Page 44 of The Wayward Duke
He kissed her again, rough and deep. Pinned her wrists overhead, stretching her body taut beneath his.
“What I want…” His heated stare raked over her. “I described it explicitly in yesterday’s letter. How I want to spread your thighs so I can pleasure you with my mouth. Until you’re dripping wet and begging for my cock. How many times do you think I can make you climax tonight?”
A breathless laugh escaped her. “Why don’t you find out?”
The wicked challenge sank into his bones, molten and merciless. Ruthless satisfaction ignited within him – here was his Caroline, bold and defiant.
Just as it should be between them.
“Don’t hold back your cries for me.” His voice was rough. “Let the entire house hear how thoroughly I satisfy my wife.”
Then he blazed a path down her body, branding her skin with nips of his teeth. Her throat, the swells of her breasts, the taut plane of her stomach – all bore the marks of his claiming. When his fingers drifted between her thighs, he found her so ready. Wet and wanting. Perfect.
And absolutely his.
The first lick of his tongue stole Caroline’s breath. Julian added two fingers, thrusting into her as he pleasured her. Vicious satisfaction clawed through him at her bitten-off sounds of pleasure.
“Inside me.” Caroline’s nails raked his nape. “Now.”
But he’d made a demand, and he intended to see it through.
“My name, duchess,” he said. He thrust his fingers hard. “I want to hear you scream it first.”
He pressed his mouth to her, used his tongue until she was squirming beneath him. Her nails scored through his hair. Then his name –thank God– his name tore from her in a gasping shout that seemed to echo through the room as she climaxed.
Julian smiled as he rose over her. “That’s it. Good girl.”
His teeth scraped her jaw as he lined himself up and pushed into her. He had to pause, jaw clenched against the searing pressure threatening to end him right then. Christ, she was exquisite. Sublime. The vision of her wanton and pleading shaped his every fantasy these past endless years. Having her again was raw and visceral. Primal as a heartbeat.
“Make me feel it tomorrow,” Caroline said.
A savage thrill went through Julian at her breathless demand. Holding her stare, he withdrew halfway before slamming into her again. Hard. Deep. Taking her with powerful strokes designed to brand her. Julian shifted his angle until Caroline bucked and twisted, hitting that spot guaranteed to ruin her.
He wanted her senseless before chasing his climax. Wanted to drag out every dark, depraved desire.
Their eyes locked, and he saw the instant ecstasy crash through her. He gentled his grip but kept thrusting through the aftershocks, determined to make her come again. She was magnificent when pushed past sane limits – and he would push her as far as she could take tonight.
“There’s my gorgeous girl,” he murmured. He didn’t slow his punishing tempo. “Let go for me again.”
“Kiss me,” she managed.
Julian obeyed, sealing his mouth over hers even as he pounded into her slick heat. When she tensed again, he wedged a hand between them to circle her with his fingers. Ruthless precision guided each stroke over the sensitive bud until she gripped his back. Only when she climaxed again did Julian let his control shred. Animal need obliterated conscious thought, narrowing his world down to friction and the harsh bite of her nails into his skin.
His release slammed through him. Their ragged breaths filled the art studio as he collapsed on top of her, their bodies still joined. Skin slid against skin, damp and fevered. Julian curled around her, one hand tangling in her mussed curls.
“Three,” she said faintly.
Julian gently bit her neck. “Who says I’m finished?”
She shifted against him. “I’ll need a moment to recover the feeling in all my limbs before you try again.”
Julian brushed his knuckles along her cheekbone. “Very well. Pass me the code? In my haste to get you naked, I didn’t see what it said.”
Caroline’s answering laugh came out husky and sated. She leaned down to retrieve the discarded cryptogram, scanning the rows of translated text. “Here – a place, date, and time. ‘Two o’clock, fifth of July. Charing Cross.’” She shot him a meaningful look. “Do you think he’ll target a train?”
Julian accepted the letter, ice creeping into his veins as he took in the chilling words now laid bare. Casual, smug – the tone set his teeth on edge. He rifled through the pile of foolscap until he located the other cryptogram Wentworth had given him. “Read this one. Tell me if the voice strikes you as familiar.”
There was no other sight more beautiful in the world than Caroline Hastings, thoroughly debauched, using her clever mind. “‘No one attacks me with impunity,’” she said. “Nemo me impune lacessit.From an obscure poem – very obscure, I’d almost forgotten it existed.”
