Releasing her wrists, Devon turned his attention to the line of buttons at her bodice and began to unfasten them with meticulous care. The hem of her nightgown had ridden up to her hips. She could feel the taut, intimate heat of his shaft brushing her inner thigh.

By the time the last button was freed, Kathleen was weak and gasping.

Finally Devon pulled the garment over her head and tossed it aside. Kneeling with his folded legs spread beneath her thighs, he stared intently at her flame-gilded body. Modesty burned through her as she realized it was the first time he’d seen her completely naked. Her hands moved reflexively to cover herself. He caught them and held them wide.

God, the way he stared at her, harsh and tender, his gaze devouring.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” His voice was slightly hoarse. Letting go of her hands, he reached down to touch her with spread fingertips that slid over her stomach in burning trails, down to the feathery triangle between her legs. A silent moan stuck in her throat as he played with her, combing through wispy curls, delving to the private skin beneath.

Her hands fisted and fell to her sides. The rhythm of his breathing had roughened with lust, but his hands stayed gentle, teasing softly furled edges of pink and white, kneading with his thumbs, stroking her open. The sensations slid all through her, until she couldn’t keep from writhing and twisting helplessly upward.

Flattening a palm on her stomach, he murmured, “Settle.” His fingertips slid between her thighs, stroking just above the peak of her sex, awakening delicate throbs of heat. She shivered, her legs closing on either side of his hips.

His thumb swirled at the entrance of her body, gathering wetness before returning to the swelling peak.

It was utterly wicked, the things he knew.

Closing her eyes, she turned her blazing face away while he toyed and teased, eliciting more wetness and fullness until her sex was achingly sensitive. She felt his thumb slide down again, circling and stroking… pressing inside her. It stung as he nudged deeper into the tight-rimmed tenderness. But he was exquisitely gentle, his fingers splaying over the mound and massaging in a deliberate rhythm. She gasped at the sensation, pleasure turning her insides molten, her buttocks tensing and relaxing in shameless craving, her insides molten with pleasure.

His hand pulled away, and she whimpered in protest. The dark shape of his head and broad shoulders loomed over her as he gripped her knees and pushed them apart. Her hips rolled upward until her sex was brazenly displayed. She heard herself groan as he bent over her, his tongue dragging moistly along the soft slit. Reaching the peak of her sex, he suckled and stroked without mercy, sending bliss racing through every nerve, driving her relentlessly until release broke and flooded her.

As the climax eased into quicksilver splashes, she felt Devon lowering her hips to the mattress. He kissed her mouth, his tongue salted with a subtle erotic savor. She let her hands wander down to the tough-banded muscle of his stomach, hesitantly touching the stiff length of his erection. It was harder than she had thought human flesh could be, the skin silkier than silk. To her surprise, a distinct pulse beat strongly against her fingers.

With a low sound, Devon settled more heavily between her legs, pushing them wider.

Awkwardly she guided him into place. He pressed until her body began to yield, persisting even as she shrank away from the sharpening ache. He pushed inside the soft, clenching tightness until she gave a faint openmouthed cry, going rigid at the burn of it.

Devon held still, muttering endearments and reassurances. Trying to soothe her, he caressed her hips and thighs, while her body closed over his in knifelike throbs. He gathered her closer, his belly against hers, the heat of him deep inside. Gradually her inner muscles weakened as if recognizing the uselessness of resisting.

“There,” he whispered as he felt her relaxing. He kissed her jaw and throat, and stared down at her as he began to move in slow, careful lunges. Pleasure misted his hard features and emblazoned fresh color across the crests of his cheeks. As he reached the flashpoint, he fastened his mouth over hers, while his body worked in vehement shudders.

Withdrawing, he crushed his hard wet length against her stomach. A wash of heat spread between them, while he buried his face in her hair with a groan.

Kathleen held him tightly, savoring the tremors of satisfaction that ran through him. When he recovered his breath, he kissed her lazily, a sated male enjoying his plunder.

Eventually Devon left the bed and returned with a cup of water and a damp cloth. While she drank thirstily, he wiped away the evidence of their lovemaking. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, as the cloth stroked over the sore place between her thighs.

Kathleen handed him the empty cup. “I was worried about you,” she confessed. “I was afraid you might injure yourself.”

He grinned, setting the cup and cloth aside. “How?” he scoffed. “By falling out of bed?”

“No, with all that vigorous activity.”

“That wasn’t vigorous. That was restrained.” Joining her on the bed, he pulled her against him, his hands wandering boldly over her. “Tomorrow night,” he said, kissing her shoulder, “I’ll show you some vigor.”

Circling her arms around his head, she pressed her lips against his vibrant dark hair. “Devon,” she said warily, “I probably won’t want to share a bed tomorrow night.”

His head lifted as he glanced at her with concern. “If you’re too sore, I’ll just hold you.”

“It’s not that.” She stroked back a lock that had fallen over his forehead. “As I told you, I can’t have an affair.”