Page 54 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
But she did not appear the least bit confused or horrified by what they were about to do. No, her eyes were clear and certain as they gazed into his.
“I know there is no future for us, Sebastian,” she murmured sadly, cupping his cheek. “But I also know that, no matter where our futures lead us, I want this memory with you to carry with me always. I want these few hours of happiness with you to take with me. Because I love you, so very much.”
His breath caught in his throat, his eyes burning, joy and grief swirling like a maelstrom in his chest. “Don’t say that,” he pleaded. “You cannot love me.”
“Of course I can,” she declared, with a simplicity that almost made him believe he was worthy of her love. “You are a good man, Sebastian, much more than you may believe.”
The sadness in her eyes deepened, making them well with tears until they spilled over, down her temples into her hair. “Both of us have been dealt a cruel fate through no fault of our own,” she whispered. “Don’t we deserve to claim a small bit of joy? Even if it’s just for one night?”
And in her arms, it made perfect sense. Why couldn’t they be selfish for one night, to take instead of give? To claim happiness, however fleeting?
“Yes,” he managed through a throat thick with unshed tears. “One night, together.”
She smiled, and it was as if the sun emerged from behind a dark gray cloud. “Together,” she whispered before dragging his head down to hers.
It was a promise, as surely as any vows that could be spoken. But instead of vows for a future together, it was a vow to claim the here and now. To revel in what little time they could have together with no regrets. It was like a key, unlocking them from any inhibitions, any doubt. His hands roamed the silky curves of her body, reveling in the exquisite softness of her skin, even as his lips tangled with hers. But he needed to taste more of her. He needed to explore every inch of her until he had her memorized, so he could remember this achingly beautiful moment in the long, lonely years to come.
He trailed his mouth over her cheek to her neck, bathing her with hungry kisses. Soft, eager sounds escaped from her full lips, making his body hard with need. He wanted her, so badly it was nearly all consuming. But he refused to let her leave his bed without giving her every bit of himself and more. And so he trailed his mouth lower, to the sweet mounds of her breasts, down the slight roundness of her stomach, until he was settled between her trembling thighs.
“Sebastian.”
He looked up the glorious expanse of her body to find her gazing down at him. But there was no fear or surprise or embarrassment in her eyes. Only heat, and desire, and a trust that he felt down to his soul.
“Will you let me taste you, Katrina?” he whispered, his breath fanning the thatch of soft, pale curls at the juncture of her thighs.
She gasped, her mouth falling open. But her eyes never left his as she nodded.
He did not need further invitation. He was hungry for her, his heart thumping as he breathed in the scent of her. And then his mouth was on her, taking her in, dragging his tongue over her, drinking in the sweetness of her essence. She writhed under his touch, gasps and moans and small cries escaping her lips. He was about to raise his head to make certain she was well, but suddenly her hands were on his head, holding him in place. Chuckling, letting the vibration of the sound caress her, he gladly renewed his efforts and more. With infinite care he eased one finger into her tight depths. Her heat surrounded him, her inner muscles gripping him greedily, and he nearly spent himself right there on the sheets like a green boy.
But he would let nothing distract him from giving her everything he could. Moving his finger in and out of her, his tongue and lips loving the small bud of her pleasure, he focused entirely on the response of her body. Each whimper and moan, each twitch of muscle, each clench of her fingers in his hair was as potent as any aphrodisiac. And when she began to rock against his mouth, when her thighs began to tremble on each side of his head, when her soft cries became a low keening, he knew she was close. Moving faster, faster, he brought her to the pinnacle and over, until she shattered under his mouth.
Before the tremors of pleasure had passed through her body he was beside her, pulling her into his arms, dragging her close. She burrowed into his embrace, her arms coming about his waist.
“Sebastian,” she gasped, her labored breath fanning across his chest. “My God, I never imagined…”
“I know,” he murmured into the crown of her hair. “I never imagined, either.” Which was all too true. How was it possible he felt this utter contentment and closeness? Was he hard as a rod of steel? Hell yes. Did he ache to sink into her and lose himself in her? Also, yes.
But her climaxing under his mouth had been the single most amazing thing he had ever experienced.
That was the single most amazing thing she had ever experienced. And as Katrina lay in Sebastian’s arms, their hearts pounding in time to one another’s, their ragged breaths mingling in the dark quiet of the room, she knew she wanted more. So much more.
Rising up on one elbow, she gazed down at him, her hand cupping his cheek. “I want to feel you inside me, Sebastian,” she murmured.
His manhood, which had been hard before, twitched against her leg. He grasped her hand to his face, the fire in his eyes flaring, becoming an inferno. And then his hand moved to the back of her head, pulling her down for a searing kiss that had desire pooling once more in her belly, made all the more potent as she tasted herself on his tongue. In a moment she was beneath him, and he was settling between her legs, and the dull tip of him was pressing to her core.
“Katrina,” he murmured thickly.
She smiled up at him. “I love you, Sebastian.”
He exhaled, his eyes searching hers, his heart in his eyes. She did not expect him to say it back. In fact, she did not want him to, knowing how it must destroy him, considering what his future responsibilities had to be.
But she saw the love in his eyes, felt it straight down to her heart.
He took her lips again, a kiss full of so much tenderness it brought tears to her eyes. And then he pushed inside her.
Inch by slow inch he filled her, infinitely careful as her body adjusted to him. Finally he was buried to the hilt. Pulling back, he looked down at her. “Are you well, Katrina?”
But Katrina, who had quickly become consumed once more at the feel of him inside her, was beyond words. In answer she wrapped her legs about his hips, drawing him in even deeper.
