Page 57 of A Bargain with the Rakish Duke
He managed to reach her just as she stepped into a quiet corridor, her expression tight with frustration. His hand shot out, gently grabbing her arm to stop her.
“Beatrice,” he began, his voice low and tense, “what was all that with Lord Eastfold?”
“Why don’t you return to Lady Featherwell?” Beatrice hissed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “She must feel terribly lonely without you.”
Kenneth barely processed her words, his jealousy bubbling up his chest. “Lord Eastfold, Beatrice? You seemed very eager to talk to him. Did he charm you when he came to our house?”
Beatrice scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. “Why do you care, Kenneth? Are you jealous?”
Kenneth stepped closer, his eyes blazing with intensity. “Yes, I’m jealous. It drove me mad seeing you dance with Lord Eastfold. I want you, Beatrice. Desperately. You are mine and mine alone.”
She stared at him. “You have no right to be jealous. You made it clear you only want me for my body. So why this sudden possessiveness?”
Their voices were low, but the intensity of their argument was palpable. The sound of laughter and music from the ballroom echoed faintly in the background, contrasting sharply with their heated exchange.
Kenneth’s jaw clenched. “Because I can’t stand the thought of another man touching you.”
“Why? Because it bruises your ego?” Beatrice shot back, stepping closer to him, her breath hot against his skin. “Or is it because you actually care more than you’re willing to admit?”
“You drive me mad,” he growled. The scent of leather and something uniquely him filled her senses.
Before she could respond, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into a nearby library, closing the door behind them and locking it.
“Enough games,” he said, his voice husky. “I want you now.”
Beatrice’s heart raced as she met his intense gaze.
Kenneth’s lips crashed onto hers in a fierce, possessive kiss. The intensity of his kiss sent a wave of heat through her, and she found herself responding despite her anger. His hands roamed over her back, pulling her even closer, while her fingers tangled in his hair.
Their breaths mingled, the heat between them growing unbearable. Kenneth’s hands explored her body, and she felt a shiver of anticipation. Their world narrowed down to just the two of them, lost in the overwhelming desire that consumed them both.
His fingers delicately traced the curve of her spine, eliciting a shiver from her. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking with hers. A silent understanding passed between them, filled with promises and a smoldering desire.
He traced a line down her neck, his lips following the path his fingers had drawn moments later. As Beatrice gasped, her hands instinctively gripped his shoulders, and she threw her head back, baring her throat to him without reservation.
Every sound she made, every shiver that coursed through her, egged him on. His touch became bolder, more possessive, as he explored her body, relishing the sensation of her skin beneath his fingertips.
He bit her lips gently, then used his tongue to tease her lips apart. With no hesitation, he eagerly explored the depths of her mouth. Their kiss deepened, and he could feel her knees wobble. Her breath hitched in anticipation as his hands skillfullymaneuvered the fabric of her gown, exposing the soft skin of her shoulders and the gentle swell of her breasts.
A surge of desire shot through him as he beheld her exposed form, his lips hungrily descending on the swell of her breasts. The warmth of his breath against her sensitive skin sent shivers of pleasure down her spine, eliciting a gasp of delight from her parted lips. The intimate connection between them intensified as he tenderly caressed her bare flesh, his touch igniting a fire within her that could not be quelled.
Kenneth gazed down at her rosebud nipples. Leaning down, he captured a perfect nipple in his mouth. He could feel it harden, the pulsating warmth sending shivers down his spine while the sound of his own heartbeat echoed in his ears.
He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the nearby chaise. Lying next to her, he parted her legs with his own and reached down to the hem of her dress.
Beatrice shifted as his hand explored the softness of her thighs. With each gentle stroke, her breathing quickened, and her heart raced. With each gasp, his hands became bolder, gliding over her skin until his fingers discovered the damp, tender place between her legs. The intensity of the sensation caused her to moan, her lips parting, her back arching ever so slightly. As she succumbed to the pleasure, her legs fell open, allowing him to explore more deeply, each touch causing sparks to course through her body.
He guided her hand downward to his erection. “Touch me.”
Beatrice reached out, clasped the top of his breeches and yanked them open. Her fingers found his hard shaft, circling it.
“Do you want me, Kenneth?”
“Yes.” Kenneth bit back a groan and plunged his fingers into her.
As he gently pumped his fingers in and out of her, she mimicked his movements with her own fingers, pumping his shaft. A soft hiss erupted from his throat as his pleasure heightened.
He kissed down her chest as his fingers swirled around the center of her pleasure. She threw her head back and moaned, pushing her breasts up into his mouth.
