She pulled back. Not her hips; he was holding her far too tightly for that. But she pulled back her head, just far enough so that he was forced to look into her eyes.

Blue. So pale but so blue. And so full of confusion.

“You will find many things of which to accuse me,” he growled, “but this will never be one of them.”

He tumbled them both to the bed, reveling in the soft gasp that flew from her lips as he came down onto her.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered, tasting the salty skin below her ear.

“You are exquisite,” he murmured, running his tongue down the arched length of her throat.

His teeth found the scalloped edge of her bodice, and his hands made short work of it, yanking it down until he could see the surprisingly luscious shape of her breasts through the thin silk of her chemise. He cupped them, plumping her in his hands, and he shuddered with desire.

“You are mine,” he told her, and he bent down to take one bud in his mouth.

He kissed her through silk, and then when that wasn’t enough he kissed her skin, hot satisfaction rolling through him when he saw the cherry blush of her nipple.

“You’re not pale here,” he said, his tongue dancing a naughty circle around the tip.

She gasped his name, but he only chuckled. “You’re so pale,” he said huskily, trailing his hand up the length of her leg. “It was the first thing I noticed about you. Your hair . . .”

He took one thick lock and tickled it across her breastbone.

“Your eyes . . .”

He leaned down, brushing his lips against her temple.

“Your skin . . .”

This last was said with a moan, because her skin, all milky white and smooth, was bared beneath him, in stark contrast to the luscious pink tip of her breast.

“What color are you here, I wonder?” he murmured, trailing his fingers up the length of her thigh. She quivered beneath him, let out a gasp of pleasure as he ran one digit along the intimate crease where her leg met her hip.

“What are you doing to me?” she whispered.

He grinned wolfishly. “I’m making love to you.” Then, spurred by some devilish bit of humor, he leaned down until his lips were warm at her ear. “I should have thought it was obvious.”

She let out a surprised chuckle, and he could not help but grin at her expression. “I can’t believe I just laughed,” she said, one hand covering her mouth.

“And why not?” he drawled. “This is meant to be enjoyable.”

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“I’m enjoying myself.”

Iris let out another astonished giggle.

“Are you?” he murmured.

She nodded.

He pretended to consider this. “I’m not convinced.”

Her brows rose. “You’re not?”