Page 37 of The Heir's Fortune
He pointed to what Madeline could only assume was a dog bed in the corner and Scout must have gone willingly.
A thrill raced through her from where their eyes were locked on one another down to the very center of her, which throbbed for him so surprisingly and oh so thrillingly.
“Gideon Sutcliffe, I didn’t think you had it in you,” she murmured as her lips curled upward.
“I am capable of much more than you would ever give me credit for, my lady,” he responded, and she crooked a finger at him as she crawled backward on the bed, calling him forward.
“Then why don’t you show me?”
She hoped she was sounding like the vixen she was trying so confidently to portray, but the truth was, she had no idea what she was doing.
She liked to think of herself as a sensual woman, but she was also still a young lady who, despite her lack of proper chaperoning, did not have the opportunities nor the inclination to seek out gentlemen and be the wanton, worldly woman she would be were her life circumstances different.
But at this moment, with Gideon standing before her, she craved a taste of that forbidden fruit. His piercing gaze held an intensity that sent shivers down her spine, awakening dormant desires that she had imagined but, she realized now, never could have properly understood. He closed the distance between them, drawing over top of her, his hand reaching out to brush against her cheek.
Madeline's heart raced in anticipation as she nuzzled her cheek into the strength of his hand, heat radiating from his body to hers, his scent enveloping her senses with notes of sandalwood and musk blending in a heady cocktail that intoxicated her further. Her fingers trembled slightly as she untied her wrapper, allowing it to fall to the sides and expose her nightdress.
Unlike that of most young women, it was not a virginal white gown that hid every bit of skin from her chin down to her toes, but rather a custom black silk that she had always enjoyed the feel of over her skin – and now, she hoped that Gideon could enjoy it too.
His eyes widened in what she could only describe as a surge of desire, as his inhale sounded more like a gasp. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his gaze, but it was gone nearly as quickly as it had arrived.
Gideon's hands trembled as he hovered above her, his gaze locked on her with an intensity that made her heart thudagainst her chest. Madeline could see the battle of longing and hesitation rage within him, but she refused to allow doubt to consume this moment – not from him, and certainly not from her.
With a flicker of confidence, she reached out and gently grasped his hand, guiding it to the edge of her nightdress. As his fingertips brushed against her exposed skin, a low growl rumbled from deep within his throat, throwing away any hesitation that might have been present and replacing it with a surge of instinct instead.
When he slipped the straps off her shoulders, Madeline arched her back, allowing the fabric of her nightdress to slide down her body, revealing the curve of her breasts and the swell of her hips. She watched as Gideon's gaze traced every inch of her exposed skin.
"You are beautiful," he murmured, and Madeline's heart leapt at the praise. She was no beauty, she knew that – her features were too prominent, her curves too round – but the fact that Gideon was taken enough with her to say so meant more to her than a flirtatious comment from any other man ever could.
She knew him. He wasn't a man who would say something that he did not wholeheartedly believe.
Leaning down, he pressed his lips against the delicate skin of her neck, leaving a trail of fiery kisses along her collarboneand down the center of her chest. The sensation of his warm breath against her skin intensified the ache between her thighs.
“Do you know what you are doing to me?” she said huskily, causing him to chuckle softly.
“I may have an idea.”
Gideon's lips trailed lower, teasingly grazing over the swell of her breasts before he took one tender nipple into his mouth, suckling gently. A moan escaped Madeline's lips as pleasurecoursed through her. Her fingers tangled in Gideon's hair, urging him closer, desperate for more.
He obliged, his tongue swirling around her sensitive flesh, alternating between gentle licks and teasing flicks. Each caress sent the blood pumping harder through Madeline's veins, her body writhing beneath him, craving release.
But Gideon had other plans in mind. He continued his exploration downward, leaving a trail of kisses along the curve of her stomach until he reached the junction of her thighs. Madeline swallowed hard as his warm breath brushed against her most intimate area and she opened herself, wondering if now was the moment in which they would join together. What would it be like? She knew it might hurt, and yet, from what her friends had told her, it was far more pleasurable than painful.
She believed them, if this was any indication.
Gideon's hands gently held her hips, keeping her steady as he positioned himself between her legs. Madeline's entire body buzzed with desire and need, the ache within her growing almost unbearable. She tangled her fingers in the sheets beneath her, desperate for something to hold onto.
"Gideon," she panted. "I want... I need... more."
"More is coming," he said gruffly, and then, with deliberate slowness that made Madeline whimper in anticipation, his tongue made contact with her folds.
She let out a cry, about to ask him what he was doing, to tell him that this was too much, that he needed to stop, but then a surge of delight shot through her body, making her back arch off the bed. He started with soft, teasing licks, gradually increasing the pressure and intensity until she was becoming frantic beneath him.
Madeline's sighs turned into moans as Gideon expertly explored every inch of her core. She figured that most women would be embarrassed, but the thought quickly fled as histongue danced across her sensitive flesh, finding every sweet spot and making her tremble. Each stroke of his tongue sent shivers down her spine, threatening to unravel her very being.
Her fingers clenched and unclenched in the sheets as Gideon's lips locked around her swollen bud, sucking gently yet insistently. The sensation was overwhelming, driving her closer to the edge. Madeline's breathing grew ragged, and her body tensed with anticipation. She was teetering on the precipice, yearning to fall into the abyss that awaited her.
Gideon must have sensed her nearing climax and shifted his focus. As his tongue continued to tease her, he slid two fingers inside of her, crooking them forward, somehow knowing exactly what she had been needing. The combination of his expert movements and the rhythm of his ministrations pushed Madeline beyond the brink. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her like the tempestuous sea, until she could do nothing but collapse back into the bed, completely sated.
