One thing was certain. If she enjoyed his caresses as much as his kisses, they would be lovers before the week was out.
ChapterTwelve
It wasn’t the knife slicing through the fabric that made Helen hiss a breath. It wasn’t the sudden rush of air into her lungs as the bindings fell away. It was the feel of Nicholas’ hot hands on her bare skin, the tickle of his breath across her back.
The fear of exposing herself vanished when he lowered his head and whispered, “Can I touch you, Helen?”
“You already are.”
His hand had skimmed her hip a moment ago. His mouth moved sensually over the shell of her ear as he spoke to her now.
“I mean intimately. Like lovers do.” He trailed his finger slowly down her spine. “The way a husband touches his wife.”
The last comment did not surprise her. Nicholas would not take liberties without insisting they marry. Marrying him would be a dream come true, but she would stall him for the time being. A man with serious troubles might make hasty decisions.
Did that account for these bold signs of affection?
She might have considered his motive, but he kissed her bare shoulder, a tender press of the lips that spoke a thousand words.
“I can do no more without your consent, Miss Langley.”
Had he spoken formally to jolt her to her senses? To remind her she was unwed and about to let a man fondle her in the attic room of a gaming hell?
“You should consider the matter carefully,” he added, his voice a husky whisper against her neck. “There may come a time when you wish you’d waited, wish you’d let another man have the pleasure.”
You fool, she felt like saying.
It’s you, Nicholas. Only you.
“As I’m a novice in the art of seduction, perhaps you should show me what you mean by touching.” A delightful tremor raced through her at the prospect.
“You wish to receive an education?”
“Only from you.”
“Then we shall begin the first lesson: touching to build anticipation.”
“I—I’m ready when you are.” She was already breathless, her nerves pulled as tight as a bow.
He stroked her shoulder with his fingertips, traced a line down her arm as if fascinated by the soft texture of her skin. A shiver ran through her, and another when he skimmed the waistband of her breeches. Then those teasing digits edged higher, so close to her breasts her stomach lurched with excitement.
“Now, we add sound to enhance the sensations.” Nicholas pressed his mouth to her ear, one hand gently cupping her throat. “Hmm,” he moaned deeply, his thumb stroking the side of her breast.
It was a song with few notes, but the sound vibrated through her, teasing her nipples to peak, sending delicious pulses to her sex.
“What’s next?” she panted, eager to experience more.
“Now we add context, so there can be no doubt.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “This is where I tell you I want you so badly it hurts. Where I push against you and let you feel the hard evidence of my arousal.”
His manhood was like a solid rod against her buttocks.
He rocked suggestively against her while daring to cup her breasts, daring to sweep his thumbs back and forth over her aching nipples.
“Tell me what you need,” he growled.
Lost in a heady wave of desire, she said, “I need you, Nicholas.”
“Where, love?”