The Hidden - Jessica Verday [84]
I tried to pull him close again, offering myself in exchange for more, when he moved on to the corner of my eye. He slowly kissed his way down the side of my face, tracing a path to my neck. I freed one hand and reached up to let my hair down. It tumbled around us, and he growled a little as he plunged both hands into it.
My skin was growing warm. Too warm, and I wanted my dress off. Now.
I was the one who pulled back then, and he tried to follow. But I held him down with the palm of my hand. Shaking my head, I gave him a coy smile and turned my attention to his shirt. The rest of the buttons were easy, and in no time his chest was laid bare.
I dragged my fingertips across his skin, and he shivered.
“Tease,” he whispered.
“Tease? No. This”—I tugged the end of the laces on my bodice, and the top row of strings came free—“is a tease.”
Caspian licked his lips. “That’s definitely a tease.”
“And this, what would you call this?” I tugged the laces again one by one, slowly removing them. Exposing more and more skin.
“A big, big tease?”
I nodded. “Your turn.”
He didn’t hesitate. He pushed back the sleeves of his shirt and pulled it off. In the glow of the candles, his skin was burnished gold and highlighted copper. He was beautiful.
“How does this work?” I said softly, staring down at my palm resting upon his heart. I could feel it beating. “I didn’t think we would get the chance—”
He laid one finger against my lips. “I don’t know. Just accept it. That’s all that matters right now. Stay with me. In the here and now.”
I gave him a shaky nod, and then moved his hand to my bodice laces. I wrapped the loose end in his fist. “Why don’t you finish the rest?” The top of the dress spilled opened, and he sat up, pulling me closer to him.
“You’re beautiful, Abbey,” he said. His tone was hushed and reverent.
“Blow out the nearest candles,” I said quietly. I was still nervous. “Please.”
Within a couple of seconds the candles around the bed were out, and I could just barely make out his face. I reached for him again, already missing the taste of his lips. He touched them to mine, and I pulled him down. On top of me.
We kissed for a long time. He laid one warm hand against my bare leg, and when he touched me, fire ran through my veins. I grasped his face and held him close. Staring into his beautiful eyes, I said clearly, “I want you. Every part of you.”
He held very still. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to—”
“Yes.”
“Or later, regret—”
“Caspian, yes.”
“I just wanted to give you a good memory here. Since—”
“Yes, yes, yes,” I said desperately, hungrily. “Give me a good memory. Please. I love you, Caspian. Love me.”
He cupped my face, and gently pushed aside a curl. “I love you, too, Abbey. More than life. More than death. More than forever.”
Then I was drowning again. But this time I wasn’t alone. This time he was with me. Guiding me. And we were drowning together. Closer than life, and death, and everything in between.
I cracked open an eyelid, and immediately wondered where I was. My arms and legs felt heavy, like they were still asleep. I moved to roll over onto my side, and felt a twinge of soreness from muscles I didn’t even know I had.
My eyes opened all the way, and Caspian came into sight. I realized that I was on my back, my hair spread out around me, my dress not at all where it should be, and I tingled all over. A simultaneous feeling of exhaustion and contentment spread through me.
Caspian was lying next to me, the sheet wrapped around his waist. I could tell that I was blushing even as I looked at him. “That was … intense,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow. “Mmm-hmm.”
“Was it, um, intense for you?”
“Very intense.” He leaned forward and ran a finger down the tip of my nose. “And so very worth the wait.”
Now I was blushing even harder, a ridiculously happy feeling of satisfaction suffusing me. “How did I manage to keep my dress on?