“Did you eat strawberries as a child?”

“Yes. And now. They are my favorite. Especially the plump ones. I like when I bite into them and the juice begins to escape my mouth and I have to dart out my tongue to catch it before it gets away.”

He growled low. “You’re killing me.”

“Am I?” An innocence to her tone belied her earlier words.

Releasing his hold on her hair, aware of it falling around her like silken draperies stirred by the wind, he met her gaze. “You know you are.”

“I’ve never been called a minx before. It seems I should do something to earn the title.”

He skimmed his thumb over her chin, then followed a path from the center of the rounded curve up to her bottom lip. “One day I shall feed you an incredibly plump strawberry and lick away any juice that manages to escape.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

In spite of her position, he still had to dip his head to reach her lips, and he imagined he tasted strawberries rather than the brandy she’d sipped earlier. She wasn’t as shy tonight—or as inexperienced. She welcomed the thrust of his tongue with eagerness, taking hers on a journey through his mouth that had him growing all the harder. Christ, she was a quick study, turning the tables on him, making him want to shove back her skirts and have his lower body imitating the motions of his tongue, plunging, withdrawing, rolling over velvet and silk.

Her sighs echoed around him, her moans seemed to inhabit his soul, created a symphony of pitches that put the very finest musicians to shame. Until he drew his last breath, he would be able to recall the little noises she made. There was a sweetness to them, but also the hint of discovery, as though he were expanding her world.

God, he hoped so. Arrogant bugger that he was, he wanted to give her what no one else ever had. He wanted his to be the name on her lips as she drifted into her final slumber. Selfish on his part, to wish for her a life that was never more exquisite than what he delivered. But only fair because already he knew that the women who followed after her would pale in comparison.