Page 29 of In a Rake's Embrace
His gaze sharpened with interest, and a smile tugged at Agatha’s lips.
CHAPTER 12
Agatha allowed calm to flow through her body as she sauntered forward, every step infused with a gentle, seductive grace. Her pulse quickened under the weight of his gaze—intense and unreadable. The quiet room seemed to shrink around them.
Thomas tilted his head slightly, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Good,” he murmured, his voice low, almost daring her. “Tempt me.”
Her breath caught momentarily, and Agatha hesitated, his dark, penetrating gaze leaving her breathless. She knew this was the moment to prove herself, to demonstrate everything he had taught her—how power could be subtle yet potent. His eyes tracked her every movement, the rise and fall of his chest steady yet controlled, but there was no mistaking the hunger simmering in the brilliance of that gaze.
She stopped so close that the hem of her gown brushed over his polished boots. Holding his gaze, Agatha let her fingers trail lightly along the edge of his shirt sleeve, a fleeting touch to provoke anticipation. His eyes never left hers, darkening withinterest. Agatha leaned in just enough that her breath warmed his neck, her lips barely an inch from his skin. The anticipation built between them like a tightrope.
“Like this?” she whispered, curving her mouth into a knowing smile as she teased him with her closeness.
She could feel his heartbeat quicken in the charged silence, yet his expression remained indifferent. Agatha was impressed with how tightly he held his control. Thomas’s hand came up, fingertips grazing her jawline with a featherlight touch, sending a tremor through her.
“Keep going,” he urged, his voice huskier now.
Agatha let her eyes drift to his mouth and parted her lips in expectation as she leaned closer. She closed the distance slowly, her lips grazing his with a teasing softness, barely making contact. Thomas exhaled sharply, his control slipping ever so slightly, and that was all the invitation she needed.
The kiss deepened as she pressed closer, her hand sliding up his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath the fabric. His lips were firm yet pliant, responding with a hunger that matched hers. Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer as their mouths moved against each other, tongues gliding in a sensual rhythm, slow and deliberate at first, before the urgency grew.
His hand moved to her waist, fingers tightening slightly as if to remind her that, for all her progress, he was still in control. But Agatha wasn’t going to let him have it that easily. She sucked his tongue as he had done hers that first night and a groan vibrated from his chest in response.
Triumph surged through her when he pulled her even tighter against him, his body hard and unyielding. She felt the heat of his want, the unmistakable tension coiling between them. Pulling back just enough to break the kiss, her lips brushing against his, she whispered, “Is such a kiss acceptable?”
His eyes darkened further, a dangerous gleam in them. “It was ... adequate.”
Affront snapped through her, and she narrowed her gaze. She slipped her hand between the tight space between their bodies, brushing the back of her fingers over the hardness at the front of his trousers. Her lips curled into a wicked smile. “Adequate enough to have your cock aching.”
He let out a low, amused sound. “You are right; it was more than adequate.”
“I want to hear more,” she teased.
Thomas touched her face. His fingertips slid over her cheek as though he enjoyed the feel of her skin. “Ah, your vanity needs soothing.”
“Yes.”
“My cock is hard, and my balls areaching. I know I will need a release to make it through the night.”
A cold sensation pierced her chest. “You are not allowed another lover while you tutor me.”
He faltered into astonishing stillness, his gaze growing indifferent. The words had ripped from Agatha before she processed the peculiar sensations wrenching through her chest. The earl stared at her for several beats, and she held his regard, waiting for his cutting words.
“Very well. I will not take another woman to my bed while you are in my life.”
Startled, she stared at him, uncertain what to say. “Then how will you relieve this ache in your cock.”
His smile widened. “I’ll merely will it away or use my hands.”
Swallowing, she stepped back, painfully aware of his gaze on her. Agatha walked to the mantel, pouring herself a glass of champagne before filling a glass of whisky for him. After handing it to him, she went to the sofa, sat down, and curled her legs beneath her.
“What am I learning tonight?”
Thomas took a healthy swallow of his whisky before replying. “Men vary in their needs and desires, just as women do. Rebecca promised her patrons that her ladies could fulfill whatever desire they owned. It is why many gentlemen seekAphrodite. The fantasies that torment their sleep need an outlet, and considering her promise, they come here and pay her exorbitant fees to be satisfied. Given that we have just over two weeks, we will focus on discovering what you like ... and what you will and will not allow without swooning.”
His eyes darkened slightly. “I will also teach you how to give a man pleasure with your mouth and hand. These lessons will strip away whatever sensibilities you hold on to, but I promise you will be confident and ready by the night of the auction.”
