Page 63 of Courting Claudia

“I’d prefer not to.”

“Whatever makes you comfortable. But I am going to take the gown off you.”

She had no response to that, and then he was next to her. On the bed, with his mouth on hers and his hand on her ankle.

He was naked.

The thought excited yet embarrassed her. She didn’t know the first thing about what to do with a naked man.

His hand slid farther up her leg, and his mouth continued a slow seduction of her own mouth, neck, and ears. Chills danced across her skin, and her nipples peaked. Her mother had never made the marriage bed sound this pleasant. She had told her it was something she had to bear out of duty, not that it would be something she could look forward to, or enjoy. But she was certainly enjoying this. Kissing Derrick had never been a problem, though. Perhaps whatever came next was the unpleasant part. She doubted, though, that anything involving Derrick could be unpleasant.

Where was she supposed to put her hands? They rested at her sides, wadding the sheets while she waited to see exactly how far Derrick’s hand would go beneath her nightgown. At the current moment, he was up to her knee.

His mouth played at her collarbone, and she tilted her head farther into the pillow to give him better access. Oh, the things he did with his tongue. While his left hand continued to play with her knee, his right made its way to her breasts. He cupped one gently.

Cold air hit her thighs, and she realized he’d hiked her nightgown up that high. She grabbed the hem.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I’m not positive I’m ready for you to touch me yet.”

“All right. You tell me where I can touch you, and I’ll only touch you in those places. The rest of you will be safe from my touch until you’re ready.”

Interesting proposition.

He laid her back down and kissed her again.

“But I need to take this off you.”

“All right.” She sat and felt him pull the nightgown over her head, then heard it hit the floor. She’d never been naked before except during bathtime. It was surprisingly freeing.

She felt his hand at the top of her thigh, just below where it met with her hips.

“Can I touch you here?”

The warmth of his hand felt nice. More than nice. “I think that’s all right.”

“Good. Now can I touch you here?” He moved his other hand and cupped her breast again.

“Yes.” Her voice was breathy.

“Excellent.”

The hand on her thigh slid up and slightly to the right until it lay across her most intimate part. The touch jolted her, and she released a moan.

“How about here?” he asked.

“Mmmmuh.”

“Perfect. Let’s keep going.” He trailed a finger from her breast down her rib cage and landed right on her abdomen.

She grabbed his hand. “Not there.”

“All right. You tell me when you’re ready. I want to touch you everywhere, but I’ll wait for you.” He kissed her then, allowing his tongue to play with hers. “We’ve set your limits, and I promise to stay within them.”

“Yes,” was all she could manage.

“May I take your drawers off as well?”