Free No Gentleman for Georgina by Jess Michaels Page A

though I know they both still hesitate about the club—not that I can blame them. Either way, I am pleased, for I never wanted them to look on me as the fortune hunter your father once accused me of being.”
    She shook her head. “They don’t anymore. And I never have, and as your wife, I would say mine is the only opinion that will ever matter.”
    “Been talking to Annabelle, have we?” he teased as he moved toward her slowly.
    She laughed, though her nervousness was beginning to increase as he reached out to stroke his fingers across the exposed skin of her wrist.
    “I do like it when you say the word wife ,” he said, his voice getting rougher. “Won’t you say it again?”
    She leaned in and whispered, “ Wife .”
    “Yes,” he groaned. “Wife. My wife. And now I would very much like to consummate this union at last.”
    She blushed. Paul was usually very proper, but now there was a dark and dangerous look to him. One that made her thighs clench as she remembered the intense pleasure he had given her not so very long ago.
    “I’ve been waiting for this,” she whispered as she finally dared to loosen her dressing gown. With hands shaking, she slid it away and tossed it aside to stand before him in the short, sheer gown beneath.
    “Good God,” he groaned, not moving but just staring at her for a very long moment. “You are beautiful.”
    She smiled. Paul always made her feel beautiful. And now he was going to love her with his body as he had been for weeks with his words and his precious gestures.
    “Will you…will you…”
    She trailed off, unable to ask the question that was on her lips. He stepped toward her and glided just one finger beneath the thin strap of her chemise.
    “Will I?” he encouraged her.
    She took a long breath. “Will you remove your clothing this time? The last two times you weren’t able, and I admit I’ve been very curious. Mother wasn’t helpful in that arena, although Serafina and Annabelle and Gemma have given me some good advice in the past few weeks.”
    He laughed. “I’m certain that is true. And yes, Georgina, I will remove my clothing tonight. I want to feel my body pressed against yours. I want to touch you in every way and I want to allow you to touch me. In fact—”
    He cut himself off and stepped back to remove his jacket, then loosened his cravat. Slowly, he unfastened the crisp white shirt beneath and slid it away until he stood before her in only his trousers.
    She caught her breath. Paul had always had a certain wiry strength to him. She had felt the muscles beneath his clothes when they danced or she stole a moment to kiss him. But now…now she could see him half-naked, and he was better than she’d ever imagined.
    He was a finely defined man, with lean muscle at his stomach, strong arms and perfectly formed shoulders. Well, one perfectly formed shoulder. The other was scarred terribly.
    She stepped forward and hesitantly allowed her hand up to touch the flesh mangled long ago. He allowed it, watching her closely.
    “Does it still hurt?” she whispered.
    He nodded slowly. “Not the flesh, but the damage beneath occasionally aches. Not so that I cannot do what I wish, but there is discomfort.”
    She met his eyes. “I am sorry for that. And so proud of your bravery in saving others.”
    Now it was his turn to blush and dart his gaze away. “I am half-naked now, Georgina. It is time to remove that very pretty night shift.”
    She smiled and stepped closer, letting her body just brush his. “Then I will be completely naked. It seems unfair.”
    He put his hand beneath her gown straps and glided them down at the same time. “It seems perfect,” he retorted as the gown pooled at her feet and she stood before him in nothing more than her skin.
    She had never been naked with him. She’d always had some tiny protection of her gown, as bunched and lifted as it had been. But she found she wasn’t awkward as he stared, his eyes lit up with fire. No,