reached for her hair and pulled out a pin. 'I've never seen it down,' he said. 'I've seen it mussed, but never undone, shining over your shoulders.'
One by one, he pulled the pins loose, each lost pin freeing a long lock of pale golden hair. Finally, when it cascaded freely down her back, he held her at arm's length and turned her slowly around. 'You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,' he breathed.
She blushed. 'Don't be silly,' she mumbled. 'I-'
'The most beautiful thing,' he repeated. Then he drew her back to him, lifting a fragrant lock and running it over his mouth. 'Pure silk,' he murmured. 'I want to feel this when I go to bed at night.'
Elizabeth had thought her skin had felt warm before, but that comment sent her right over the edge. Her cheeks burned, and she would have used her hair to shield her blush had not James touched the underside of her chin and tilted her head up so that he could look into her eyes.
He leaned forward and kissed the corner of her mouth. 'Soon you won't blush anymore.' He kissed the other. 'Or maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll keep you blushing every night.'
'I love you,' she blurted out, not sure why she was saying it now, only sure that she had to say it.
His smile spread and his eyes burned with pride. But instead of saying anything in response, he cupped her face and brought her to him for another kiss, this one deeper and more intimate than any before.
Elizabeth melted into him, and his heat seeped into her body, fueling a fire that already threatened to rage out of control. Her body was tingling with excitement and need, and when he swooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom, she made no murmur of protest.
Seconds later they tumbled onto the bed. She felt her clothing slipping away, piece by piece, until she was clad only in her thin cotton shift. The only sound was that of their breathing until James rasped, 'Elizabeth… I won't… I can't…'
She looked up at him, asking all her questions with her eyes.
'If you want me to stop,' he managed, 'tell me now.'
She reached up and touched his face.
'It has to be now,' he said hoarsely, 'because in a minute I won't be able to-'
She kissed him.
'Oh, God,' he moaned. 'Oh, Elizabeth.'
She should have made him stop, she knew. She should have raced out of the room and not allowed him within twenty feet of her until she stood next to him in a church as husband and wife. But love, she was discovering, was a powerful emotion, and passion ran a very close second. And nothing, not propriety, not a wedding band, not even eternal damage to her reputation and good name, could stop her from reaching for this man right now and encouraging him to make her his.
With trembling fingers she reached for the buttons of his shirt. She had never before taken such an active role in their lovemaking, but heaven help her, she wanted to touch the hot skin of his chest. She wanted to skim her fingers over his powerful muscles and feel his heart pounding with desire.
Her hands trailed down to his abdomen and lingered there for a moment before gently pulling his linen shirt from the waistband of his breeches. With a shiver of pride, she watched as his muscles bunched and clenched under her gentle touch, and she knew that his desire was something too great for him to contain.
That this man, who had chased criminals across Europe, and, according to Caroline Ravenscroft, been chased by countless women, could be so undone by her touch-Elizabeth was thrilled to the core. She felt so… so womanly as she watched her small hand trace circles and hearts on the smooth planes of his chest and stomach.
And as he sucked in his breath and groaned her name, she felt infinitely powerful.
He allowed her to explore him like this for a full minute before a rough growl came from deep in his throat, and he rolled over onto his side, taking her along with him. 'Enough,' he gasped. 'I can't… Not another…'
Elizabeth took this as a compliment and curved her lips into a secret, sensual smile. But her thrill at having the upper hand was short-lived. For no sooner had James rolled her onto her side than he'd rolled her onto her back, and before she could draw in even one complete breath, he was straddling her body, staring down at her with raw need and a very male look of anticipation.
His fingers found the tiny buttons that marched between her breasts, and with startling dexterity and speed he undid all five. 'Ah,' he murmured, sliding the garment over her shoulders, 'that was what we needed.'
He bared the tops of her breasts, letting his fingers tickle into her cleavage before sliding her shift down lower.
Elizabeth clawed at the bedclothes to keep from covering herself. He was staring at her with such burning intensity that she felt heat and moisture pool between her legs. He remained still for nearly a minute, not even raising a single finger to caress her, just gazing down at her breasts and licking his lips as he watched her nipples peak and harden.
'Do something,' she finally gasped.
“This?'' he asked softly, grazing one tip with the palm of his hand.
She didn't say a word, just fought for breath.
'This?' He moved his hand to the other side, and gently pinched her between his fore- and middle finger.
'Please,' she begged.
'Ah, you must mean this,' he said roughly, his words lost as he bent over and drew her into his mouth.
Elizabeth let out a little shriek. One of her hands twisted the bed sheet into a tight spiral while the other sank into James's thick hair.
'Oh, that wasn't what you wanted?' he teased. 'Maybe I need to pay more attention to the other side.' And then he did it again, and Elizabeth thought she surely would die if he didn't do something to release the incredible tension that was building inside her.
He tore himself from her for just long enough to pull the shift over her head, and then, while he was yanking off his belt, Elizabeth pulled the thin bed sheet over her.
'You won't be able to hide for long,' he said, his voice thick with desire.
'I know.' She blushed. 'But it's different when you're next to me.'
He eyed her curiously as he slid back into bed. “What do you mean?'
'I can't explain.' She shrugged helplessly. 'It's different when you can see all of me.'
'Ah,' he said slowly, 'so does that mean I can look at you like this?' With a teasing glance, he tugged on the sheet until he bared one silky shoulder, which he proceeded to kiss lovingly.
Elizabeth squirmed and giggled.
'I see,' he said, adopting an odd foreign accent just for fun. 'And what about this?' He reached down and yanked the sheet off her foot, then tickled her toes.
'Stop!' she shrieked.
He turned back around to give her his most devilish look. 'I had no idea you were so ticklish.' He tickled her some more. 'This is certainly important to know.'
'Oh, stop,' she gasped, 'please stop. I can't bear it.'
James smiled down at her with all the love in his heart.
It had been so important to him to make this first time perfect for her. He had been dreaming of it for weeks, of how he was going to show her how exquisite the love between a man and a woman could be. And if he hadn't exactly pictured himself tickling her toes, he had pictured her with a smile on her face.
Rather like right now.
'Oh, Elizabeth,' he murmured, leaning down to press a gentle kiss on her mouth, 'I love you so much. You must believe me.'
'I believe you,' she said softly, 'because in your eyes, I see what I feel in my heart.'
James felt his eyes go wet with tears, and he had no words to express the torrent of emotion her simple statement had unleashed. He kissed her again, this time tracing the outline of her lips with his tongue as he slid his hand down the side of her body.
He felt her stiffen with anticipation, her muscles quickening beneath his touch. But when he reached the core of her womanhood, her legs parted slightly to receive him. He toyed with her curls, and then, when he heard her breathing grow shallow and raspy, slipped in farther. She was already ready for him, thank God, because he wasn't certain he could wait another moment.
He nudged her legs farther open and settled between them. 'This may hurt,' he said, hearing regret in his
