Warning! Mature content below.

Damien tugged on the ribbon, slowly loosening the knot.

Eloise held her breath, awaiting the moment her dress would come undone. She was true to her word that this was what she wanted. There was nervousness, but not enough to scare her away from the intimacy.

Eloise felt the ribbon finally give way, and her dress became loose. Her chest wasn’t fully exposed to Damien, and it would take little effort for him to reveal her skin to his hungry gaze.

Damien kept watching Eloise’s expression, drinking in every flicker of emotion. He knew she was nervous, so he had to be patient and make the experience one that she would treasure.

Damien pulled on the material, removing every layer that concealed Eloise from him. He stopped when she turned her head sideways, unwilling to meet his eyes.

Eloise’s cheeks were flushed. She couldn’t help it even if she wanted to.

"Eloise," Damien’s deep voice sent a shiver through her body.

Without needing to say it, Eloise knew what he wanted.

Eloise gathered her courage and faced Damien again.

"You must look at me," Damien said, his hand still against her skin. "If you can’t look at me, then you are not ready for this."

"I am ready," Eloise answered, more so to convince herself. She was the one who had made the offer to Damien.

’It is just a dress,’ Eloise thought.

She always knew that one day she would have to reveal herself to Damien, and he would do the same.

Eloise’s gaze slowly lowered from Damien’s face to his exposed chest. She raised her hand, reaching out to press her palm flat against him. He flinched under her touch, but soon relaxed into it.

Eloise moved her hand, caressing his chest as she explored. She took notice of every mark on his body, every ridge and line. Her fingers glided across Damien’s abdomen, tracing the drops of water that still clung to his skin from his earlier bath.

Eloise’s hand continued lower until her fingers grazed the waistband of Damien’s trousers. She looked up, her eyes meeting his.

Damien held Eloise’s hand and lifted it to his lips. "Had enough, or shall I remove them for you?"

"I should let you enjoy your reward how you see fit," Eloise responded, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze drifted to the visible strain in Damien’s trousers, which made his desire unmistakable.

He was aroused, and it couldn’t be comfortable.

"Just keep your eyes on me," Damien murmured as he guided her hand down. His right hand slipped beneath Eloise’s dress, his touch light as his fingers trailed slowly up her thigh.

Eloise held her breath for a moment.

"Won’t you take off my dress?" Eloise asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Not tonight," Damien replied, his hand lingering just beneath her thigh. "You look too lovely in it, and my reward for tonight doesn’t require you to be fully undressed."

"And if I want to be?" Eloise asked, the words shifting something heavy in the air between them.

"Then I will be a dutiful husband and give in to his wife’s wishes, but for now," Damien said, pushing up the dress. "I desire to have my face between your legs."

Eloise gasped, a red hue forming along her cheeks.

It was bold, and no longer was he holding back to spare her from indecent words.

Eloise raised her hand to cover her face. "Must you be so blunt?"

"Is there another way to say it?" Damien inquired, his lips curving.

Damien had a brief change of plans.

"No, but," Eloise replied, uncertain how she wanted Damien to say it.

Damien settled himself between Eloise’s legs so she could not close them. He leaned forward, his lips meeting hers.

Eloise melted as her lips moved against Damien’s. She forgot what they had spoken of.

Her right hand rested on Damien’s shoulder before drifting to feel his body.

They both got carried away, and as soon as Eloise’s lips parted, Damien’s tongue slipped inside her mouth, deepening the kiss with quiet urgency.

Damien used Eloise’s distraction to slip his hand beneath the dress, pushing the material aside to expose her breast.

Eloise shuddered, but did not attempt to cover herself.

Damien moved his lips to her neck, trailing lower until he reached her bosom.

Eloise waited for the moment he would reach his endpoint. His warm hand still cradled her left breast. Her toes curled when Damien’s fingers began to move, slowly caressing her soft flesh.

At the same time, his lips continued exploring her right breast. The lingering scent of flowers from her bath filled his nostrils.

Damien looked up, taking his time to memorise her flushed face. He tore his gaze away, returning his full attention to her bosom. He pressed a slow kiss to her soft flesh just above her hardened bud.

His right hand weighed her breast in his palm, learning every curve.

With no objections, Damien continued his trail of kisses down her abdomen, his hands sliding from her bosom to her thighs, lifting her dress as he went.

Eloise held her breath, every nerve heightened in anticipation of what Damien would do next. This was all new to her, and she followed his lead without a word of protest.

Eloise let her head fall back against the pillow just as Damien lowered himself between her legs.

She felt the warmth of his lips press against the heat between her thighs. She instinctively moved to close her legs, but with Damien settled between them. To not hurt Damien, she parted her legs.

Eloise pressed her hands into the soft blanket beneath her, gripping the fabric to manage the wave of nervousness building inside her. She had not imagined this day would end with Damien’s lips between her parted legs.

Bravely, Eloise lifted her head to look down at him. The sight of only his dishevelled hair between her thighs took her breath away.

She tried to relax, but the moment she did, she felt the deliberate stroke of Damien’s tongue against her most intimate place. Her back arched sharply as the sensation spread. His fingers pressing into her thighs added another layer of pleasure she wasn’t prepared for.

Her breathing quickened, and a desperate, overwhelming feeling built in her chest. Her toes curled as Damien thoroughly feasted on her. His head never once came up as he took his time.

"Damien," his name left her lips in a breathless gasp.

Eloise was tempted to push his head back for even a moment’s relief. Instead, she leaned away, trying to pull herself from him, but Damien’s hands gripped her thighs and tugged her firmly back.