Page 21 of Harrowing Hall
“And I have wanted to hear it.” More than he could possibly know.
He smiled and carried her over the threshold of his chamber, only for her to discover he had accomplished a great deal in little time. So said the exquisitely set table for two by a crackling fire. Delicate candles burned here and there, and chilled champagne had been left along with covered food.
“How will I ever make all this up to you?” she wondered as he set her down. “Everything. From how welcome you have made me feel to helping me bring love together to—”
Blake put a finger to her lips. “You have already more than made everything up to me by being here.” He searched her eyes. “Surely you realize that by now?” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her softly. “Surely you understand how happy you make me?”
“I do.” Her cheeks warmed beneath his touch. Beneath the never-ending flare of desire in his eyes. A look that fueled the desire she felt every time she looked at him. “Of course I do.”
“Good then.”
He went to lead her to the table, but she stopped him. The very last thing she wanted to do was eat. “Perhaps in a bit, husband?” Though nervous, she glanced from his sizeable bed back to him. “Perhaps after we…enjoy other things?” While eager, she realized he might be hungry and how rude of her to keep him from eating. “Or if you are hungry and—”
That’s all she got out before he yanked her into his arms and kissed her soundly. Kissed her like he had in Harrowing Hall. Deeply. Passionately. Their tongues tangled and twisted. Danced and sought. A sharp ache blossomed between her thighs, only this time it seemed a hundred times stronger.
The heavy ridge he pressed against her did nothing to ease that ache either.
More curious than most and having gossiped her fair share, she understood a bit about what was going to happen. The appendage pressed against her. The only oddity? She had more often than not heard it described as painful and something to bedealtwith. Suffered through.
The only good thing that came out of it were children.
The one person who had ever implied it did wondrous things was Lady Clara after she wed Lord Durham. And even then, she was not a gossip, so remained vague. Yet Maude had seen the way her skin flushed every time Durham was around. The way a secretive smile curled her lips and her bosom heaved. How could it not if she felt what Maude felt now? If Isaac had made Clara feel how Blake made her feel?
He lowered to a knee and removed her shoes and stockings, then peppered kisses up her neck before turning her in his arms so that her back was to his front. She was barely aware of him untying her dress or loosening her stays as he kept kissing her neck. Running his fingers lightly here and there. Barely aware of the rustling of his own clothes as he lowered her dress and undergarments.
She was, however, wholly aware of him grazing the bare flesh of her stomach. The sensitive ridge of her hip. The outer edge of her breast. Before she had the chance to feel exposed or embarrassed, he cupped her cheeks again and kissed her.
Touched her.
Looked at her.
Allowed her to look at him.
Urged her to touch him.
“Oh, my,” she whispered, mesmerized by him. From his broad shoulders to the light smattering of hair on his chest to his glorious appendage. It had been described as more of a ridiculous prodding tool than what it actually was, and she said so, much to her mortification. “I cannot imagine how that prods, but itispleasing to the eye, is it not?”
Blake’s brows shot up, and he chuckled before he swept her up in his arms and carried her to bed. “You are wonderfully unique,mo leannan, and I would not trade you for the world.”
“Good, because I would not trade you either,” she began. “In fact, I would….”
That’s all she managed before he kissed the words right out of her and continued touching her in all sorts of delicious ways. And it was just that. A host of scrumptious sensations that made forming words impossible. He kissed her mouth, neck, and even much to her mortification, then absolute pleasure, her breasts. Nipples. Then lower along her belly.
She kept trying to speak, to describe everything she felt because it seemed the thing to do, but her throat simply would not work. Rather, all she could do was feel as he dropped kisses along her hip and ran his hand up her thigh until he touched the juncture between her legs.
“Oh,” she gasped, arching into his touch when she was sure that was quite improper. Yet there was no stopping it when he closed his lips over hers again and kept stroking her sensitive flesh.
After that, she was completely lost to all the sensations he wrung from her. The untouchable feelings rolling through her. The ache between her thighs intensified. Made her spread her legs. Thrust into his touch. If that were not enough, the tender yet lustful way he looked at her while manipulating her flesh made the experience all that much more intense.
So intense that she became acutely aware of a building sensation. As though she were racing toward a crescendo of some sort. She could no longer draw in air. Only dig her nails into the bedding and cry out when she soared over an edge unlike any other.
Chapter Fourteen
Blake had neverseen anything more beautiful or arousing than Maude climaxing. Watching the way her nipples pebbled even more. How she arched against him. The way her eyes rolled back in her head, and she cried out, embracing every ounce of pleasure she felt.
Knowing this was the time to take her, that she was ready, he came between her thighs and kissed her again. Kissed her as her body trembled, and she drifted down. Loved her while she basked in pleasure that he would ensure led to even greater pleasure.
“Are you ready,mo leannan?” he whispered in her ear, rubbing his member against her to keep her pleasure going. He cupped her cheek and searched her eyes. “Are you ready for—”
