Read Online Stephen’s Bride by Callie Hutton - Free Book Online Page B

she could argue, he moved her and practically pushed her to the floor. He never made a fire so fast in his life. Within minutes he had a fire going and sat alongside her, knees bent, his arms resting on his knees as he stared into the flames.
    Not where he wanted to be staring, of course.
    “Feel better now?”
    “A little bit. But this g-gown is still c-cold.”
    “Take the gown off and dry yourself with the blanket.”
    Her rapid breathing and flushed face told him she was feeling the tension in the air. He used his finger to push the blanket off her shoulder. Despite clinging to it, the weight of the cover dragged the rest of it down to pool in her lap, leaving her exposed once more in the wet gown. He groaned at the sight of her erect nipples, poking through the thin material. “Take the gown off sweetheart.”
    She turned to him and with a slight smile he knew she had made a decision. She rose to her knees and gripped the edges of the gown, pulling up and over her head, tossing it behind her.
    He forgot to breathe.
    Calliope was magnificent. The flames from the fireplace gave her skin a golden glow, highlighting her flat stomach, womanly hips, and generous breasts. The thatch of red hair covering her womanhood drew his eyes and tightened his stomach muscles. If he’d been chilled before, still wearing his wet pants, he was about to self-combust now.
    Slowly, so as not to break the spell, he moved to his knees and reached out to draw her to his body. His eyes drifted closed at the skin-to-skin contact. Her stiff nipples pressed into his chest, and she raised her arms to encircle his neck with her hands. Resting his forehead against hers, he said, “I have never wanted a woman as much as I want you. If you don’t want me to make love to you right now, right here, say so. The sight of your perfect body leaves me with very little self-control.”
    “Yes.”
    “Yes, you don’t want me to make love to you?”
    “No.”
    “No?”
    “Stop talking.” She leaned forward and kissed him, gently, her lack of experience making it so much sweeter. He would be the one to teach her about passion, about how a man and woman could pleasure each other in so many ways. He really wanted to take her upstairs to bed for her first time, but was afraid whatever magic held her captive would vanish and break the spell if they left this room. So on the carpet in front of the fire it would be.
    Thank God Bertha was gone.
    His hands slid to her rounded bottom and squeezed, pushing her against his erection.
    “Ouch. You’re pants are still wet and they’re cold.”
    Taking a chance on scaring the hell out of her at the sight of his pulsating manhood, he unbuttoned his trousers and slid them down, along with his drawers. Before she could glance down he raised her chin with his index finger and took her in a slow, drugging kiss. He moved his hands over her smooth, satin skin, sliding his palms over to cup her breasts. She moaned when he flicked a nipple with his fingernail.
    They could not remain in this position for long, his hip was already beginning to ache. He eased her down and managed to free himself from the rest of his pants, kicking them aside as he and Calliope stretched out before the fire.
    She was beautiful, and smelled of lilacs. He quickly undid what was left of her braid and spread the wet locks over the carpet. Cupping her face in his hands he kissed her first with his eyes, then with his lips. She tasted of honey and spice, and something only Calliope. He pulled away and nuzzled her neck, biting softly on the warm skin there. He moved his head down and licked her collarbone, then took her breast in his mouth, suckling hard.
    Calliope arched her back at his ministrations and let out a slight moan. Stephen moved over to partially cover her body, still busy with his mouth at her breast, but moved his fingers down to touch her opening.
    He groaned with male satisfaction. “You’re so wet, so warm, so ready for me.”
    “I