Page 41 of The Earl Takes All
“What are you doing?”
“Shh,” he whispered, his breath wafting along her ear. “I told you that I don’t receive pleasure without giving it.”
“But the babe—”
“I’ll be gentle. I’ll be so gentle, Jules.” He cupped the apex at her thighs. “I’m only going to give. Slowly, leisurely.” His fingers parted the folds. “Until you sigh with pleasure.”
Sigh? She might very well scream. It had been too long since she’d been touched with such intimacy, such tenderness. His own burgeoning desire pressing against her backside served to increase the power of the sensations rippling through her as his fingers taunted her with the magic they were so skillfully weaving. He took her earlobe between his teeth, and heat swarmed through her.
He somehow managed to work her nightdress down just enough so his hot mouth could travel over her bared shoulder. Her toes curled, uncurled. Her fingers tingled. He had always been gentle with her, respectful, but there was something different tonight, an almost feral need shimmering through him that she could sense at the furthest recesses of her consciousness.
It was like smoke, appearing and disappearing. She couldn’t latch onto it, not when most of her awareness was centered on her own body, his hand between her legs, his mouth on her shoulder. It was almost as though he were weaving a web of pleasure between the two points. Only, the sensations spread beyond that to encompass everywhere. So deeply, so powerfully. Until they consumed, overwhelmed. Her back arching, she cried out with the long denied release.
His fingers stilling, he pressed her more closely against him, seemed to wrap himself more securely around her.
Then the unexpected tears came in great gulping sobs she couldn’t control.
He pushed up onto an elbow. “Julia?”
Placing trembling fingers over her mouth, shaking her head, she rasped, “I’m sorry. It’s just that... we haven’t been this close in ages.” Not since the physician had confirmed she was with child. He’d been so fearful of hurting her. He’d leashed all his passions, and she had tried to do the same with hers, but they had hovered near the surface, constantly taunting her with want and need.
“It’s all right, Jules,” he said, his voice low, comforting as he gently turned her until her face was nestled against his chest, his arms around her, one hand soothingly stroking her spine. “It’s all right.”
“I’ve grown so cumbersome, I was afraid you didn’t want me anymore.”
“I’ve always wanted you.”
The sincerity in his voice caused another hideously wrenching sob to escape. “I’m being so silly. This sudden aching loneliness—I don’t know where it came from.”
He pressed his lips to the crown of her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
She blinked back the tears. “Please don’t leave me again.”
“I won’t.” His hold on her tightened. “Ever.”
Swiping at the dampness on her cheeks, she released a strangled bubble of gratitude and dismay. “I have such a time of late controlling these tears.”
“I was afraid I’d hurt you.”
Leaning her head back, she studied his face in the shadows. “It was marvelous. So intense. It took me off guard.” She buried her face back against his chest. “But it felt glorious.” Swallowing, she circled a finger around his nipple. “Was it as nice for you earlier?”
His chortle was short, nearly self-deprecating. “It very nearly killed me.”
She laughed lightly. “It felt as though I’d died, and then I was more alive than I’d ever been.”
“Considering our reactions, we should probably refrain from pleasuring each other for now.”
Nodding, she snuggled more closely against him. He was right, but she was grateful for tonight. It would see her through the next few weeks until they could make love madly once again.
Chapter 10
Pleasedon’t leave me again.
I won’t. Ever.
What the bloody hell had possessed him to make that promise? It had kept him awake most of the night, with Julia nestled securely, trustingly, against him, while his mind reeled with the ramification of his words. He’d made a vow he could not possibly keep.
Now, he stood at the window, gazing out on the storm that continued to whip snow over the land and very much mimicked his own inner turmoil. Rising earlier, he’d drawn on his trousers and shirt but he was reluctant to go to his bedchamber until she’d awoken. Her shattering from pleasure in his arms had been the most satisfying moment he’d ever experienced. Her passions were so easily ignited, her response so gratifying.
