Page 79 of When the Scoundrel Sins

“I think,” he murmured as his fingers untied the bow at her neckline and let the gown fall open around her shoulders, “that you look delectable.”

With a soft laugh at his flattery, she snaked her arms around his neck. “I’m not delectable.” Her fingers played flirtatiously in his hair at his nape, and excited anticipation grew inside her. Feeling feminine and light, with a nod toward silliness, she teased, “Puddings are delectable, not women.” Feigning insult, she arched a scolding brow. “Am I a cake, then?”

“Of the most delicious kind,” he murmured. He placed a delicate but possessive kiss in the valley between her breasts, and she shivered at the promise behind it.

“Of strawberries and cream?” She arched against him, inviting his mouth on her body. A wanton part of her wanted to tease him to the brink of losing control, to make him crave her intimacy as much as she did his. “All pink and luscious, sweet to the taste…”

He groaned at the image her words conveyed as his hands roamed freely over her body now, stroking the unseen curves beneath the billowing cotton. “You’re killing me, Belle.”

She laughed wickedly. “And so much buttery icing,” she panted out as his hands squeezed her bottom through the cotton, “just waiting to be licked—”

His mouth captured hers, stopping her in mid-temptation and turning the teasing description on her lips into a low moan. She met the hungry passion of his kiss with her own, fisting his silky hair in her hands as the ache pulsed relentlessly between her legs.

“I want to taste every tempting inch of you, Belle,” he murmured against her mouth, not pausing in his kisses. “I want to devour you.”

He grabbed the sleeves of her night rail and yanked, expertly pulling the cotton down over her body in a single tug and letting it fall to the floor around her bare feet.

Belle gasped. She was naked! Completely and utterly bare as she stood in front of him. Her cheeks blushed scarlet.

He stepped back to gaze at her, and she felt the heat of his stare as it seared over each of her breasts, then down her belly to the curls between her legs. His face darkened with raw desire. Suddenly, there was no more charm or teasing in him. He wore a look that told her he would keep his promise—to devour her.

And God help her, she wanted just that.

She huskily murmured her consent, “Yes, Quinton.”

He scooped her into his arms and carried her across the room, then placed her on the bed. When he pulled away to quickly shuck off his shirt and trousers, Belle stared shamelessly. This was the first time she’d seen him without the cover of clothing, and the sight of him was a sweet intoxication. Her eyes swept over the hard muscles of his chest and the ridges of his abdomen, following the faint dusting of golden hair down his chest, over his belly, and brazenly lower to his manhood, which was already hard and thick with his need for her.

She lost her breath.

He was simply magnificent, all golden in the firelight, with long, sinewy muscles in his arms and legs, and blue eyes staring at her so intensely that she shivered. At the warmth of his fingers touching her ankle and trailing along her bare leg to the curve of her hip, a helpless whimper of desire escaped her. What a wanton woman she was to lie here like this, draped naked over the bed while she let him run his hands over her, touching and exploring her body as he desired.

But if this was being wanton, then she welcomed it. Because she would never be embarrassed at the pleasures Quinn brought her.

He knelt beside the bed and placed his hands on her thighs. “Annabelle…please…”

Knowing what he wanted, she spread her legs to welcome this new intimacy between them. She wasn’t ashamed of opening herself to him, not when she heard him murmur how beautiful she was, and not even when she felt the heat of his strong lips as he placed a tender, delicate kiss rightthere. This was Quinn, and she loved him—hadn’t she always?

Soft and gentle, his lips caressed against her in slow kisses that didn’t flame the ache inside her so much as soothe and relax, and with a contented sigh, she reached her hand down to stroke her fingers through his hair. How could one man be both so passionate that he’d torn cries of desire from her earlier and yet now so gentle that he sent a calming warmth radiating through her?

But each delicate kiss grew stronger, his mouth more insistent against her. When he licked deep—

“Quinton!” she gasped, squirming beneath his mouth.

“Shh.” He stroked his hands along her inner thighs to still her, as if petting a kitten. Each breathy word pulsed hot against her wet folds. “You are so delicious, Belle…Let me have this taste of you.”

She took a deep breath, then exhaled in a long sigh. Closing her eyes, she gave over to the decadent sensation of his mouth against her, to the wonderfully wicked licks of his tongue delving deep into her, to the soft sounds of his lips enjoying her most secret place. The fluttering ache inside her began to blossom again, throbbing so shamelessly right there against his mouth that she was certain he could feel the pulsation of her need against his lips and taste her readiness for him on his tongue.

“Quinn.” His name was a plaintive whimper as all of her began to quiver.

“I know, darling.” He placed one last, lingering kiss at the hot heart of her, then slowly slid up her body, his mouth leaving a wet trail of kisses all the way up to her throat.

With his large body now covering hers, he reached a hand between her thighs and gently parted her with his fingers. As if understanding the inexplicable new need inside her, one that was far more than just a physical ache for release, he slowly slid his manhood inside her, pushing gently forward until his hips were seated against hers.

“Slowly this time,” he murmured against her temple as his body began to stroke tenderly inside hers. “I want to savor you.”

His hard chest rubbed against her breasts as he slid up and down over her with each gentle plunge and tantalizing retreat. None of the urgent thrusts of before, none of that desperate need to possess her—this was tenderness and affection. Never had she felt this feminine and powerful before in her life, thistranscendent. And it was all because of Quinn.

If any doubts remained inside her that she loved him, this moment vanquished them all.