Page 39 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
When his thumbs skimmed over her she arched against him, longing for him to do the things he should not. ‘John.’ Her voice gave another plea.
He kissed her cheek, her chin, her neck. ‘I will not take your virginity.’
She did not care if he did, she longed for him to do it.
He touched her, there, between her legs, his thumbs gently caressing and she widened her thighs, urging him closer.
‘Let me take off all your clothes.’
Her eyes flew open. She hadn’t even known she had shut them.
She nodded.
He helped her stand, and her body trembled as he stripped the garments from her hips. This was utter madness and yet it was complete heaven too.
He kissed her again and his hands gripped her buttocks, his fingertips pressing into her flesh.
When he ended the kiss his hands slid down her thighs and then lifted her back onto the table. In a moment he was between her parted thighs again, naked skin against naked skin. He could do anything now but she trusted him not to break his promise. She wished he would.
‘Touch me,’ he whispered as his hands pressed her legs wider and he set himself against her. When she did not, he took her hand. ‘Like this.’
It had not been cowardice preventing her, just a lack of knowledge. Now she knew.
He moved his hips, sliding against her as he came through her hand.
The movement was like a chant, or a charm, repetitive and mesmerising. He watched. She watched too, aware that her skin had pinked. Her gaze lifted to his face. She was not sure who she was doing this with, John or the duke. But she did not care, she loved them both.
Her fingers clung tightly about him, and his breathing changed then his thumb moved across her thigh and rubbed and pressed her sex.
‘John.’ She only said his name because she needed to make some sound. Her free hand clawed into his shoulder.
Was it only yesterday she had refused the bonnet he gave her and sent it back for fear he was buying her favours? Today she was giving them freely, wantonly, desperately.
His gaze lifted and despite his stiff expression she saw need in his eyes – hunger.
She pulled his mouth to hers.
He kissed her aggressively as the pace of his movements quickened. She felt his urgent determination for himself and for her as his thumb pressed hard against her.
A delicious ache swelled and overflowed inside her, submerging her in a wave so she could no longer kiss him, and her fingers clung to his hair, while he worked through the grip of her other hand, until he cried out, and then stilled. She felt him throb and there was warm liquid.
Her muscles trembled when their kiss ended, and she hugged him close.
He was trembling too.
He picked up his coat and found out a handkerchief to wipe her hand.
Meeting her gaze, he picked her up, bracing her legs about his waist as he carried her to the only chair in the room, a single leather armchair.
John knew his grandfather used to come up here and just sit in silence. Now he understood his grandfather more, John guessed the old man had built this and come here for the same reason John was here, to escape the dukedom for a while.
‘You are so beautiful,’ he said, sitting down with her astride his lap. ‘I ought to put you in a box and keep you. I could take you wherever I needed you then.’
‘And when I am in need of you?’
‘You may put me on a chain about your neck and I shall be your servant.’
‘You are talking nonsense.’
