Viscount of Vanity Tammy Andresen (different ereaders .TXT) 📖

of her knee. The new stocking was silky and smooth, her slender leg supple under his palm.

Her pantaloons stopped his progress and he gave a growl of frustration. He wanted to feel her skin. He wanted to feel all of her.

She looked down at him, bent down in front of her, a question marking her brow even as she nibbled at her lip.

Austin stared up her full mouth, high cheekbones. He watched the way her teeth worked the flesh, his own need rising.

This was not supposed to happen. He’d exercise the physical aspect of their relations at a specific time in a controlled manner. But he couldn’t ignore the desire building inside him. And, even worse, he didn’t wish to deny her…

And he wanted to touch her. Explore her body.

His cock ached with need, but he ignored the urge. He was good at that, forgoing his own pleasure.

With sure hands he reached under her chemise and untied the pantaloons. As he pulled, she lifted up for him, allowing him to slip the garment down her legs.

Even that small movement, the way she allowed him access, set him to flame.

He pressed a kiss to the inside of her knee, skimming his hands along her upper legs and down her thighs.

He felt her tremble and he could smell her desire, spicy and sweet, a scent that sent his own body spiraling out of control with need. Kissing her thigh, he ran his hands from her ankles all the way up her legs. He wanted to strip off her chemise and look at all of her, feast on her beauty; but her sensual aroma called to him, and he continued to kiss a trail up her leg.

Her thighs naturally parted even as her hands ran over his shoulders.

He gave her a gentle push backwards, so that she lay on the bed with her legs dangling over the side. He placed the back of her knees on his shoulders and then brushed the pad of his thumb through the curls at her apex.

She was already slick with need and he groaned aloud. It had been so long since he’d experienced a woman’s desire. He’d forgotten how heady it was.

Then again, perhaps it had never been like this.

Even knowing how dangerous passion could be, he wanted to throw caution to the wind and bury himself between her legs. Instead, he placed a light kiss on her folds.

She convulsed under his mouth, a shiver running through her. He let out a predatory growl. She was his. She belonged with him.

He kissed her again and again, stroking her soft folds with his tongue, tasting and savoring her. She adjusted to his touch, moving to meet him, her fingers combing through his hair and urging him closer.

Austin used his free hand to loosen his own breeches, taking his aching cock in his hand. Like this, he could control his body’s response.

Gabriella whimpered, the sound only making him harder. He wanted this woman with every fiber of his being.

She trembled and he increased the pressure, her legs shaking, as her head thrashed back and forth. His own breath quickened in response, but he still held some measure of control. Enough that he could enjoy her and the pleasure passing between them.

Pushing a finger inside her, he felt her spasm around him, giving a cry of pleasure.

He exploded as well, his seed spilling to the floor.

His eyes closed as he lay his head on her belly. Austin was supposed to be holding back from a physical relationship except for the obvious exception of conception.

But while he hadn’t overtaxed his body, he had pulled them closer together physically and emotionally.

She tugged on his shoulders and he rose up, covering her body with his.

He should care more about what he’d done.

But he couldn’t. Instead, he pulled her chemise over her head and let his gaze wander down the perfect globes of her breasts, the flatness of her belly, before he wrapped his arms about her and lifted her up to draw back the covers.

Then he tucked them both into the bed.

Unlike the last night when they’d hugged the edges, tonight, she snuggled deep into his side, her contented sigh pulling at his heart. “That was so wonderful. I had no idea.”

He kissed her forehead. “Go to sleep, sweetheart.” Tomorrow, he’d have to figure out how he would put some distance back between them.

* * *

Gabriella woke to the early-morning sun pouring into the window. She stretched, after what might have been the best sleep of her life, to find that she was alone in the bed.

She lifted her head, hearing the sound of an ax cutting into wood. A few seconds passed and then the sound came again.

Austin was surely chopping wood.

At this hour?

She sat up, clutching the covers to her front as hair spilled about her shoulders. She hadn’t had the opportunity to braid it last night.

Rising from the bed, she washed and dressed, then began twisting her hair into submission as she pinned various sections. Her hair had always been very silky, making it difficult to style, but she tried her best.

After close to an hour, she heard the door open. Was that Austin?

He’d ceased chopping wood as she could no longer hear the methodical beat of his ax.

He slid into the room. “The maid, Annie, is here to make breakfast.”

His skin was flushed from the cool air and the exercise, and his hair was a bit disheveled. He stole her breath. “Could you do up my last few buttons?” She pointed at her back.

“Of course.” He crossed the room. The gentle brush of his fingers made her flesh rise with goose pimples. “We’ve dinner with Chad and Abigail tonight.”

She nodded, looking at his reflection in the looking glass. Part of her wanted to stand up, spin around, and toss her arms about him.

She’d never felt closer to another person than she had last night and now…there was distance between them.

He finished the last button, stepping