Jane twisted to help him unbutton the gown. He pulled it down to her waist. Her stays and chemise were all that remained between the two of them. “I’m quite sorry for this,” he said, just before he pulled something from his boot.

“For wh—”

The quick flash of a blade before her eyes told Jane he had a knife. He sliced her stays down the middle in one quick maneuver. She sucked in her breath, hard. How had he done that so quickly and effortlessly? Were rakes trained in this manner? Impressive, to be sure.

Still bracing himself on one elbow, he peeled away the remnants of the stays and then slowly, so excruciatingly slowly, he cut the straps of her chemise, first off one shoulder, then the other. His finger traced the line of the fabric where it hovered just over the tips of her nipples. She shuddered.

“Garrett, please.”

The knife dropped to the carpet with a soft thud. His hot mouth fell to the exposed skin above the shift. “That’s right. Say my name. Beg me.”

*   *   *

Jane closed her eyes and arched into his hot mouth. This was the most erotic thing that had ever happened to her. Not that bluestocking spinsters had much occasion for erotic things to happen to them, but suffice it to say she was glad she’d asked this man to meet her in the upstairs drawing room tonight.

“Garrett, please,” she whimpered, closing her eyes, feeling every touch, every kiss, every lick with every bit of her soul.

His lips moved lower, nudging the fabric away from her breast. Jane gasped. His wet mouth covered her nipple and … sucked. Oh, God. Yes! She clenched her jaw and twisted her head to the side. The pleasure was exquisite. So good. So, so good.

His mouth and teeth tugged at her while his hand came up to play with the other peak of her breast through the fabric of her shift. Somehow the soft scratch of the fabric with his thumb flicking back and forth made her mad with wanting. “Please,” she begged.

“Please what?” he murmured against her scorching skin.

“My other breast.”

His smile burned against her. “What do you want, Jane?” He moved his mouth an inch, two. “Do you want my mouth here?” He flicked his thumb against her sensitive nipple again.

“Yes. Please. Now.” She tugged at the bonds that held her hands above her head. He gave her what she wanted. His mouth scorched across her nipple and Jane closed her eyes and moaned.

Why was this so incredible? Who knew that being trussed up like a hare while the most handsome man in the world did amazingly sensual things to your body was this much fun? None of her books had taught her that.