Page 74 of Courting Claudia

She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t.”

“Of course you can. There are no more could nots or should nots. With me, you are free. There is no one here but us.”

He pulled her close and kissed her, putting as much passion as he could in it to arouse her. She clung to him and released soft whimpers.

“Take my shirt off.”

Her eyes flew open.

“Here, I’ll get you started.” He unfastened the first two buttons, then placed her hand on the third. He grabbed her hands and put them on the next button. “I need to know you want me, Claudia. As much as I want you.”

She licked her lips and swallowed. Carefully she released one button, then another, until the material gaped, and all the buttons were undone.

“Now pull it off me.”

She pushed the material off his shoulders. Her small hands brushed against his skin. He closed his eyes, enjoying her touch.

“Now, my drawers.”

Her eyes widened, and she took a step back.

“You’ve touched me before, Claudia. You can do this.” He guided her hand to the front flap of his drawers. She undid the buttons quickly, and he felt the sun heat his backside as the silk slid down his legs.

He pulled her to him and kissed her again, his erection pressed between them. He wanted to lay her down on the blanket, toss her skirts up, and bury himself inside her. But he needed to be patient.

“Look at me, Claudia.”

She met his gaze.

“No, look at my body.”

Her eyes traveled the length of him, all the way down, then trailed back up and lingered at his middle.

“Do you see how much I want you?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Do you want me?”

“Yes.”

“Then show me. Show me how much you want me.” With that, he turned and waded into the pond. The water lapped around him as he moved out to the middle. He turned around to face her, and she still stood on the blanket watching him.

“Take your clothes off, Claudia. Come and join me.”

He had no way of knowing whether this plan would work, but he knew she wanted him. He just hoped it was enough to throw her fears aside and join him in the water.

“I want to see you.”

“No you don’t,” she said. “You won’t like what you see.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’ve seen myself.”

“I don’t think it’s fair for you to judge what I will and won’t find attractive. I think you’re beautiful.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.