Page 54 of In a Rake's Embrace
A deceptively sensual smile curved mouth. “No. But if he plays with your pussy, especially your clitoris, the pleasure can blend with the pain until they’re indistinguishable.”
“And … if he doesn’t?” she asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
“Then you’ll bear the pain, and walking may be challenging for a few days.”
Goodness. “Would you … want that?”
A flicker of heat flashed in his gaze before he reined it in. “This isn’t about me, Agatha. I already told you I won’t be bidding.”
That heavy sensation once again pressed against her chest. “Are you certain you would not bid for me?”
His mouth lifted in a half-smile. “Yes.”
Agatha lowered her lashes for a moment, hoping to hide her disappointment. “Can I set this as a boundary?”
“Anything can be forbidden.”
“But … once again, making myself unavailable in that manner will deter some, won’t it? Considering Ellen’s words, it seemed all the men atAphrodite… like that.”
“Yes. If they know even your arse is also untouched, it might drive the bidding higher,” he replied, his voice a husky drawl, eyes gleaming with an almost dangerous sensuality.
Awareness forcibly struck her heart. “You like it, don’t you? Taking a woman there …”
“It has its appeal.”
“Show me,” she murmured, sensing he enjoyed it more than he was letting on.
The glass lifting to his mouth froze. “What?”
She smirked, sensing she’d unsettled him. “I want you to use your fingers … let me experience it, just enough to understand. Once without teasing of my sex … and once with your touch on my clitoris. That way, I can decide whether it should be a boundary.”
“Lie on your belly on the chaise by the fire,” he murmured.
A tremor of nerves fluttered through her, but she rose from the sofa, steadying herself as she crossed the room. Agatha lay on her stomach across the plush, oversized chaise, feeling the luxurious softness cradling her body. The rich scent of lavender mingled with the earthy notes of Thomas’s rousing scent calmed and heightened her senses.
Agatha closed her eyes, breathing steadily. He positioned a cushion beneath her hips, creating a soft arch. She sank deeper into the anticipation of his touch.
Thomas’s warm and strong hands settled on her shoulders. The first press of his thumbs into her tense muscles made her exhale, and her body relaxed under the glide of his fingers.
She had not anticipated this. The lavender oil slicked her skin, making every movement fluid, his fingers kneading away any remnants of her tension. Agatha moaned,acutely aware ofeverything—the roughness of his palms against the softness of her skin, the way his breath fanned lightly against her neck, and the undeniable heat that radiated from his body so close to hers.
“Is this always a precursor to … arse play?” she murmured, her voice tinged with nerves and a hint of teasing.
Thomas’s low chuckle rippled over her senses, deep and intimate.
“No,” he said. “This is simply because you’ve been working hard. Madam Rebecca mentioned you’ve been practicing dancing for hours each day.”
A warmth spread through her chest, unexpected and achingly sweet. “It feels … glorious. Thank you.”
“There are no thanks needed between friends.” His hand trailed down her spine, igniting every inch of her skin he touched. “Did I not mention this before?”
She turned her head slightly, attempting to hide her smile. “Are you finally accepting that we’re friends?”
“Hmm.” He paused as if mulling over the word, his fingers brushing in light circles against her lower back. “A novelty for me, but I like you, Agatha.”
Her heart stuttered, his words settling deeper than she’d anticipated. She lowered her gaze, whispering, “I like you, too.”
He worked his way down her back in slow, unhurried strokes, his hands skilled in coaxing out any resistance. Every touch evoked a surge of warmth that blossomed low in her belly. His strong and confident hands skimmed over her thighs, tracing their outer curves, lingeringas if memorizing her. When he reached the curve of her lower back, his palms smoothed over her hips, and a thrill sparked through her.
