Page 63 of A Game with the Rakish Duke
She looked flustered for a moment. He held his breath. Was she going to refuse and back away again? Had she changed her mind?
But then, after what seemed like an eternity, she stood up and approached him. He could barely breathe as he watched her standing there, looking down at him with an enigmatic look on her face.
He held out his hand to her. She sighed then took it. He drew her down, so she was perched on his lap. He saw a vein twitch in her right temple.
For a long moment, he did nothing except breathe in the sweet scent of her, clasping her closely, relishing the contact. Then he ran his fingers down the length of her back which was exposed, thanks to her gown. She shuddered, arching her back and closing her eyes.
Slowly, he snaked his arms around her, pulling her closer still. Boldly he started caressing her waist—circular strokes above the fabric of her gown. She gasped again, turning limp and falling against him.
His hands drifted higher, finding her breasts, and one slipped inside her bodice. The first touch was electric as he gloried in the fullness of her breast, squeezing and caressing it before focusing on her erect nipple, flicking it. The result was instantaneous. She shivered violently, moaning loudly.
His other hand snaked up to her head, drawing it around so that they were face to face. As he kept caressing her breast, feeling his arousal heighten, he stared at her face, marveling in the beauty of her high cheekbones, the shape of her nose, her stunning eyes. Her long, dark eyelashes were golden at the tips, as if they had been dipped in paint. He pulled her head closer again.
“Do you like this?” he whispered.
Mutely, she nodded.
Thomas felt another thrill as he watched her lips part, her bottom lip jutting. It was one of the most sensual things he had ever seen in his life.
“Your lips are divine,” he whispered, bringing his hand around to caress them slowly, pulling on her bottom lip before slipping a finger into her mouth. “As luscious as you.”
In response, she drew his finger deeper into her mouth, suckling on it. He started, closing his eyes as tiny shocks coursed through his body. He was literally tingling from head to toe.
He swore under his breath, removing his finger and cupping her head in his hand again, drawing that delectable mouth to his. He had not forgotten the taste of those lips. It was as if his body had been lying in hibernation, waiting to taste them again.
Slowly, deliberately, he explored every inch of them, tugging on her bottom lip with his teeth softly, pushing his tongue into her mouth, settling into the kiss as if he were sinking into warm water.
For many minutes, he was happy to stay here, just kissing her, his mind a blessed blank. The only thing that mattered was this moment. He could have kept kissing her forever.
She was trembling now, shivering, gasping as she drew breath, wrapping her hands around his head, drawing him closer still. He kept flicking her nipple, squeezing her breast, the caress becoming stronger and more frantic. He was as hard as a rock. At any moment, he was certain he would burst.
“I want you,” he whispered fiercely, between kisses. “I want you so bad that I can taste it.”
“I want you,” she whispered back.
The naked need on her face told him all that he needed to know, more than her words ever could. She was clearly as aroused as he was. They were finally at the point of no return.
For a moment, he hesitated. If they did this—if they finally consummated the desire between them—there would be consequences. He knew it plainly. The connection between them was so strong, so powerful, that he knew it would be impossible to go back to how things were. To keep the distance he had wanted—no, had needed—between them.
He had been fighting it for so long. Was he finally ready to step over that precipice and claim her as his own, once and for all?
Chapter Thirty
“Thomas?” Catherine’s voice was barely audible as she watched his face. “What is it?”
He kept staring at her with an impenetrable look on his face. He looked haunted. The desire was still there, as plain as day, but she could sense the hesitation within him.
She knew what it was about. She had been feeling exactly the same way—frightened of what was between them, fighting it with every breath in her body, pushing him away even as the connection between them grew stronger.
But now… now, those reservations were growing weaker by the second. His friend had really perplexed her… Now, she thought that perhaps what was between them could be real, and she could take the chance to explore it. She knew there was no guarantee he wouldn’t hurt her, that this wouldn’t be a big mistake, but she didn’t care anymore. It was as simple—and ascomplex—as that. Even if it wasn’t real, she was tired of running away from it.
And she wanted him.So desperately.
She had always been a risk taker after all. And she was ready to take this risk now.
Catherine was trembling with desire, her lips seared by his, a low, aching need in her belly. The feel of his hand caressing her breast, stroking her nipple, was driving her crazy. She knew it wasn’t enough. She needed more, and she wasn’t ashamed to tell him.
“Are you sure?” He looked at her, his expression pained. “Really sure?”
