Page 26 of Her Beastly Duke
His hard length nudged at her entrance, and instinctively, Briar clutched him to her as he pressed inside her. Julius stopped as he moved to kiss the other nipple, and when his teeth nibbled, she groaned, and with a strong stroke, he was inside her. There was an ache in the center of her, but it was soonforgotten when he claimed her lips. Their tongues met in heat and fury as he licked, sucked, and stroked. He slowly moved inside her, stroking her heat as he kissed her again and again. Briar was losing herself with every stroke, her breath coming faster and faster when he delved deep within. She rocked against him, gripping his shoulders, wanting to find that pleasure again when his tongue made her scream out.
She felt his hot breath on her neck, then her ears, before he buried all of himself in her. He pulled back to gaze at her, his eyes hot and dark. He was inside her but not moving. Briar moved her hip against him, and he groaned. Julius slipped in and out of her wet heat, slowly at first, then increased the rhythm until she felt herself tightening around him. Briar gripped his hair and closed her eyes as pleasure washed over her, and she screamed her release. He stroked her deeply until she felt him stiffen before he withdrew from her and spilled his seed.
They were both breathing heavily when he collapsed beside her, cradling her head on his chest. In the aftermath of her raging desire, reality set in. She had wanted him, probably too much, and she did not exercise any caution when she gave herself to him. Her raging need had blocked any thought of restraint, and she could not resist him. Briar wondered what would happen now that she had given him a part of her.
CHAPTER 12
Julius cradled her across his chest and stroked her hair. He did not know how long they lay there, but his heart had finally stopped racing. His breathing returned to normal. They had shared something that he needed, but it would only be for tonight.Tonight. Not forever. He would cherish it, and perhaps that would be enough. The words hung hollow even as he grappled with the significance of what they just shared. He knew what would be expected and the reason he hesitated.
Julius kissed her forehead. “We should get dressed.”
“You are right.” She slowly sat up.
“I shall take you to your bedchamber.”
“There is no need, Julius. I—”
Julius sat up and kissed her. Their foreheads rested against each other. “I shall.”
Briar stood and Julius helped her to dress before he dressed himself. He opened the door, and Briar started to walk by him; he scooped her up in his arms.
Briar gasped. “We could be seen.”
“The servants are below stairs having their meal and preparing for tomorrow. It is a risk I am willing to take.”
Briar rested her head against his shoulders as he climbed the stairs to her bed chamber. “I am not afraid, Julius.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Taking risks.”
Julius chuckled. “Don’t I know it? We would not have met if you had not taken a risk.”
“True.”
When they arrived, he opened the door and closed it with his heel behind them. He laid Briar down, and they stood facing each other. He meant to give her a kiss goodnight, but when their lips touched, something carnal took over. Soon, between hungry kisses, they were shedding their clothes in a frenzy, hurling them over the room as they slowly drifted toward the bed. They fell onto the bed in a tumble of arms and legs, yet his mouth did not leave her. They had tonight and it would be memorable. Julius gave Briar all the pleasure she wanted until they were both sated.
In the early hours of the following morning, he extricated himself from the warm bed beside her and returned to his bedchamber. It would soon be the time he would normally awaken to start his day, but there would be no prospect of that this morning. He was exhausted. Julius crawled under the covers and promptly fell asleep. Julius awoke feeling refreshed the next morning and thinking of Briar. He rang for his valet, who came in with warm water for him to wash and dress.
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
“Good morning, Neil.”
“Your brother and his family arrived mid-morning, and he would like to join you for lunch.”
Julius jerked up, and water splashed on the floor. “What the devil do you mean? Baxter is here?”
“Yes, Your Grace, along with his family.”
“Damn it!” Julius wondered if Baxter had not received his letter or if he did and wanted to be hard-headed anyway. Baxter could not possibly have come at a worse time. Julius hurriedly dressed and went downstairs to find Baxter in the drawing room.
“Baxter, what are you doing here? Did you not receive my letter?”
Baxter stood up and hugged Julius, slapping him on the back. “It is good to see you, brother. You do remember how to say that, don’t you?”
“Of course, I am happy to see you. I was not expecting you, is all.”
“I received your letter, and I must say, I was intrigued by it. I decided to come and see you since I am traveling to London, and Emmeline insisted on coming along.”
