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Elizabeth didn't knohat he meant, but her blood ran hot and fast in her veins, and she could deny hi She looked up, saw the fire in his chocolate eyes, and made her decision "Love ers treht theolden silk beneath his fingers, and she looked so achingly se, suddenly aard hands He could break her, he realized She was tiny and fine, and his to protect "I'll be gentle," he whispered, barely recognizing his own voice "I will never hurt you Never"

She trusted hiers trail lightly down the planes of her cheeks to the bare skin of her neck Her costu hi to slip over and off with just the slightest nudge He could hook his finger around the soft white fabric and reveal one delicate shoulder, and then the other, and then he could pull the gown ever doard, baring her--

Blood pooled in his groin Good God, if he was growing this hard just thinking about undressing her, what the hell was going to happen when he actually had her naked and willing in his arentleness and care she deserved?

His breath burning in his lungs, he slowly slid her gown over one shoulder, never taking his eyes off the skin he bared She glowed in the ht like the rarest pearl, and when he lowered his head to nuzzle the warm, seductive curve where her neckhoic to the other side of her dress, and he heard her gasp as the fabric inched down, revealing the gentle swell of the tops of her breasts She ht be his nale button nestled between her breasts, loosening the neckline of her dress just enough to allow it to fall away

Her hands rose up to cover herself, but he caught them in his and held theht kiss on her lips "You're beautiful," he whispered, the heat of his voice entering her mouth "So beautiful"

Still holding both her hands in one of his, he reached out and gently cupped one of her breasts, allowing it to fill his pally lush and full, and he could not stop his groan of pleasure as he felt her nipple pucker in the hollow of his pal to see her expression, needing to know that she loved his touch Her lips were parted and glistening as if she had just wet theue Her eyes were dazed and unfocused, and her breath was coasps

He slid one of his hands to cup her bottorass was a soft, cool carpet beneath theolden fan Ja a soft thanks to whatever god had led him to thislove to her with his mouth

Elizabeth let out a startled "Oh!" as his lips closed around her nipple His breath felt hot on her breast, and her blood felt hot beneath it Her body beca too big for her skin She was overcoainst the grass, to flex her hands and then sink them into his thick brown hair

She arched her back beneath hi her to reach for whatever it was he was offering "Jaain His name was the only word that came to her lips, and it sounded like a plea and a prayer

Her dress had been pulled down as far as it could go, and so one of his handsup to the outside of her knee And then, so slowly she ached from the anticipation, his hand slid over her knee to squeeze the soft skin of her lower thigh

His naain, but his mouth was on hers, and so her words were lost in his kiss His hand traveled farther along her leg, h She stiffened, sensing that she was nearing the edge of so to some secret place from which there was no return

James lifted his head to look at her She had to blink several times before she could even focus on his beloved features, and then, a rakish s his lips, he asked, "More?"

Heaven help her, she nodded, and she saw his smile widen just before hisit up until his lips could explore the entire expanse of her neck

And then his hand h now, so close to the very core of her privacy and woan to tremble in anticipation

"Trust ood for you I prohtly, allowing hihs She hadn't realized until thathis powerful ared as he lowered his body onto hers The weight of hier than she; she'd never understood the full extent of his power and strength until it was pressed up so intiainst her

His hand spanned the entire breadth of her thigh, his thu her womanhood He squeezed, he teased

And then he touched her