Page 56 of A Raven Reformed

As he watched, Belle placed her tongue gently against his base and his breath stopped as she slowly traced a seductive path all the way to his aching tip. A groan burst from his lips as a powerful jolt of pleasure shot through him, knocking him off balance, and he had to take a step back. But Belle didn’t let go. Digging her fingers into his hips, she drew him back to her and plunged her lips around him.

“My God, Belle. You can’t— I can’t—” He gasped for breath as she wrapped her hand around his shaft and slowly began to move up and down his length, her tongue rubbing firmly against his most sensitive spot as her mouth took him in and out. He slipped his fingers into her hair, telling himself he should stop her, but instead, he gently encouraged her movements.

Her mouth was inexperienced, but somehow that made it even more incredible. He groaned her name loudly, which seemed to bolster her confidence, and she took him deeper into her mouth. The powerful sensations stole his breath. Each stroke sent pleasure spiraling through him. His entire body vibrated with frenzied bliss as he barreled toward his climax.

“Belle, sweetheart, you have to stop.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed gently until she released him from her mouth.

“What is it? Am I doing it wrong?”

Laughter choked him. “You’re doing it far too right.” He smiled down at her. “I’m so close, love, and I don’t want to… finish in your beautiful mouth. I want to be inside of you.” His voice shook with urgency.

She nodded and got to her feet, immediately fumbling to open her blouse. “I can’t wait for that tonight. Is your body ready for me?”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “I’ve been ready since you kissed me in the hall.” Her cheeks tinged lightly with pink at the confession. Still shy, but oh so passionate.

A growl rumbled up from his chest. “Do you like being pinned against the wall, my naughty girl?”

She nodded as he backed her against the door. “Yes, my lord.”

“Get those skirts up,” he demanded.

She quickly grabbed her hem and bunched the fabric around her waist. Michael plunged a hand between her thighs. She hadn’t lied, she was wet and so ready for him. He reached down and lifted one leg to wrap around his hip, opening her wide for him. She gasped as he surged into her. There was no way he’d be able to hold off this time. He’d just have to make it up to her after. He pumped into her, crushing her against the door. Her desperate gasps urged him on. A lightning storm of pleasure raced through him, and then to his amazement, Belle’s whole body stiffened, and she cried out.

As her body contracted around him, pleasure ripped through him and he tumbled over his own peak, swells of sensation bombarding him. Apparently, she’d been closer than he’d realized. Perhaps she’d enjoyed taking him in her mouth.

“That was—” There were no words to describe it, even if his labored breathing hadn’t been making it difficult to speak. He slowly lowered her leg back down and pressed a loving kiss to her forehead. “You, little miss, are unimaginably delicious, and I don’t know how I am lucky enough to have you.”

“You are lucky,” she said, with a teasing smile as her hand stroked down his back and squeezed his backside.

Michael chuckled. “So, my lady, am I allowed to put my clothes back on now?”

“Mmmm, I suppose. If you must.”

ChapterSeventeen

Life in Raven Row was different than Belle had imagined. In some ways, it was wonderful. She frequently spent time with Rosie while their husbands were working or sleeping, and they’d grown quite close. She got to see Isaac’s smiling face nearly every day, and even though it was formal greetings, or him trailing behind her as she visited shops, and she couldn’t hug him, she still enjoyed having him back in her life. On the other hand, Michael kept strange hours here, and she didn’t see him nearly as much as she would have liked. Most nights, he was at his club from dusk until the early hours of the morning and slept until the middle of the afternoon.

The truth was, she often found herself bored. So much of her time was spent simply waiting for Michael because she didn’t have much else to do. Although, it was usually worth the wait. Even now, as she watched him dress, she could still taste him on her tongue and feel her lips stretched around him.

He checked his reflection in the mirror as he finished straightening his tie. An enchanting smile appeared when he spied her watching him. “Like what you see?”

She crossed the room and pressed a hand to his firm backside. He was almost as alluring in his clothes as out of them. “I certainly do. Although, next time, I want to see your hair free of its restraints.” She ran her fingers through it. As always, it was neatly tied at his nape.

“I think that can be arranged,” he said smoothly, as he turned. His warm, strong hands gently lifted her face and his lips descended. It wasn’t their usual heated, urgent kiss. It was languid and loving. He nipped gently at her lips, never breaching her with his tongue. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her head tenderly against his chest, surrounding her with his sweet, musky scent.

For some reason, he needed her today. She’d seen it in the furrow of his brow the moment he’d walked through the door. “What’s the matter, Michael?”

He leaned back and looked down at her. “How could anything possibly be wrong after that?”

His lips were turned up in a satisfied smile, but Belle could still see a shadow in his eyes. She wasn’t going to be deterred that easily. She held up his waistcoat for him to slip his arms through and waited for him to button it before she took his hand in hers once more. He grabbed his jacket and followed her without a word of protest as she led him back down to the drawing room. She needed to know what was bothering him, and they were much less likely to get distracted outside of the bedroom.

Leaving him to sit at one end of the sofa, she sat at the other and patted the top of her thigh. He looked a bit uncertain of what she was requesting from him.

“Lay your head,” she said, patting her leg again. For a moment, he eyed her, probably trying to discern her motives.

“I’m not going to bite, Michael.”

“Well, that’s disappointing.” Eventually, he acquiesced, and lowered himself slowly onto his back, resting his head in her lap. He lifted his long legs and draped them over the arm of the sofa.

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