Page 114 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

Chapter 23

Stacia marveled at the sheer size of him. The body beneath her palm radiated heat and power, the thudding beneath the hard slab of muscle strong and…fast.

She swallowed repeatedly, as if that would rid her of the jittery feeling that threatened to overtake her. If she had not known exactly what he would say, she had known it would be naughty.

You are in command; touch him.

Stacia obeyed and her hand moved. Something hard grazed her palm. She circled back around to feel it again.

A low, predatory rumble vibrated beneath her hand as she caressed the tiny bump again. And then again, frowning. What was—

And—her hand froze.

A nipple!

His nipple!

Why was she so stunned by that? She knew men had nipples. But the reality of feeling one was…

“Stacia.” His voice was gruff and needy, and his chest lifted beneath her hand, pressing his erect nipple into her palm.

She felt dizzy. And then remembered to breathe and sucked in a noisy lungful of air.

She caressed him again, desperately hungry for that sound he had made.

This time, it was even better. He didn’t rumble; he purred.

And then he took her wrist again, lifted her hand, and slid it beneath the linen onto the hot silk of bare skin.

“My lo—”

“Andrew.” He moved her hand, which had gone rigid with shock, over the bare, erect nipple. He groaned. “S’good,” he slurred, and then moved her palm over to its mate, which was every bit as hard.

Stacia only realized that he had released her wrist when she found herself being lifted.

She squeaked and tried to balance with the hand that had been happily stroking his chest. But he didn’t let her fall. Instead, he positioned her over his hips, her knees spreading and pushing the hem of her petticoat up her calves.

“Even better,” he growled, his hands seemingly everywhere all at once, until she found herself pressed against him, torso to torso, as he held her head and angled her for a deep, penetrating kiss that sent pleasure arrowing directly to her nether regions.

He released her lips, leaving her both breathless and desperate for more while he trailed kisses across her cheek and then nibbled on her ear.

A giggle slipped from between her parted lips.

He chuckled and the sound was evil. “Ticklish ears? Fascinating.” He nuzzled his nose inside her ear and snuffled, the sound shockingly loud.

Stacia laughed again and tried to squirm away. Something wet slid over the edge of her ear and she shrieked and pulled back.

He laughed, his body shaking beneath hers, his hands around her waist, keeping her pressed against him.

Stacia pushed a finger in her ear and wiggled it around. “You licked me!”

“I did,” he agreed, sounding pleased and unabashed, his thumbs rubbing circles over the thin skin of her ribs, the action making her squirm.

Stacia shifted her hips and ground against something hard.

He groaned. “Stacia.”

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”