could not very well strip, Severin. You might have screamed when you saw me.”
She permitted herself a small smile. “I don’t think so. I have seen you naked before.”
“Not all the way.” He remembered their first encounter in his carriage with renewed chagrin.
Her eyes glowed with amusement, much to his irritation. “Nearly. But I was not ready.”
“Are you ready now?”
The question was bold, but she was bolder. Severin sat on the bed and leaned over him. He restrained himself from running his hands through her hair, even though soft tendrils brushed his face.
“Yes,” she said. And then she kissed him. That they had done, but—
Marko could not hold back another second. His arms went around her and he rolled her over until he was on top, pressing her down.
Her lips parted and her eyes shone with desire as strong as his own. He kissed her neck, then felt something touch his cheek. It was a pendant, a drop of amber set in gold. The fine chain it hung from had come unclasped.
Marko captured the pendant before it rolled away, preventing the chain from tangling in Severin’s tumbled hair. The gem was as smooth and warm as her skin.
“It is my talisman,” she said softly. “Look closely. There is a flaw in it that looks like an eye.”
He closed his fingers over the heavy drop of amber. “I would just as soon not be watched, if you don’t mind.”
Severin laughed in a low voice. “Then put it away.”
Marko found a small pocket that usually held a watch and tucked the pendant and the chain in there without another thought, going back to kissing her. Severin moaned into his mouth as he caressed her breasts, arching her back, almost shoving her body into his exploring hands.
So she too had held back. The knowledge pleased him.
She was unfastening her bodice, revealing her breasts. Her nipples were dark, tightened with arousal.
No doubt she craved a good sucking on both. He fastened his lips upon one and rolled the other between his fingertips. It was exciting to make love to her when she was nearly dressed. He might want to keep her that way, at least for a little while.
Severin took hold of her skirts and lifted the rustling stuff over her knees.
She was utterly beautiful and wanton. No, he wanted her just as she was, a flower of silk with those lavish skirts pulled up and spread around her bare legs.
Marko sucked her nipples in turn, and stroked the rounded thighs that she allowed to fall open. Because they were on a bed and not in a closed carriage, she could open them very wide.
His fingertips trailed from her knee, moving several inches up from there. But as he had done then, he did not touch the juicy flesh between them. He looked forward to witnessing her complete sexual excitement.
Marko nuzzled her neck, letting her rub her bare breasts and hard-sucked nipples against his shirt. She gave little cries of pleasure and tugged at his coat.
He rose halfway and dragged it off, flinging it across the room.
Severin swiftly undid the tie at his neck, parting his shirt fronts and sliding her hand inside to touch his chest. She seemed to enjoy the light tickle of the hair upon it, and the Wolf knew how much he enjoyed feminine nails lightly scratching at his sensitive nipples.
Her hand moved down to his waist to draw his lower body closer, but her voluminous skirts got in the way. Well, he might have to undress her completely after all. But not just yet.
Her dress would be crumpled just from their kissing, but he had a feeling she would not mind in the least. He wanted to remove every article upon her with sensual thoughtfulness.
She still had on her pretty embroidered shoes and stockings that stopped at the knee. He had touched the garter of one stocking but not undone it.
He struggled away from her, eager to prolong her pleasure and his own. One might make love with one’s eyes. Studying the beauty of Severin’s body, even letting her tease him by taking off her clothes herself before he continued to touch and stroke and lick—it would be a very great pleasure.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Nowhere,” he replied, sitting back on his haunches. “I only want to look at you like this.”
“As on the night we met,” she murmured. “I left you so frustrated—”
He patted her thigh. “Never mind that.”
Marko got off the bed and shucked most of his clothes at last, keeping his drawers on. She kicked off her shoes, laughing when he caught each one, and unrolled her stockings. “You will have to help me with this dress,” she said.
“Roll over.”
She did and he undid the fastenings at once. She could feel his hot breath on her bare back as he pushed the sides of the gown away from her body. She wore no corset.
“Roll over again. I mean, roll off the dress.” She did and he whisked it off the bed and away, tossing the crumpled silk into a heap upon the floor. “Ah. You are as beautiful as a nymph.”
Severin looked at him, as if, naked, he was glorious. All it would take is one touch, he thought wantonly. Her fingers. Her mouth. I will not be able to control myself. Her gaze moved up and she looked longingly into his eyes.
“Not yet, Severin,” was all he said.
She was eying him with sensual hunger. Stripped bare by him, lying upon her bed, his to take…ah, she was pouting. Actually pouting. Marko was delighted.
“Not yet?” she asked. “Then when?”
“I think that we should take our time.”
“Bah.”
Marko smiled slyly. “I believe you mentioned something about a bath. We could start with that.”
She floated in the hot water, blissfully relaxed. He watched, running a hand through the water now and then and letting it dribble over her belly and breasts.
To be bathed by him was incredibly sensual. She wanted to make it last forever.
Severin tipped her head back and let her tangled hair soak in the water, closing her eyes. She felt a large male hand slide under her back and lift her gently after a minute.
The hand worked creamy liquid into her hair and separated the tangles. She kept her eyes closed, letting the water and cream run in rivulets down her back. He soaked a washcloth in the bathwater and cleaned the excess from her face so she could open her eyes.
Oh my. He was almost too beautiful to look at. His linen drawers were splashed and clung to his thighs in places.
The cream had splashed on the fine, dark hair on his muscular forearms, and one hand was still covered with
