Free Prelude to a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle Page B

bed.
    Ever so gently, as if she were made of rose petals, Bradford placed his large hands on each side of her thighs and leaned into her, the scent of crisp soap and mint hair tonic floating around her, drugging her into complete submission. His large hands were overly warm, almost hot as they seared straight through the thin muslin of her chemise and burned the skin hidden beneath.
    Her heart pounded hard in a mixture of anxiety and arousal, which she was quite certain not only Bradford could hear, but all of London, as well.
    He met her gaze. “Might I lift your chemise?”
    How charming. The man planned on getting right to it. She smiled shyly and half nodded.
    Lowering his gaze to where his hands were, he slid the material of her chemise up, causing the feathery movement to prickle her skin until her lower waist was completely exposed. Cool air lapped against her heated thighs.
    He wet his lips, scanning everything he’d uncovered, then met her gaze. “Spread those beautiful limbs, and above all, relax.”
    The rustle of the cool linen against the movement of her spreading legs seemed to be the only thing she could hear aside from her own breath. The moisture between her thighs increased in anticipation. To finally have him like this was intoxicating.
    With a grace that revealed more experience than she cared to acknowledge, he stepped into the space he’d created and slid his large hands toward her backside.
    Firmly gripping her buttocks, he lifted her, then yanked her toward his body and up against his solid thighs, closing off whatever gap had been left between them.
    He kissed her forehead, softly here and softly there, lingering with his lips, leaving a trail of velvet warmth against her skin. In that moment, she felt lighter than air. Nothing mattered. Nothing but him and nothing but this.
    His warm hands slid firmly and purposefully beneath her chemise and rounded from her back up toward her breasts. He grazed them, circling her nipples with his thumbs, causing them to harden.
    She shivered at the thrill of his touch and wondered how she had ever survived without it all this time.
    He drew in a harsh breath, causing his chest to notably rise and expand before her, then pinched her breasts so hard, an astonished gasp tore from her lips.
    Pain throbbed against her nipples as her eyes flew up to his. “What are you…that hurt.”
    He shifted his tight jaw, his body and eyes fully dominating hers. Ever so tenderly, he massaged her nipples and breasts, drawing out the throbbing sting. “Forgive me. Some women like that.”
    She snorted. “Lest you forget, this is my first time and my tastes will most likely be different.”
    “I…won’t do it again.”
    “Good.” She smiled for him, hoping to demonstrate that her breasts were fine and that he could continue.
    He smiled in turn and frilled his knuckles down the length of her stomach. His hands paused right at the curling hair between her thighs. She spread her legs further apart, wordlessly encouraging him to penetrate her. To make her his.
    He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Open your mouth to me.”
    Her breath hitched in her throat, and her mind blanked as he captured her mouth, forcing her lips open with a hot, wet, roaming tongue. Justine froze against him, her eyes stark wide at the realization she was actually being kissed by Bradford, and that his tongue was erotically circling against hers. It was their first kiss.
    The room spun and fell over on its side as her heart thundered in her ears. Unable to focus on anything but his incredible kiss, her eyes fluttered closed. She moved her tongue more forcibly against his and gave in to her own rising need to take more and feel more of him.
    His mouth pressed harder against hers as his hands roamed her backside and waist, demanding she give even more. His tongue slid alongside her inner cheek, glided against her teeth and the sides of her tongue.
    Needing to touch every part of him, she blindly