He shook his head, trying to gather his wits, trying to gain some sense of control, but failing.
A frown turned her mouth down as she stepped away. The space gave him the chance to take a breath, but that only brought in the scent of lavender and aroused woman.
“I do not want to wait and I demand more.” Her tone dripped with authority, but he did not miss the catch in her voice. Because of that, he did not expect her next move. He anticipated retreat. Instead, she bent at the waist, grabbed the end of her nightgown and pulled it with a jerk over her head. Tossing it behind her, she stood in front of him, hands on her hips, her chin lifted proudly.
He had never seen her completely nude, but there she was, gloriously naked. The fire blazing behind her lent a warm glow to her porcelain skin. As his gaze traveled down her body, he paused at her breasts. He had seen them, but not thusly, completely free of clothing. Full, bottom heavy, with the most delicious pink nipples… He licked his lips. He slid his gaze on down her body, delighting in the fact that she never moved.
When he looked back up at her face, he noticed a blush had covered it. It added to the delectable package that was Cicely Ware.
Something warm shifted through him to his heart. It spread throughout his body, causing his stomach to tighten and a lump to rise in his throat. He cleared it and attempted one last time to play the hero.
“I do not want to take advantage of you.”
For a second she said not a word. And that was all it would take. One word and he would do anything she wanted. One command and he was hers. But then she laughed and shook her head.
“Douglas, what more do I need to say? I would not have followed you to your room had I not trusted you implicitly.” Her gaze did not waver.
Her expression did not change. “I want you to take advantage of me, Douglas. In fact, I believe I told you that almost a fortnight ago. I asked you to. Since I asked, does that not mean it is no longer ‘taking advantage’?”
From the moment she asked him for lessons on that crowded dance floor, she had been leading him around with little to no problem. She had slithered beneath his skin, curling into his heart. Teasing, tempting, calling to him, asking him to take that which he did not deserve. He had decided years ago not to marry, not wanting to pass on his poisonous genes to another generation of innocents. But as she stood there, nothing but firelight covering her skin, he felt his steeled control slipping.
“I remember.” His voice was hoarse with need. “I wanted to ensure you had no regrets.”
Cicely searched his face. He felt himself leaning closer, losing himself in the depths of her wide chocolate brown eyes. In them he found comfort. He found friendship and a kindred spirit he’d not expected to ever discover. She soothed him much like a sweetened confection.
Douglas attempted to move away from the nearly overwhelming temptation. Before he could, Cicely grabbed his hand. She held on with a death grip and rubbed her thumbs over the sensitive skin on the back of his hand. Her brow wrinkled as she watched the motion. Douglas swallowed. Her heat warmed him as she touched him, her fingers still moving over his flesh.
“How could I regret the one thing I know would make me complete?”
she asked.
Slowly, she lifted his hand to her mouth. As she did, her gaze rose to meet his. They locked with each other in a battle of wills. She deliberately turned his hand over and kissed the palm, flicking her tongue against him.
Another surge of heat ran along his nerve endings and settled heavily in his loins. She kept him trapped there, not allowing his gaze to leave hers, keeping his hand against her mouth as she said, “I want you to make me feel. I want you to make me forget.”
He was back to shaking his head, trying to hold onto the last vestiges of his honor, when she moved his hand from her mouth and placed it on her breast. She killed him with one word.
“Please.”
In that single request, he heard a need that matched his own. He was damned tired of keeping himself apart, of being aloof. He wanted to forget the world and fall into her. All he wanted to do was be there, as one with her.
With a groan, he yielded. He gently pushed her backward to the bed, tumbling them both onto it. He kissed her, but this time he held nothing back. Douglas wanted her to know him. He wanted her to understand that he needed her more than his next breath of air. His words were lacking. This he was good at. He’d held back before, trying not to scare her, but now there was no reason to. She returned his kiss with a yearning he could feel all the way to his soul. Her response increased his own desire, brought forth his darker passions. Breaking from the kiss, he placed a trail of wet kisses down her flesh, delighting in the taste of her, the feel of her skin beneath his mouth.
