Page 70 of A Game with the Rakish Duke
She gasped as he slid deeper, hitting a sweet spot that she had never felt before. Her eyes fluttered shut as she kept riding him, the sensation becoming deeper and fuller and sweeter. She felt him reach for one of her breasts, squeezing it, which intensified the feeling.
She was climbing now, her movements quickening again, straining against him, desperately seeking the release she needed. It was so close that she could almost see it thundering towards her…
Suddenly, she stiffened, her torso twisting as she climaxed, crying out in bewildered pleasure. It was so strong that she thought it was going to last forever—that perhaps she might reside in this paradise and never return to earth…
Thomas cried out, gripping her hips tighter, twisting. She felt warmth flood her, just as she hit the peak of her climax.
She collapsed on top of him, panting hard. He was panting, too. He gazed at her, pushing her damp hair out of her face, his eyes shining.
“That was incredible,” he whispered. “Youare incredible. You looked like a warrior queen riding into battle. I have never seen such a beautiful sight in my life.”
“Like Boudicca, the Celtic queen, who decimated her enemies?”
“Exactly.” He grinned at her. “Except the only thingyouare decimating, my queen, is my heart.”
Catherine laughed, falling off him and snuggling into his side. She felt drowsy and relaxed and altogether wonderful.
I never knew it could be like this. If I had known the truth of it, could I have resisted as long as I did?
She gazed at him, watching the sunlight play across his face, catching his eyelashes. Something deep stirred inside her. She knew, instinctively, it was him. She would never be able to feel this depth of emotion and sensation with any other man. It wasn’t the act in and of itself—it was the man she was doing it with.
He was the only one. They fit together like two pieces of the same puzzle. They just worked. Even their insecurities—the things that had kept them apart—were almost the same. They both found it hard to trust, to let go, to open up to anyone, for fear of being hurt.
But with each other, they could find that safe place where they could be vulnerable.
Her heart was suddenly gripped with fear. The enormity of it. It really was like stepping off a ledge without being able to see what was beneath. How would either of them ever really know if the risk was worth it?
“Catherine.” His voice was gentle, full of tenderness. “There is something I must say to you…”
But at that moment, they heard whistling from the other side of the gazebo. Hastily, they stood up, adjusting their clothing and smoothing down their hair.
“You have a leaf on your shoulder,” Catherine whispered, brushing it off.
“And you,” Thomas whispered, brushing another leaf off her arm.
Their gazes met and lingered. She felt as if she were drowning in his eyes. As if she could swim in them forever.
“Morning, Your Graces,” a gardener called cheerily, bowing. He grinned. “A fine morning for it!”
“Yes,” Thomas said, his gaze lingering on his wife. “It is averyfine morning for it, indeed.” He paused, a wicked light in his eyes. “Another round of shuttlecock?”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Do not rush,” Catherine whispered, trying to keep pace with her husband as they walked towards the theatre. “Where is the fire we must put out?”
Thomas laughed. He slowed his pace, turning to her and taking her hand in his own. His eyes roamed over her. She looked breathtaking this evening in a dusky pink silk gown with a net overlay. But then she always took his breath away, whatever she was wearing. Or not wearing, as it turned out.
“We do not want to be late for the first gong,” he said softly, reaching and flicking a tiny eyelash off her cheek. “You do not want to miss the start of the opera. You were the one haranguing me to make sure we got tickets for it, remember?”
Catherine let out a dramatic sigh. “You want to see it as much as I do,” she countered in a tart voice. “You were the one who could not stop talking about this opera at breakfast, luncheon,anddinner.”
He laughed again. “True.The Devil to Payhas had such good reviews. Itisthe talk of the town.”
She kept staring at him, batting her eyelashes in a flirtatious way. “You only want an excuse to fondle me in the darkness of the theatre. Am I right?”
Thomas grinned, pulling her to him, bending his head to her ear.
“I need no excuse to fondle you, Duchess,” he whispered before blowing into her ear. “Whether it is dark or not.”
