Page 76 of Courting Claudia
“You don’t have to pack them around all day.”
“No, but I would if you asked me to.”
She looked up at him with just a slight movement of her eyes, a glance so subtly seductive he would have thought she’d practiced it. But he knew better.
She really was beautiful, in such an unassuming way it had caught him off guard. She stood before him, water dripping off her perfect breasts, with desire blatant in her eyes. He put his hands at her waist and felt her stiffen.
“Today I want to touch you everywhere. You’ve let me see you, now trust me.”
He kissed her in the hollow of her collarbone, lapping the water droplets off her skin. From her waist, he moved one hand to her hip and then over to her stomach. She flinched beneath his touch, trying to disguise her imperfection. She wanted to be beautiful and desirable for him, and it made him want her more.
Her flesh was soft, and she closed her eyes as he moved from her stomach into the curls at the juncture of her thighs. He’d never touched a woman in the water. It was invigorating, daring, and a little bit naughty—something he hadn’t felt in years.
He continued his kisses on her neck and breasts, while his fingers explored her folds. She was hot and wet, and he groaned from the feel of her.
“I’ve got to have you now.”
“Yes.”
He lifted her and brought her closer. “Wrap your legs around me.”
She did, and he set her down, inching her onto his length. It didn’t take either of them long to reach a climax. He cried out her name as he thrust the last few times into her.
It had never been with another woman the way it was with Claudia. His desire for her never wavered. She met his passion with a fervor he had not known a woman could possess. It was as if they were designed to love only each other, as if their bodies were created to fit each other perfectly.
She laid her head on his shoulder, her legs still wrapped around his waist, his member still buried within her.
“I will never tire of making love to you,” he told her.
She gave him a shy smile. “Nor I of you. It is like my body craves you now, like a lush with his drink.”
Her body craved him, but did her heart want him? Would she choose him when the truth came out?
“Do you promise that you’re not disgusted by my body?”
“I promise. I love your body. It’s perfect.”
He set her down, then grabbed her hand, and they walked to shore. Water drops scattered across their bodies as they lay on the blanket.
“We’ll let the sun dry us, then we can dress and return to the house.”
A few of her ringlets had escaped their confines during their lovemaking and now sat in tight, wet coils on her neck. He lay on his back and pulled her so that she partially lay on top of him. She put her chin in the hollow spot of his chest. Something swelled in his chest. It was powerful to see someone in such an intimate state. She looked the very picture of a sated woman, and in that moment, he knew he would never regret marrying her.
“This spot was made for my chin.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, it fits perfectly.” She placed a kiss on the spot for confirmation, then moved her mouth along his chest, tentatively licking the moisture from his skin.
She turned her head so that she faced the pond, her curls lightly brushing his chin. Her hand rested on his stomach. He absently rubbed her back, soaking in the moment.
“Have you thought any more about what you want to do with your illustrations?” he asked.
“Yes. I would like to continue. I haven’t yet decided whether to keep my identity a secret.” Her finger made slow circles on his abdomen. “I enjoy the mystery.”
“Whatever your decision, I’ll stand behind you. I don’t want you to make that decision based on your father. He can’t hurt you anymore, and whether or not you have a paying job won’t disparage my reputation. You’ve lived your life far too long consumed by what people think about you. It’s not a good way to live.”
“It’s been a fine way to live.”