering her mouth as his hands roamed over her, the silk whispering in their wake. He drew back to regard the damage he’d wrought.

“Less talking, more action. I have my instructions, then,” he said, his eyes glinting mischievously as he tugged his shirt over his head.

“Yes,” Vivien squeaked, scurrying onto the bed and kneeling down in the middle to watch the marvellous spectacle of her husband disrobing. Her heart thudded as she took in a splendidly broad chest with a scattering of gold hair that trailed down, arrowing beneath the line of his trousers. He dispensed with these efficiently too, pushing trousers and small clothes down past strong thighs and kicking his discarded clothing aside. August stood still for her, letting her peruse her bridegroom at her leisure.

“Do I meet with your approval?”

He arched one eyebrow, the rat, for he must know that he was gorgeous, all long limbs and sleek muscle, his belly taut and well defined. Her gaze fell inevitably to that most masculine part of him and everything feminine within her quivered in anticipation.

“I am on my knees and thanking my maker for his bountiful gifts,” Vivien said, fighting a smile.

August laughed, pleased with the comment. “As you should be, for if you do not admire me now in all my magnificence, I shall be in a sorry taking ten years hence.”

“You’ll still be magnificent when you are an old, old man, and I shall still adore you,” Vivien said, her heart kicking with excited anticipation as he climbed onto the bed.

“Do you adore me, love?” he asked, moving until they sat opposite each other, knees touching.

“Yes,” she said simply.

“What a lucky devil I am,” he murmured with a sigh, whilst he pushed one delicate strap from her shoulder. The night gown slipped lower, the lace catching on the taut nub of her nipple so that it didn’t fall.

August’s lips quirked, and he pushed the other strap down too. Once again, the lace only fell part way. He huffed out a laugh. “Devilish thing means to torment me. Take it off at once.”

It was a command, but his eyes were warm and teasing, and so Vivien obeyed him, wriggling the nightgown up over her hips and then tugging it over her head. She cast it aside, feeling a blush warm her cheeks as she turned back to her husband.

He was gazing at her with such reverence her nerves subsided.

“Mercy,” he whispered. “I may not survive the night. What is the price for making love with a goddess? Surely some angry god will come and smite me for my temerity.”

“Such nonsense,” Vivien tsked, rolling her eyes.

“Take down your hair for me.” It was less of a command this time, more of a plea, and his breath caught as Viv raised her arms to remove the simple clasp that she’d secured her hair with. It fell, cascading over her shoulders and breasts to her waist.

August reached to touch it. “More black silk,” he murmured. “Such wickedness.”

Gently he eased her backwards onto the mattress, his gaze hungry with wanting her as his hands explored, caressing, stroking, until Vivien wanted to stretch and purr like a cat in the sun. August lay beside her, leaning down to kiss her as his hands continued a languid exploration of her body, his long fingers dipping occasionally between her thighs to wreak havoc upon her self-control. Viv’s reaction to this sensuous assault was not the least bit languorous as his lazy attentions stoked her from a pleasantly simmering warmth until her body felt all ablaze.

“August,” she panted, needing him now, understanding what the hollow ache inside her was clamouring for.

“Not yet,” he said, kissing a path down her neck to her breasts as his fingers returned to the sensitive place between her thighs to provoke more of that deliciously maddening sensation until she felt she would scream. Quite beyond shame or maidenly reserve, she spread her legs, begging him for more or she would lose her mind.

“So beautiful.”

His words were full of adoration and Viv sighed as he bent his head, stroking his hair. He covered her nipple with his mouth, suckling hard, and slid his fingers inside her.

It was perhaps not quite a scream, but her reaction was fierce and her cry loud enough to shock herself as the pleasure took her over, rolling through her with such force that by the time she could remember her own name she was utterly boneless.

“Heavens,” she panted, staring up at her husband, whose blue eyes were dark and heavy lidded. “And we haven’t, you haven’t even….”

She couldn’t quite remember where she’d been going with that observation, though August seemed to understand.

“No, though I intend to rectify the oversight now,” he said, moving between her legs.

“Now?” Vivien replied, still dazed and floating in a pleasant fog that might easily have had her drifting to sleep. “I’m not sure I have the… Oh!”

Vivien’s breath caught as August’s arousal slid over her slick flesh and desire burst to life all over again. He chuckled, the bad man, and Vivien slid her arms about his neck.