Page 48 of In a Rake's Embrace
“No.”
As they walked outside, his fingers rested at the base of her spine, making her acutely aware of every point where they touched.
Once they were settled in the carriage, Agatha’s pulse quickened as the temptation to crawl into his lap and kiss him simmered just beneath the surface. She longed to feel his mouth on hers, to surrender to her desires. But she resisted, her fingers curling into her dress as she held back.
The ride to the pleasure palace was short, yet it felt interminable. When they arrived, he took her hand and led her through the halls ofAphroditeto his private quarters. The air crackled with expectation. Once inside, he closed the door behind them, the softclickechoing through the room.
He turned to her. “What lesson do you want tonight?”
She stared at him for a long moment, her heart hammering in her chest. Then, with a confidence that surprised even herself, she lifted her chin, met his gaze, and said, “Remove all your clothes … boots ... everything. Until you are naked.”
A flicker of something—desire, amusement, or maybe even challenge—crossed his face. His mouth curved into a slow, wicked smile. Thomas began to unbutton his coat, his movements deliberate, the sound of each button coming undone loud in the charged silence.
Agatha stared as he shrugged off his coat, tossing it aside. Then, with painstaking slowness, he began removing his boots, his eyes never leaving hers. Her gaze traveled over the sharp planes of his body, tracing every movement as he peeled away the layers. He undid his waistcoat, revealing the broad expanse of his chest beneath the fine linen of his shirt.
When his shirt finally joined the pile, her breath hitched. His skin gleamed under the soft light of the room, every ridge of muscle defined and carved in perfection. He held her gaze, waiting to see if she would falter in her demand. But she didn’t.
“Every flick of your tongue should be deliberate, as if you are tasting him, learning him. Let him know you are in control.”
Her friends’ teachings whirled in her thoughts, and she softly said, “Keep going.”
He smirked, a devilish glint in his eyes, before reaching for his trousers. There was no hesitation in his movements, only confidence and an undeniable allure that sent a pulse of heat rushing through her veins.
As he stepped out of the last of his clothing, standing before her completely bare, Agatha’s mouth dried. He wasmagnificent.
“Should I turn around?” he teased.
“Yes.”
Thomas chuckled but complied. His thighs and calves were thick and powerful, stomach and buttocks lean and delineated with muscle. The raw masculinity of his body was overwhelming, and for a moment, she couldn’t speak or move, only stare. Every inch of him exuded power, control, and an irresistible sensuality. A thick stalk of flesh twitched and increased in size under her stare.
Goodness.
Thomas arched a brow as if daring her to continue with her next command.
At her silence, he drawled. “What now, Agatha?”
“Now I practice what I have learned on you.”
“Oh?”
That sound felt like a purr rasping against her sensitized skin. Her belly tightened. She wanted to practice everything on the earl, not because she wanted to know for future loversbutbecause he would like it, and she wanted to see him come apart for her. It was dangerous, for it pushed her closer to losing a piece of herself to him, a piece she might never regain. Agatha took a steady breath, her desire tightening inside her, and with a soft, sultry smile, she stepped closer to him, fully prepared to take control of the night.
CHAPTER 18
Who was this woman walking toward him?
Thomas became acutely aware of his heart beating in an unfamiliar rhythm. He wasn’t used to being looked at this way, with tender longing and delight. He was used to greed, machinations, avarice, and lust. Notthis. His throat tightened, and for the first time in a long while, Thomas found himself unsure how to respond. That emerald gaze felt like it was dismantling them piece by piece, and he wasn’t certain he could stop it. “Agatha—”
“You shall not speak, my lord.”
Bloody hell. “What lesson is this?”
She stopped walking, smiled, and, with deft ease, slipped from the ballgown. It settled at her feet in a wisp of satin and silk. He distantly noted her blushes were fewer, and she was more comfortable with her nakedness. Agatha removed her chemisette, baring her naked body to his gaze.
Hunger, sharp and insistent, tore through Thomas. She removed the blonde wig and tossed it aside. How provocative she appeared, yet her hair caught up in a chignon gave hera demure, ladylike grace. Pearls encircled her throat, and the softest blush pinkened her cheeks.
Below her neck … her breasts were high and firm, the nipples lush and round like berries, the smoothness of her belly flat, and the arch of her hips flared enticingly. Her stockings stopped at mid-thigh and were held up bydelicate silk garters. They made her legs seem long and supple. He lowered his gaze to the delicate dancing sippers that encased her feet.
