Page 55 of Wicked Designs
Emily’s worriesvanished in the wake of excitement as he led her through the adjoining door intohis bedroom. He pulled back the covers of his bed but prevented her from crawling in. His hands fell heavily on her shoulders.
“Let me undress you.” His voice was rich and dark.
Emily should have refused, but his heavy-lidded gaze robbed her of speech.
She gazed, it seemed, into the eyes of the captivating marauder-turned-duke of her novel.
Godric accepted her silence as consent and turned her back to him as he undid her laces. The gown wilted at her feet.
His fingers deftly untied her stays, plucking them free like a skilled harpist.
Emily shivered, nervous at the intimacy of being undressed. “Have you had much practice at this, Your Grace?” She realized at once what a silly question it was.
“You know my reputation, darling.” He continued after her intake of breath. “But I’ve never been so pleased by it before.”
Emily was certain she would melt into a puddle.
He leaned forward and kissed her, nibbling where her shoulder met her neck. She sagged helplessly into his embrace. Godric caught her before she crumpled to the floor.
“Easy. We aren’t done yet.” He pushed her back so that she leaned against the edge of the bed.
She was down to her chemise and stockings.
Godric knelt before her and patted his right thigh. “Put your left foot here.”
She did as he asked, faint with inner hunger as his hands roved up to her thigh, unfastened the garter, andcaught hold of the top of the stocking. He slid it down her leg and placed soft, hot kisses on each inch of skin he bared until he freed her foot entirely. Godric then repeated the ritual with her right foot.
He slid his hands back up her leg and pushed the chemise out of the way so he could lean forward to kiss her on the inside of her leg, near her knee.
Emily shivered. She was not prone to swooning, but when Godric sucked on her skin and flicked his tongue, she wavered.
“Are you all right?”
She half-laughed. “If you keep kissing me like that, I’m bound to forget my name…”
“That’s a sign that I’m doing all the right things,” he teased. “I believe you have had enough for one day. Even I am not so villainous as to demand more tonight.” Godric went back into her room and returned with her night rail. Emily turned her back and removed her chemise, and slid the night rail down over her body. When she turned back around, she found Godric watching her, fists clenched.
He nodded towards his bed. “In you go, before I change my mind about only sleeping.”
She slid between the sheets and watched in fascination as he undressed himself.
“Will I ever get to undress you?”
He stared back for a long moment, an unreadable expression in his eyes. “Tomorrow night.” He bared his chest, removed his breeches and donned his night shirt. Emily, suddenly self-conscious, slid away from him as he joined her under the covers, but themattress dipped with his weight and she rolled into him.
“Now, about that kiss good night.” He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her.
Emily never wanted that kiss to end, the soft movement of their lips, the dance of tongues, the straining breaths shared in the quiet darkness… She could never leave the bed, and forever be content, so long as he kept kissing her.
Godric moldedher body to his as he kissed her with both fire and gentleness. Undressing her had been a bad idea. All he could think about was the taste of her skin, the shivery sighs she made when he removed each piece of clothing. It had been her gift to him, and she hadn’t even been aware of it. Now he had Emily in his arms, kissing him back with her sweet, inexperienced mouth. He couldn’t wait to teach her all the things his years of experience taught him. Would she like it when he put his mouth between her legs? Would she want to do the same to him? For her to torture him in such a way would be glorious. Desperately, he reined in his hunger and focused on her soft insistent mouth meeting his with wild abandon.
What was it Ashton had told him? Emily kissed him from the depths of her heart.
Could he do the same? Tonight he wanted to try…
I missed you today, I thought of nothing else, I…I think I love—
The last thought had come unbidden, but he was too weak to deny what felt so strong and true. He wanted to claim her, but also protect her. He’d do anything to keep her, just like this. Sweet. Innocent. His.
