Page 25 of Her Beastly Duke
“I have not danced for some time and will be expected to when we arrive in London. We should practice the waltz so that I can feel comfortable holding a lady in my arms again.”
“You wish to dance now?”
“Yes. We could go to the drawing room and practice the waltz there.”
“As you wish.”
Julius led Briar into the drawing room. They stood facing each other.
Julius held out his hand to her. “Shall we? If I remember correctly, the gentleman starts with the left and the lady with the right.”
Briar accepted his hand and her long, elegant fingers gripped his lightly. “That is correct, Julius. I am sure you recall the essence of waltzing is keeping the beat.”
Julius placed his right hand on the small of Briar's back and kept his left hand out. Briar grasped it and placed her left hand lightly on his shoulder. Their bodies did not touch, but they may as well have. Julius swallowed, and the sound seemed loud in his ear. His fingers at her back ached with the need to touch her even more.
They were in position, and it felt so good. He lowered his voice. “We will pretend that we are dancing to On the Beautiful Blue Danube. I will lead.”
Julius brought his right foot next to his left and then stepped in place with his left. Then, starting with his right, he did the same in reverse. Briar counted the beat … one, two, three. Even without the music, they were in sync, so fluid that he almost felt like he was flowing like a liquid around the room. Julius and Briar swayed in perfect harmony. They had no audience, so he could openly gaze at her beauty. Instantly, he forgot everything else. Briar’s dancing was just like everything else about her.Perfect. She had such poise and elegance that they could have been in the ballroom of a prominent family home in London.
Their eyes locked as they held each other and moved to the beat. Her eyes were shining, glossing over and softening. The dance was so tender … they could have been lovers. A burningfire held the depths of her gaze, threatening to engulf him. Julius pulled Briar close to him in a rush as they crashed into each other, chest to chest. He tilted her chin and covered her mouth, unleashing all the pent-up tension he felt all evening. He was hungry for her, and his lips devoured her.To hell with everything else.He traced his tongue along her jawline, down to her neck, and she sucked in a deep breath of pleasure.
A warning bellrang in Briar’s head. It told her what she desired was bad, but he tasted so, so good. She wanted him to kiss her until she was breathless. She ached for him to kiss her all night. Julius put his lips to her neck, and a shiver ran down her spine. He finally broke the kiss with a lick of her lips and looked at her hair.
“I have wanted to touch your hair all evening.”
“Then touch it.”
Julius gave a soft groan as he placed both hands on the side of her neck and combed through her hair. Briar wondered how such a small action could be so soothing and sensual. Julius swiftly crushed her mouth, pulling her even closer. His tongue in her mouth and hands in her hair prevented Briar from having any further thoughts. Briar reached for Julius’s hair, and his breath quickened.
Julius raised his head, and his thumb brushed her lips. “This is what I wanted from the moment you sat down for dinner.” His lips brushed hers tenderly.
He stopped kissing her but only to secure the door before he led her closer to the fireplace. Julius stood behind her and kissed the nape and side of her neck while he slowly undressed her.
“I want to see you, all of you.” He whispered between kisses.
Soon, Briar stood naked before him, yet she was not cold. The fire that burned within her made her skin hot and flushed. Julius’s gaze lingered on her breasts and curves, and when his eyes shot up to meet hers, the raw need caused her lips to tremble.
“You are beautiful.” He ran his hand lightly over her shoulders.
“I want to see you.” Briar swallowed as Julius sucked in his breath.
He removed his shirt, and Briar saw the scar that ran across his chest. A question haunted his eyes, and she gave him the answer he needed. Briar ran her hand along the length of the scarred flesh before gently kissing it. She could feel his heart thumping in his chest. Julius stepped back and quickly removed the rest of his garment, which fell into a crumpled pile on the floor. He swooped her in his arms and gently placed her on the rug before the fireplace. He lay beside her, propped up on his elbow, gazing at her, his eyes dark with need.
“What do you want me to do, Briar? Tell me what you want?”
“Kiss me.” She pleaded in a breathy whisper.
Julius swiftly crushed her mouth with a kiss that echoed her hunger. He gave her what she wanted. Briar gripped his shoulders, pulling him closer, and caught the little growl that left his throat. She yearned for him to kiss her neck again, and as if on cue, his lips were there, and she savored it. His lips found her breast and suckled on a nipple.Oh God. The sound that left her was somewhere between a gasp and a moan. Briar turned herself over to the sensation that was wreaking havoc inside her, hot and heavy. Julius nipped her nipple, and it sent a jolt through her core. Briar experienced a new sensation of moisture between her thighs and a yearning for something she needed there. Julius continued to suckle and nip each nipple until Briar bit her lip so she would not scream.
She wanted to give him pleasure like he was giving her. Briar felt for Julius’s nipple, her hand grazing his scar, and he moaned against her breast. She pinched his nipple, and a low, rumbling growl left his throat. Julius moved out of her reach to trail kisses down her belly, and she sucked in her breath when he parted her thighs. His fingers lightly skimmed over her thighs, something dark and wicked that set liquid heat pooling through her. His finger slipped inside her hot desire, and she gasped at the pleasure of it. He removed his finger, but she did not want him to stop … that was until he stroked her nob, the strokes gentle, lingering then demanding.
Briar gave a small mewl when Julius’s tongue replaced his finger, sucking slowly and rhythmically. Her hands swept through his hair as she moved beneath him. His tongue licked her, and his finger found her hot core, slipping deep inside her. She slowly exhaled, her legs trembling.
“Julius.” She breathed a raspy breath.
He raised his head. “Do you want me to stop?”
Without hesitation, “No.” She wanted him to taste her more than she could ever say. She felt his hot breath before his lips found her and pressed a kiss to her soft skin, sucking and nibbling, wreaking havoc on her senses. Her fingers tightened in his hair, and when his teeth gently grazed her, she cried out her pleasure. Julius groaned as she felt the wetness of her thighs on his finger as he slid all the way inside her. Julius trailed kisses up her belly before he positioned himself over her. She felt the length of his pressed against her before he took a nipple in his mouth, gently squeezing the other. Briar was pure desire.
