He hooks the sides of her knickers and pulls them down her legs slowly until they meet her skirt around her ankles, and then the whole lot is discarded to the side along with her heels. He presses a reverent kiss to the inside of each knee, working his way up her silky thighs, stroking and kissing each mark, each freckle, each line, murmuring words of praise. He hovers over her bare entrance, and she sucks in a breath as her fingertips indent the brocade fabric.