Page 68 of To Dare the Devil

Max removed his coat and waistcoat before he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots. Kathy watched as he slowly turned around, as if not to startle her, before lying down at her side. She stretched out beside him, so they lay facing each other.

“Good evening, Lord Vane,” she said politely.

His lips quirked and he reached out toying with her hair, curling it about his fingers, his expression intent. “Good evening, Lady Vane,” he said, his voice low and husky.

“Oh,” she said, her eyebrows going up. “How strange, to be a lady, a countess, no less.”

Max sat up, head resting on his elbow. “You’ve always been a lady, my love.”

“Perhaps, but not officially,” she replied, touching his mouth, tracing the shape of it until he growled and nipped at her finger.

Kathy laughed, a little breathless. “What now?” she asked.

Max sighed and trailed a finger along the neckline of her gown, raising goosebumps and making her shiver. “What should you like, do you think?”

She sent him an arch look. “For you to take control of this so I don’t feel silly.”

He smiled. “You could never be silly, my love. Why don’t we start by taking off this lovely gown?”

“Yes, and it is lovely, isn’t it?” she added, sitting up and then smoothing her hands over the figured silk.

“Not as lovely as you, not as silky as your skin,” he murmured, sitting behind her and ducking his head to kiss her shoulder, the curve of her neck.

He made quick work of undoing the bodice, making her laugh as he got her to stand on the bed and disappeared into the mountain of silk as he pulled the gown off her. Layers of petticoats, her stays and chemise were all tossed aside to land in the pile of fabric by the bed until she lay back down in just her stockings. Max reached for the ribbon on a garter and tugged. It came free, and he gathered it in his hand, leaving one silky length of ribbon free. Kathy watched as he trailed it up the inside of her thigh, over the triangle of curls between her legs, and circled her navel with it. Her breath caught, and she laughed at the teasing, tickling sensation. Max watched her, his gaze intent, like a cat watching a mouse as his hand trailed the ribbon higher, tracing a line beneath the underside of her breasts and then circling the plump mound, the ribbon making tantalising ever decreasing circles around her nipple. A quickening sensation began at her core, the place between her thighs alive with anticipation, every fibre of her being straining for his attention.

“Max,” she whispered, fidgeting beneath the titillating flutter of the ribbon. “Don’t tease.”

He lifted one eyebrow, his lips quirking. “But teasing is part of the fun, and you did request wickedness, did you not?”

“Yes, but,” she said doubtfully. “But I want—” Colour flooded her cheeks, and she decided she was not quite as bold as she’d believed.

“What do you want?” he asked, his eyes very dark now. She gave a nervous laugh and shook her head. He grinned, lowering his head to hers. “Whisper it to me, if it’s so very naughty.”

Kathy squirmed, both inside and out, scolding herself for being silly and missish. “Touch me,” she said, hoping that was enough of a command to get things moving.

“How?” he asked, all innocence, the rat. “And where?”

“How?”

“Yes, how? With my hands? My mouth? My tongue? Gently, firmly, impatiently? And where? Shall I suckle your breasts, put my mouth upon your quim?”

She gasped at that last and covered her face with her hands to hide the scald of her cheeks.

“Ah,” he murmured, moving down the bed. “That shocked you. Intrigued you too, I think.”

He leaned over her, nuzzling into the soft curls and pressing a kiss there. Anticipation and scandalised curiosity surged beneath her skin. Her mama had explained he would probably enjoy kissing her in places that she might not expect but somehow she had not considered that. Kathy peered through her hands to see him lift his head.

“Open your legs for me, little love.”

She bit her lip, still too mortified to do as he asked.

“Hmmm, stubborn, eh?”

He bent his head again and licked along the crease of her sex, then slid his tongue inside. Kathy gasped and clutched at the bedcovers. She felt rather than saw the smile that curved over his mouth as he did it again, and again, provoking the most delicious sensations and a deliberate throbbing ache that seemed to pulse through her to her bones.

Max sat up, watching her with amusement. “Now will you do as I ask?” he enquired politely. “I promise you’ll like it.”

Kathy stalled, uncertain. She wanted him to do that again, but surely it was shameless to lie in such a pose. He seemed to read her uncertainty and laid a warm hand on her belly.