Free The Witch's Thief by Tricia Schneider Page B

started.” He lifted her chin, and his head dipped lower to capture her lips in his kiss. She moaned against him as the tips of her breasts brushed against the bare skin of his chest. Her nipples tightened, and heat again pooled low in her belly.
    While he kissed her, she took slow steps, leading him to the bed. Soon her legs brushed against the edge of the mattress. She gently lowered him, crawling atop him as she had on the floor. Oh, had she truly done that? She behaved so wantonly! But, he hadn’t been disgusted by her behavior. In fact, he seemed to revel in it. She felt relieved by his ready acceptance of her eager passion. She trembled with want of him. After so many years of wanting him, she could take no more. She must have him.
    Slowly she slid down, brushing her face against his chest, lingering here and there to kiss his skin. When she found his breeches, she worked at the straps to undo them. With his help, she slipped the damp fabric off. She stood and shimmied out of the remainder of her dress. He lay back on the bed, watching her with his heavy-lidded eyes.
    She took a moment to stand and watch him. His feet hung over the edge, his breeches yanked to his boots. She contemplated freeing those tall boots from his feet, but she liked his position well enough.
    With seductive slowness, she neared him. She crawled back onto the mattress, running her fingers over the wiry hairs on his legs. Her hand traveled upward until her fingers were cupping the male part of him. He gasped when she cradled him in her hands. Gently, she touched him, stroked him, running her hand up and down the long length of him. Seeing him harden further beneath her touch, she frowned.
    He was huge! How could he possibly fit within her?
    He sensed her inner turmoil. His hand found the curls atop her head and caressed them. He wrapped a few tendrils around his hand, touching her hair with a gentleness that brought tears to her eyes. He was perfection in every way! How had she ever lived without him for so long?
    And then, because her love swelled within her chest near to bursting, she needed to express her love for him in some physical way, so she leaned forward and kissed him.
    There.
    He gasped.
    She looked up, certain she had taken matters too far. This was inappropriate. He must be full of revulsion.
    But she was surprised to see his head tilted back onto the bed and a contented smile on his lips.
    Shocked, she looked back down. She curled her hand around him, seeing the tip of him moisten. She remembered how Basil’s lips had clasped onto her nipples. He had suckled on her breasts, something she enjoyed thoroughly. Perhaps he might enjoy…
    Julia kissed him again. He moaned softly, deep in his throat. She smiled, encouraged. She darted her tongue out to taste him. His body tensed, but he didn’t pull away from her.
    She took him into her mouth.
    “Oh, Julia!” he whispered and moaned.
    He tasted salty. She liked the feel of his hardness encased in such silky softness. She licked him, wrapping her tongue around him, suckling him. But, she only enjoyed him for a moment before he pulled away.
    “Oh, my love, you are too much for me.”
    Heat flamed Julia’s cheeks. Had she read his body wrong? “You did not like…?”
    He drew her face up to meet his for a kiss. When his lips came away from hers, he whispered, “I enjoyed it all too much, my dear. I wish to show you the pleasure a man is meant to give a woman. If you continue pleasuring me, I might not have the strength to show you.”
    Julia smiled with relief.
    He turned her onto her back. He parted her legs, exposing her womanhood to his hungry gaze.
    “You are so beautiful,” he said. His fingers smoothed down and up her legs until his thumb found her bud. She was swollen and wet. She gasped when his thumb circled over her. Her eyes drifted closed, and she turned her head into the pillow.
    He stopped. He pulled her chin back to look at him.
    “Open your eyes,” he said. She