Eleanor sat up, setting her book to the side as her lips curved in a small, welcoming smile. There was something to be said about a passionately inclined Eleanor, although he had to admit, he did also enjoy the chase and seduction when she was being reluctant as well. He adored Eleanor in all her moods, even the bad ones.
"Aren't you a pretty picture, waiting for me in the candlelight," he murmured, stalking closer. He could feel his blood rising as she waited patiently for him, excitement kindling on her face and in those sparkling blue eyes. Beneath the folds of her night rail, her nipples were hardening into little buds that poked out at him, begging for attention.
"Who says I was waiting for you?" she responded tartly. "Perhaps my book took my attention."
"Perhaps," he said, grinning wickedly as he reached her, knowing how she enjoyed it when he played the rake for her. "But I doubt it."
Grasping the covers, he yanked them from her body, chuckling at her outraged gasp. But she didn't fight him as he replaced the covers with himself, inserting his knee between her thighs and hovering over her with his body, his lips descending to hers and taking them with a conqueror's kiss. Her hands came up to press against his chest, fingers sliding across his skin and hair.
Then, without warning, she pushed him off to the side, taking him utterly by surprise so that he landed on his back.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, bemused, as she immediately followed her advantage by straddling his thighs, the soft fabric of her night rail teasing his legs and groin.
"You always take the lead," she said, looking down at him in a challenging manner, her stubborn chin thrust outward. "I want to take the lead tonight."
Keen arousal, hot and needy, shot through him and he only barely resisted the urge to turn her on her back and take her immediately. It was the instinct of a man who was always in control, who had never considered relinquishing it. During his time as a rakehell, he'd occasionally come across a woman who desired to take the lead; he'd never allowed them.
But this was Eleanor. His wife.
And she wanted to take the lead.
With a supreme effort of willpower, Edwin forced himself to lay back against the pillows, dropping his hands to his side. Achingly aware of Eleanor's scrutiny as he battled with himself.
"Very well," he said shortly, uncomfortable with the idea but wanting to indulge her now that she'd made a request.
His reward was a brilliant smile that made every bit of discomfort worth it.
Leaning over him, her night rail brushing fleetingly against his body and making him ache, Eleanor pressed a kiss to his lips. Her kiss was much gentler than his, and he opened his mouth, allowing her to take the lead in this as well. The movement of her tongue was inquisitive, almost tentative, before growing in confidence and eagerness.
When she pressed her soft curves down on top of him, Edwin immediately lifted his hands to cup the ample mounds of her bottom. Immediately Eleanor pulled away.
"No... no trying to tempt me to go faster," she said fiercely, pushing his hands back down to his sides.
Edwin groaned. "I can't touch you at all?" He sounded depressingly whiny.
The teasing little smile that flashed across Nell's lips wasn't the least bit reassuring. She was enjoying her newfound power over him. He hoped that she got the most out of it, because this wasn't going to be on the menu on a regular basis.
"Not until I tell you that you can. I want to explore."
True to her word, she began her 'explorations.' Fingers dragged across his skin, followed by her lips, lightly at first and then harder. She constantly looked back up to his face, looking for clues about what he enjoyed and what he didn't. That was easy: he loved and hated all of it.
The light caress of her fingers, the moist kiss of her lips. When her breasts pressed against his chest and she sucked his earlobe into her mouth, dragging her teeth across the sensitive lobe, he nearly lost his control. His hips thrust upwards, his hands moving, before she pulled away, obviously delighted as his response but irritated that he'd moved again.
Taking his hands, Nell shoved them up towards the rails on the headboard. "Hold onto that and don't let go," she admonished, her blue eyes narrowing at him.
Inwardly gritting his teeth, outwardly being as stoic as possible, Edwin obeyed. It was not in his nature to acquiese easily to something like this. Eleanor sat back, studying him, and a little smile went across her face.
"I have an idea," she said. Her weight left him and Edwin let out a long breath, taking the opportunity to marshal his willpower back underneath his control. Eleanor seemed bent on testing it, and while part of him enjoyed her brazenness, he was also not entirely comfortable with it. But she was pleased, and that counted for something.
When she came back, one of his cravats hanging from her hand, Edwin scowled darkly at her. "Absolutely not. You are not tying my hands."
The look that Nell gave him was reminiscent of when they were younger and he'd said something she considered stupid.
"No, I didn't think you'd let me do that." It was reassuring to know that she had some measure of what kind of man he was, at least. He was allowing her to be in control, and he could take back that lead anytime it pleased him. Even restraining his wrists wouldn't help her. Truthfully, it would probably only make him more likely to take it back sooner rather than later.
What Eleanor wanted quickly became evident as she placed the cravat over his eyes. Edwin groaned. He'd liked watching her even if he couldn't touch her, and he knew that her touch was going to become much more intense now. Although he'd never let another woman blindfold him, since their marriage he and Eleanor had made love in complete darkness several times. He'd found the experience achingly erotic, being able to feel but not see her.
But h