His Silken Seduction by JOANNA MAITLAND Read Free Book Online

move through a mirror. He was slow and deliberate, carefully removing every pin and smoothing out every tie. She swayed a little when her petticoats joined her gown in a heap of froth around her feet.
    He took both her hands in his. “Will it please you to step out of your muslins, lady?”
    Suzanne smiled dreamily. She had no need to see, for she trusted the hands that supported her. She took two steps forward. Apart from her stockings, she was now wearing only her stays over a fine lawn chemise. If she opened her eyes now, if she saw how he was looking at her, she would probably blush to the roots of her hair. Better, much better, to remain in comforting darkness.
    He stumbled backwards against a shelf of fabrics. Bolts of cloth began to roll on to the floor. Startled, Suzanne opened her eyes. Hampered by the tight silk around his body, Benn was trying, and failing, to catch the precious materials before they landed. He was muttering under his breath. English curses, she supposed, glad that she could not make out the words.
    She crouched down quickly and began to gather up her fallen treasures. There was little harm done. The floor was clean.
    “Forgive me, Suzanne. My confounded clumsiness. It always catches me out, just when I most want to appear in control.”
    She lifted her head just enough to gaze up at him through her lashes. She hoped she looked as seductive as she intended. “You wish to be in control now?”
    “Yes.”
    “Of yourself!” She waited for a beat. “Or of me?”
    His only response was a groan.
    Suzanne rose. It took only seconds to restore the fabrics to their places. She picked up the cutting shears from the end of the lowest shelf and offered them to Benn. Her stay-laces could only be loosened by nimble fingers, which Benn clearly did not have. And, in any case, it would take much too long. The ache in her belly was urgent.
    He was staring at the scissors in his hand as if he had never held such an implement before.
    Suzanne put her fingers over his. She leaned forward so that the bare skin of her throat and upper bosom was touching his chest. “I need you to see all of me, Benn,” she whispered, offering him her lips once again.
    He seized her and began to kiss her even more passionately than before. He sucked at her lower lip, then bit it gently before sucking again. Slowly, he brushed the tip of his tongue along the full length of her lips. He pushed into her mouth, tentatively at first, and then with thrusts of increasing desire. He was pulling her body so tight against his own that the cold steel of the scissors was crushed into her flesh. Suzanne did not care. She was being held, being kissed, by the man who had captured her heart. Very soon, he would take her body and make her fully his. She wanted only that.
    The scissors must have stabbed him, for he pulled away abruptly. Suzanne’s gaze was drawn to his eyes, so wide and dark with passion that there was almost no trace of blue. His lips were parted, and swollen, as hers must also be. They desired each other equally. It was perfect.

Chapter Six
     
    She had placed the scissors in his hands. She wanted him to use them. She wanted him to free her of the remainder of her clothing, to feast his eyes on her body and to use his clumsy fingers to touch the essence of the amazing woman she was.
    Ben’s whole being was awash with desire. This beautiful, passionate girl was offering herself to him. It seemed she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
    He slid the scissors under the lowest loop of her stays and closed the blades. They glanced off the heavy lacing. The corset remained intact. He tried again, snapping the blades together with greater force. The result was the same. He growled in frustration.
    Suzanne gave a low chuckle. “Poor Benn.” She took the scissors horn his hands. “I had forgotten you are left-handed. Unfortunately, my scissors are not.” With a deft movement, she severed the laces and dropped the scissors back on