Page 79 of The Duke of Fire
But the words stayed caught behind her teeth.
Instead, she whispered, “Please do not stop.”
He drove into her harder now, his control fraying as her body clenched around him. She felt herself break, her body shuddering, overwhelmed with pleasure as her release began to build.
“Look at you,” he murmured, kissing her throat. “You take me so well. Like your body was made for me.”
Her body convulsed around him, her back arching, her eyes squeezed shut as the cry tore from her lips. He did not look away.
“Good girl,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with reverence and hunger. “You are so perfect like this, Amelia.”
Her hands clutched his arms, trembling, as she rode the wave of her release. He held her through it, never letting her fall.
“That’s it,” he rasped, watching her come undone beneath him.
Amelia whimpered beneath his words, her breath catching, lips parting to speak—but nothing came out except another moan when he moved inside her again, slower now, drawing out herpleasure.
“You are beautiful when you fall apart,” he said. “So bloody beautiful, Amelia.”
His own climax followed swiftly, his thrusts turning erratic until he let go, spilling into her with a strangled groan. Then, he collapsed over her, burying his face in the curve of her neck as they both struggled to breathe. They lay there tangled, their bodies slick with sweat, hearts still racing. In that moment, the world ceased to exist. No expectations. No reputations. No farewells.
She blinked up at him, her lashes wet, her body still trembling. And in that moment, she wanted to tell him everything. That she was not just his in body—but in heart, in soul. That she was falling in love with him so fast she could not breathe.
Amelia closed her eyes, pressing her lips to his damp shoulder.
The words hovered just at the edge of her tongue.I love you.
But she could not say them. Not when she knew he would never say them back.
Chapter 30
“Now, I know what it feels like,” Amelia whispered, still in awe at what happened between her and Sebastian.
She had dozed off for a few minutes, during which Sebastian gently cleaned her up with his handkerchief. He watched her the whole time, even as he cradled her in his arms. But now, something had shifted. She was moving away.
Amelia quickly slid out of his embrace. He frowned at her, not certain why she was in a rush to rise.
“You know that I do not care if we stay here for a long time. Not this time,” he said softly. “We have already made them wait long enough.”
But she did not meet his eyes. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled on her chemise.
Strange, that.
He watched her dress, the warmth in his chest starting to twist. Despite how much he adored her curves, her softness, her body still flushed from their lovemaking, it was always herface that undid him. It was her fierce mind, her defiant gaze, her impossible loyalty to those who did not deserve it. Amelia Warton had taken up permanent residence in his heart—and she did not even know it.
But now she would not look at him.
She swallowed hard before turning to him. By this time, she was completely dressed in her gown. The only telltale sign that she had been thoroughly ravished was her hair—strands were sticking to her forehead, which still glistened with sweat.
“I have fulfilled my end of our bargain,” she said softly, and he wondered if he had heard wrong.
He immediately sat up on the chaise lounge, not bothering to cover himself up.
“What?” he asked, confused.
“I want the money you promised me.”
Sebastian blinked. He could not have possibly heard her right. He stared, frozen. Of all the things she could have said, that was not one of them. Why was she asking for money after they had made love?
