Page 66 of The Ice Queen
Chapter Forty
The look of pure joy which appeared on Julian’s face brought tears to Caroline’s eyes. The kiss he gifted her with in reply to her declaration of love set her heart racing.
“Good. Because I love you too, and after a formal courtship, I will make you my countess,” he replied.
She lay her hand over his heart. They had declared themselves. A combined future now lay before them. Dare she take the first step in claiming it?
“I want this cottage to become our special place, a private place where we can seek refuge from the world. Make me your woman here tonight,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “As long as you make sure that your father will say yes when I come to see him.”
Caroline’s fingers traced the edges of Julian’s cravat. She tugged gently on the first of the topknots. Then, with slow precise moves, she unwound the length of linen. Julian sighed as she pulled it from his neck and draped it over a nearby chair.
“Your turn,” she whispered.
He threw off his jacket, then set to the laces on the front of her gown. When they were loose enough, he pulled the front panels apart and pushed it down.
Caroline eased the gown over her hips and let it fall to the floor. Only her thin shift now separated her skin from his sight and the cool night air.
“The shirt?” he asked.
She tugged at the sides of his shirt and freed it from his trousers. Julian made short work of lifting it over his head and tossing it aside.
He shivered in the cold air, then chuckled. “Can we hurry up with this? I don’t wish to freeze before we get to the important part.”
His jest helped to calm Caroline’s nerves. She had come to the cottage with the full intention of seducing Julian, but only now realized that she had little idea how to go about it.
“Boots next, I would suggest, otherwise we won’t be able to deal with your trousers,” she replied.
With the matter of outer clothes and pesky boots out of the way, the only remaining garments were Caroline’s shift and Julian’s trousers. He pulled her to him and kissed her once more.
She took the opportunity to bring her right hand to the buttons on the placket of his trousers, and with her nimble fingers soon had them undone. With a shuddering breath, she bravely slipped her hand inside. Julian closed his eyes and she heard his appreciative groan as she took hold of his manhood. Her sister, Eve, had given her a rough guide as to what a woman should do in the situation, and Caroline was busy trying to recall every step of those instructions.
Julian cupped Caroline’s breast in his hand and rolled his thumb back and forth over her nipple. It hardened under his skillful touch. He lowered his head and slowly traced soft kisses down her neck and across the top of her shoulder.
“You smell so good,” he murmured.
She continued to stroke him, feeling him getting larger and harder in her hand.
Strong hands grasped the sides of her shift and pulled it up. Caroline released Julian from her attentions for a moment, while he lifted her shift free over her head.
She was fully naked before him. He kissed her.
“From this moment on, you and I belong to each other,” he said.
With those words, he lowered his head and took her nipple into his mouth. He suckled strongly and Caroline felt heat pool in her loins. Desire she had never known before flared.
He guided her over to the bed and lay her down. Pulling her to the edge, he knelt before her on the floor and arranged her legs to rest on his shoulders.
She gasped as his tongue touched the soft hair at her entrance. Using his thumb and forefinger, he opened her to him and began to lick and suck at her clitoris. Caroline sobbed with need.
When his tongue speared into her wet heat, she cried out, “Oh my god, Julian!”
With repeated strokes of his tongue across her sensitive nib, and his thumb pressed deep into her, Caroline rode the heights of pleasure. On and on he teased her, demanding her submission to his sexual onslaught.
She had touched herself enough times to know when the peak was coming. She began to frantically push him away, determined that when she did come it would be with him inside her.
He read the signals. Getting to his feet, he stripped off his trousers and freed his erection. She licked her lips, forcing all fears away.
