The Wedding Bed (The Sun Never Sets, Book One) by Ava Archer Payne Page A

from the waist up. Had she imagined this moment merely a week ago—her breasts bared to her husband as morning light streamed through the windows, the newssheets still untouched and their breakfast dishes scattered across the table—Calla would have sworn she would feel embarrassed about it. Shamed, perhaps.
    Instead, as she watched raw desire darken his eyes, a feeling of intense arousal stole over her. Her bodily functions shifted of their own accord. Her lips parted and her breath became shallow; her lungs seemed to lessen their capacity for air. Her blood no longer traveled to her brain, but the effect was not unpleasant. She felt deliciously light-headed, yet more physically alert than she’d ever been in her life. Heat pooled between her thighs. Her nipples hardened beneath his gaze, rising like twin beacons on the soft, milky white globes of her breasts.
    Derek’s gaze flitted to her face. Last night they’d made love in the dark , with nothing but the dim flicker of candles to guide them. Now he could see her. Truly see her. Calla felt her breath catch in her throat as his eyes locked on hers. He drew his fingertips lightly down her upper arms.
    “ Exquisite,” he breathed. “My perfect, my beautiful jaanu .”
    Calla’s knees nearly buckled. It wasn’t true. She knew better than to believe she was exquisite, or beautiful, or perfect. The words used to describe her were capable, confident, determined. But she could pretend, just this once. If nothing else, she could be the last: his jaanu . It was enough. More than enough. Her whole body ached, desperate for her husband’s touch.
    He cupped her breasts and strummed his thumbs over her nipples. “This,” he said, “is what I want for breakfast.”
    He lowered his head and drew one hard, puckered nipple into his mouth.
    Calla dug her fingernails into his shoulders, certain she’d collapse complete ly if not for his support. “ Oh ,” she breathed, as liquid bursts of pleasure shot through her. “ Oh.”   He licked and suckled, first one breast then the other, teasing her nipples with his tongue and his lips until she was straining against him, silently begging for more.
    She let out a shaky breath and shut her eyes, losing herself in the sensation, in the rich satisfaction that washed over her like waves. This was marriage? This touch? These feelings? No wonder her sisters gave themselves over so completely. No wonder mothers took such great pains to shield their young, vulnerable daughters. She had never experienced anything like it before. She had never been so out of control of her own body that she arched her back and moaned softly, without meaning to do either. 
    H is hand reached out to curl around her waist as he pulled her onto his lap. He brought his mouth to hers, driving his tongue between her lips as he molded her half-naked body to his. His hands, so large and powerful, drew her closer until her breasts flattened against the solid wall of his chest.
    Desire collided with caution. Calla gave full rein to the restless, aching need that swelled within her. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pressed herself closer, kissing him back. He angled his head to allow even greater intimacy. Their tongues met and battled, swirling and crashing, exploring all the dark, silky recesses of each other’s mouth.
    He grabbed a fistful of her skirt and began edging it upward. The pale blue linen brushed over her knees and pooled about her thighs, exposing her delicate white stockings, the matching blue ribbons of her garters, and her soft cotton drawers. Derek gave a low murmur of approval. He slipped one finger beneath the band of her stocking and massaged the warm, satiny flesh of her thigh. Then he stripped the ribbons and silk away, leaving her legs bare and exposed, her stockings pooling about her ankles.
    Following his lead , Calla tugged at his shirt, recklessly popping buttons free as she pulled it open. She stared in awe at the broad, muscular