He backed away for a moment and Judith nearly fell forward in her need to stay connected to him. True to his word, Piers snatched her gown from her body. The fine muslin split along the path she’d started, falling from her body in a heap of tattered remains. And he didn’t stop there, either, tearing her chemise and stays free, then making short work of her drawers. In moments, she stood before him in nothing more than her slippers and a ruby necklace.

Still, he looked at her with that hunger, that gluttonous need she’d seen there for the first time only moments before. Where had this man come from?

Piers allowed her no time to ponder his sudden change, however. He yanked at his cravat with one hand, pulling her along behind him with the other. But he didn’t lead him to her chamber. Nor, for that matter, did he take her to his chamber. Instead, he took a seat on the settee before an open window and pulled her onto his lap, straddling him.

The moon shone through, illuminating her pale skin, especially against the darkness of the room and his clothing. Taking her as-to-that-point untouched breast into his mouth, he used his thumb and forefinger to pinch the tight nub of the other. The joint pleasure-pain sent a flood of need to her center. Judith struggled with the buttons of his coat, trying to free him, but he grabbed hold of her hands and stilled her.

“ No, love. Not now.”

She whimpered, but obeyed him. After all, she’d never imagined she could feel the way she did at that moment, and Piers was the one who had created these new sensations within her.

When she dropped her hands back to her sides, he moved his over her again, stroking her everywhere. His gaze followed the path of his hands. They moved lower, holding firm against the tops of her thighs. Then he pressed gently against the insides of her thighs as he spread her legs wider. Then with one hand, he cupped her sex.