Page 19 of Her Duke at Midnight
The way she clutched at him, then let her hand explore beneath the open placket of his shirt almost made him forget himself. Forget that this was the only moment he’d have with her. That she would walk out of his life at the end of this house party, and he wouldn’t have all the time he wanted to learn what she liked and how to give her the pleasure she deserved.
He pulled back and began trailing kisses down her neck. She writhed in his arms, bucking her hips against him as if beckoning him closer.
After laving the base of her throat, savoring the taste of her, feeling her wildly fluttering pulse, he drew his finger down her chest, tugging at the ribbon of her nightgown.
She reached for the ribbon too, pulling it loose, then pushing the fabric of the nightgown down until it slid from her shoulders and over her lush breasts.
“Good God, you’re gorgeous, Cecily.”
Adam didn’t need any further invitation. He stroked his fingers across her breast, then bent to follow the path with the tip of his tongue. When he reached her nipple, he took the tight bud into his mouth, sucking and nipping at her tender flesh until she began to tremble.
“Here too?” he asked mischievously, as he drew his finger over her other nipple.
“Yesss,” she hissed.
He swept a circle with his tongue around the peak, then drew her into his mouth with a gentle nip of his teeth.
Cecily’s trembling body and breathy gasps made him suspect no one had ever adored her body. What a bloody crime.
Adam took her other nipple into his mouth, sucked and laved it with his tongue until she arched her body toward him and clasped his arm as if to keep from being swept away. He stroked her breasts with his fingers until she was squirming beneath him, her breathing ragged.
His cock throbbed every time she dug her fingers into his shoulder or bucked her hips as if urging him inside.
When he pulled back, she let out a yelp of frustration.
“Adam, please don’t stop.”
“Delicious Cecily, I’ve barely begun.”
CHAPTER6
The next morning,Cecily woke in a kind of blissful haze. The muscles of her body felt loose and languid, and for the first time in as long as she could recall, she felt fully rested.
Stretching her arms above her head, she sighed contentedly.
Then panic set in.
The light filtering through a slit in the curtains told her it was later than when she’d usually wake. During her marriage, she’d gotten into the habit of rising early, before the sunrise, and had maintained the habit throughout her year of mourning.
Sitting up, she squinted at the mantel clock. Heavens, it was past nine.
Why hadn’t Fiona rapped on her door? A fresh fire flickered in the grate, and a full pitcher of water stood on her nightstand, so she’d slept through the servant’s early morning visit too.
Was this what pleasure did to a person?
She washed and then donned one of her new day dresses, a cheerful winter green that the modiste claimed matched her eyes.
Outside her door, she found a folded note that made her heart thrash in her chest. If Everton—Adam—had left it for her, he was risking both their reputations.
But as she unfolded the foolscap, she recognized Fiona’s large, bold script.
I hope you’re not unwell, my dear. The maid said you didn’t rouse when she visited your chamber. Some of the ladies are going out for a ride while the weather holds, and the gents are on their silly hunt. If you wish to join us, tell a groom to saddle a horse and lead you out to us. If not, I will see you at breakfast.
- F
Cecily had no proficiency with horseback riding and was content to miss the ladies’ outing. Most of all, she was relieved that Fiona didn’t seem overly worried. Though she suspected she would still have to face a round of questioning about the duke when her friend returned.
Memories of the previous night were so potent that Cecily’s body responded with tiny tremors every time she let her mind wander to the moment of her release.
