Page 35 of A Duke for Stealing
His fingertips dug into the seam of her bodice, dragging the dress and the cups of her bodice down. Her flesh was hot and soft in his palms, and he could not help but pulse his palms tightly over her breasts.
“I cannot imagine the discomfort you feel here,” he breathed against her neck as he squeezed tighter.
Rose shook her head desperately against his shoulder, as if the discomfort of the fabric around her breast were truly unbearable.
“Allow me to take your pain away,” he groaned, and thrust his hips forward just enough so that she was pinned between his thighs and the table.
Rose let out a strangled cry as if she felt his erection press into her backside, but it turned into a sharp gasp as his mouth drew possessively over her throat. He traced his fingertips over the taut tips of her pink nipples, making her shiver, then rolled the peaked buds between his fingertips.
As he did so, he moved his hips against her again, streaks of pleasure jolting through his veins.
God, she was not even undressed, and she has me ready to burst.
The thought hit Everett like a thunderbolt.She has not even undressed yet, and she has me ready to burst.
This was not who he was. He was no eager, untouched boy to be so ramped up by such things. He was an experienced lover. He usually needed more- so much more to make him this hard and close. Years of indulging in devilish dalliances had tainted his tolerance, making it more difficult to find enjoyment without a hint of depravity.
The spell Rose cast about him snapped at once, replacing his lust with aggravation. Everett roughly pulled her corset and the bodice of her dress back up over her exposed dress, making her breath hiss as the coarse fabric no doubt bruised her sensitive flesh.
Knowing he just added more discomfort to her body put him in a fouler mood, and he released her completely. Everett felt a lump grow in his throat as his body screamed at him for stepping away, but he ignored it and shoved his hands into his pockets before he could start again.
Trembling, wobbly on her feet, Rose slowly turned around; her eyes wide with confusion and questions as a deep red blush bloomed from her breasts all the way up to her cheeks. Everett cursed him silently and bit his bottom lip tight to prevent the apology that he so very much wanted to leave his lips.
He took several deep breaths, doing his best to wrangle his need back under his control.
“You are a Duchess now,” he finally stated.
“What?” Rose breathed.
He cleared his throat; ignored another bout of need slamming into his aching body.
“That is what I came to speak to you about. You need a new dress. Several, actually. Our little honeymoon is over. We have been called back to London for a ball next week.”
Rose needed a minute. The night had been filled with so many unexpected turns- and all of them involved Everett. What hadjust happened? Where had her mind gone? All she knew was that it had gone blank, absent even, the moment she felt his touch at her itching shoulders. His kisses and sensual touch had soothed the discomfort, but his sudden withdrawal had her body more devastated than ever before.
She looked at him with pure confusion, so many questions filling her mind. Should she ask him what happened? In truth, by his own look of discomfort, she was not sure if he knew either. It was as if someone, something else had taken over their bodies and lulled them into a seductive trance that was now broken. She reached for rage, for anger toward him. She’d had it only minutes ago, before he’d started touching her.
Yet as she looked into his deep green eyes, she saw no bravado or wickedness. His eyes looked haunted, as if he’d only just now been brought back into his body. As if he felt the exact same confusion she felt.
Rose drew in a deep breath, begging her electrified body to calm itself, and finally found the strength to speak.
“I suppose it is time,” she said, only able to mutter despairingly. “I knew that I could not hide here forever.
Everett’s brow furrowed as concern flickered through that haunted gaze.
“You truly do not like them, do you?” He asked. “The parties, I mean. Our society.”
Rose swallowed a little bit more of that aching need that had been built up, gradually coming back to herself.
“I am not like you, Your Grace,” she said rather icily, “I am not such a social creature.”
“None of you are,” Everett muttered, his eyes flicking up and down her body. She hated how his gaze made her grow warm again.
“Your friends, I mean. Theo, Ophelia. Seraphina. Amelia.”
Rose shrugged, begging God to help her focus.
“We prefer another’s company, but that is about it,” she managed to get out.
