Page 50 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
“Daniel!” she cried out. “Oh… please… keep going… Don’t stop!”
“Never,” he growled as he continued to stroke her.
“Good!” She had her head back now, body open to him, completely at his mercy in ways she never knew that she wanted. “Do not stop!”
He laughed as he continued to stroke her. Each stroke sent a spike of pleasure right through her. It struck her in the heart. It stabbed her right in the chest. It made her want to weep and cry and scream all in one.
She spasmed and she squirmed. Her breathing rose. A heat started to build inside of her. It was a type of pleasure she had never experienced but knew she could not live without.
“Yes…” She panted into his ear. His head was buried in her neck, teeth gnawing at her skin. “Yes… I want this… I have always wanted this… you… me… we are…” She did not know what she was saying, her mind racing, words spilling out that she had no control over. “Daniel, I think that I am… I want… you and I… together…”
Daniel snapped his head back without warning.
He pulled away his body as if someone had grabbed him.
Then he wrenched his fingers free, and lurched from the bed, his body turning as he did; shame dripping from him like body odor.
“Daniel?” she sat up, breathing heavily, her body still convulsing. “What… what happened? Did I do something…?”
He stumbled across the room, refusing to look at her. “I should not have done that.” The way he spoke, it was more to himself than to her. “I should… it was wrong of me.”
“What do you mean?” She half-made to go to him but stopped herself. “What was wrong?”
“You came to me for protection. I promised… I forced you to be here.”
“No,” she said desperately. “That is not true.”
“I gave you the wrong impression,” he continued. “About me… about us…”
“No,” she said again. “You are wrong –"
“Do not argue with me,” he snarled, his back still on her. “For once, please, do not…” His shoulders sagged and it was as if the life was being drained from him. “If I go further, Alison. If I do not stop…” He shuddered. “There will be no turning back.”
She did not know what to say. She did not know what to think! For a glorious moment, things had felt so right. Daniel had taken her as she knew he wished. But now…I cannot even begin to guess what is happening.
“I took advantage of you,” he said darkly. “For that, I am sorry.”
“No, Daniel, you did not… I wanted it.”
“You think you do,” he hissed. “Believe me when I tell you, this is the last thing you want. I am sorry, Lady Alison. Please, forgive me.”
And then, before she had a chance to argue or try and change his mind, he stumbled from the room as if he was fleeing a burning building.
And there Alison remained, on the bed, legs spread open, her body running so hot she thought she might explode. She was confused and unsure. She was frustrated and panting heavily.But most of all… and this was what hit her once her mind came back… she was lonely.
Alison had thought for a moment that Lord Grayhill saw her like no one ever had. She had been so sure that despite everything, he wanted her for no other reason than who she was. Sadly, this was not the case at all.
Daniel left her, Alison was alone, and never before had she felt it like she did in that moment.
Chapter Sixteen
Alison slept little that night. But that was no surprise.
Oh, how she tossed, and she turned. How often she threw back her blankets to dispense with the heat that built quickly inside of her. How many times she climbed from her bed and paced her room, desperate to dispel the energy that made her entire body shake. It was impossible!
She did not know how to describe the emotions that overtook her. But she felt… unfinished. A sensation she likened to eating without being fully satisfied. Bathing without being fully cleaned. There was something missing inside of her. Or rather, there was still something there that was desperate to escape.
When the morning came, she was tired and worn through. But she was also excited. At the very least, she was brimming with anticipation because she knew that how this morning went would dictate how the next two weeks were sure to go.
