“I’d never hurt you, I swear. It is just play.” He relaxed his grip a little. “Glorious, exciting play. I would never want you to be afraid of me.”
Julia twisted her hands and broke away. When she shoved hard against his chest, he fell backward onto the floor, almost cracking his skull. He gave thanks for the thick rug beneath him. Julia landed on top of him the next instant and the air rushed from his lungs. She laughed, pinned his hands above his head and kissed him.
Her grip was light, so he easily freed himself, clamped his arms around her body and rolled her over. They kissed while they wrestled, changing position, crashing into chairs in their struggles to best each other. Passion rose sharply for him with every grunt and small victory she claimed.
They were almost at the hearth, Julia’s hair falling from the pins, her thighs clamped tightly around his legs, when he drew back. A light sheen of perspiration caused by her struggles had brought out a healthy glow to her skin. She laughed as he untangled their limbs a little but didn’t move to straighten herself. “That was fun.”
“Delightful.” He kissed her lips quickly, and then buried his face at her neck. He licked her skin, one long taste from the base of her throat to the edge of her hair. She shrieked and bucked beneath him. He drew back and admired his future wife. One knee was raised provocatively and the glimpse of her bare thigh caught his attention. “No trousers? I’m halfway disappointed.”
“Only Imogen has ever seen me wear them,” she promised, fiddling with the ends of his cravat, which had come undone while they’d wrestled. She removed it slowly, her breath coming fast as his throat was bared. His shirt gaped, and her eyes widened as she stared at his chest.
Since most of her hair was coming down anyway, he removed the remaining pins and swept his fingers through the wild shoulder-length curls so they spilled in an arc around her head. “Well, we’ll have to rectify that when we marry. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dress as a man for a whole day?”
Her eyes widened impossibly. “You’d let me? I could never keep a shirt or waistcoat for myself at home. Cook always pinched them back so I’ve only ever had the one pair of trousers Linus outgrew years ago. I’ve always had to hide them or wear them.”
“I’ll act as valet, and then have the fun of undressing you afterward,” he said as he slipped his hand down over her thigh and stroked her bare skin.
Julia laughed again then caught his head, pulled him down over her and wrapped her body around his. She teased him with a gentle kiss. “I could get used to being like this all the time. No one scolding me to behave like a lady. I can’t believe how much fun you are.”
“I’m not surprised, but I am lucky to have a woman who is not afraid of a little rough and tumble. I like that about you very much.” He kissed her hard, any pretense of gentleness swept away by her eager response. The temptation of her lithe body was too much. He touched her collarbone with the tips of his fingers, and stroked to the edge of her gown. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he moved on to cup her breast. When he gently squeezed the soft orb, her back arched from the floor and a low moan left his throat. He rocked his hips against her core and was gratified to hear yet another moan tumble from her lips. Oh yes, they had a great deal in common.
He unbuttoned the fall of his trousers but she noticed his attention had changed direction and stilled his hand. He dropped his head to her shoulder. Too fast. Too soon. “Forgive me.”
When she said nothing, he lifted his head to meet her gaze.
A bright blush had swept over her cheeks. “I’ve always been curious. May I?”
“By all means.” He liked that she would be so honest in her desire, despite her innocence and blushes. He eased back and when she pushed her hand into his open trousers, he groaned this time.
“So warm,” she whispered as her fingers wrapped around him. She squeezed him as firmly as his grip on her breast, and when he flexed his fingers she mimicked him. Curious to see how far she would copy him, he stroked his thumb over her hardened nipple.
Julia teased the head of his cock, and he groaned heavily. There was only so far this could go before the inevitable happened and she ended up his lover before marriage. He grinned. Where was the harm if they both wanted the same thing? “It’s all your fault for exciting me to the brink of madness. You can add temptress to your list of accomplishments.”
She punched his shoulder when she realized he was teasing rather than complaining and then slipped her hand back down to touch him. Her brow furrowed with concentration as she stroked over his length and she then teased the head again with her thumb. He was hard and aching, undoubtedly the evidence of his desire was on her fingertips. She squeezed harder and he thrust into her hand once, unable to stop himself.
He slipped his hand to her thigh and slowly lifted her gown high. A quick glance confirmed that she was as red between her legs as the hair on her head. Her thighs were pale and slender, trembling at his touch. He caressed her skin gently to soothe her, listening as her breath hitch when he inched higher toward the apex of her thighs. He brushed over her core lightly and earned a gasp. He rubbed her red curls between his fingers and then tugged slowly so her lower lips might part.
Julia arched from the floor again. “Did you invite me here to make love to me?”
“No. I had not planned to.” He moved his hand back to her thigh. “I just wanted to be with you tonight.”
She smiled softly and stoked him again. “I’m not nervous at all, Valentine. I like the way you make me feel about myself. About us. I don’t want to wait until the wedding. Make me yours tonight.”
He rose to his knees, shoved his trousers off his hips roughly, and leaned over her. “Your dare was the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Julia—brave, headstrong Julia—unbuttoned his waistcoat, slipped her hands under his shirt, and drew them both over his head.
His senses reeled at her eagerness.
She flattened her palms over his chest and a slow grin curved her lips. “You are very finely built, Mr. Merton.”
“And you, Miss Radley, are wearing far too many clothes. I want them off you now.” He reached for the buttons on her gown. Thankfully they were in the front and he quickly parted the material, revealing a fine silk chemise beneath. Through the thin material he could see the pink of her nipples. He moved off her and stripped her quickly until she lay bare on his rug, her skin kissed by the flickering candlelight.
He kept his eyes on her while he kicked off his remaining clothes.
Julia was breathtaking. Pert breasts, tiny waist, and long slender limbs. She was also blushing all over so her skin glowed pink.
Valentine smothered her with his body, gasping at the scorching contact of her flaming skin. He kissed her urgently, and she moved restlessly against him.