When he reached her puckered nipple, he paused, licking his lips in anticipation. How this woman hid the wonder of her figure from society, from him, for so long, he had no idea.
She drew in a deep breath, her sweet flesh quivering with the action.
He bent his head and flicked his tongue over the tip. Her breath came rushing right back out. He smiled and took the entire nipple into his mouth. With his hand, he stroked her other one, bringing it to a tight rosebud like the first. Her moans grew, the sound of them pounding through his blood, encouraging him, emboldening him.
Knowing that he had to have more, that he had to make this first experience perfect, he moved away from her breasts. Even in the darkened room, she could not hide the aroused flush that darkened them to the tips of her nipples. He slid down her belly, delighting in the flesh as it quivered, in the salty-sweet taste. When he reached her core, he breathed in her scent. Aroused woman surrounded him, stirring his passion even more. Her uneven breathing hitched as he gathered her up for his taste. She tensed briefly but then relaxed against the bed.
As before, when his tongue stole inside for a taste, the flavor of her essence filled his senses, spurred his arousal. Never before had a woman tasted as if she had been created just for his pleasure. He could hear his name on her lips, the passion in her moan. His body grew taut, blood surging to his cock, twisting his balls. Soon, her legs moved restlessly against the bed and she threaded her fingers through his hair, fisting, pulling, urging him closer. Grabbing what little control he had, he slipped one finger into her, preparing her for his entry.
Christ she was tight.
Driven by his own desires, he flicked his tongue over her hardened nub. She shouted his name, her body first tensing, bowing off the mattress before she convulsed. He lifted his head, replacing his tongue with his thumb and watched in fascination as her mouth opened in a soundless cry.
He knew if he did not have her at that moment he would go completely insane. Surging up to his knees, he yanked his trousers open.
His shaft sprang free, a drop of moisture already wetting the head. When he looked at Cicely, she eyed him with wonder instead of the maidenly fear he expected. He had to push her hand away when she reached out to touch him. Without a doubt, at this point he would embarrass himself if she so much as breathed on him. He would be lucky to last three thrusts.
“Not…right…now,” he ground out. Urging her back, he covered her body with his and slowly eased into her warmth. He closed his eyes as her muscles clamped around his cock. Lord Almighty.
As he pushed further in, he felt the barrier of her virginity and paused. “Love.”
Her eyes fluttered open.
“This will hurt.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. He drew back slightly and surged ahead, breaking her maidenhead. Possessiveness roared through him, touching something deep within him he had not known he possessed. It was primitive and overwhelming, but the fact that he had been her first almost pushed him over the edge.
“I’m sorry, love, it couldn’t be helped.” He couldn’t believe how wonderful it felt, her heat, her core, her embrace. He struggled for control, waiting for her.
Without opening her eyes, she said, “It isn’t so bad.”
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He snorted at her faint praise. “I promise it will get better.”
Without another word, he dropped his head to her shoulder, resting his forehead against the sweet curve of her neck. Pulling back out and then thrusting back in, he could not stop the surge of joy that shot through him as he built his pace. Her body grew damp and pliant beneath him. Still, he had to grit his teeth as he fought against the escalating need for release. He wanted to prolong the pleasure for as long as possible. Not only for her, but for himself. He shut himself off from everything except her and what he was feeling, tasting, smelling. Soon Cicely joined in, catching his rhythm and moving with him.
He slipped a hand between them and flicked his finger over her hardened nub again. Her second orgasm caused her to scream his name, which he tried to swallow by capturing her mouth in a kiss. Her muscles tightened, then quivered around him, pulling his own release from him.
Moments later, he collapsed on top of her, his body, his mind, his soul sated. She hummed, the sound filled with satisfaction. As if she were a kitten with a bowl of fresh cream.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. Her lips were reddened from his kisses, her eyes heavy lidded from spent passion. As he eased away, he stripped out of the remainder of his clothes and joined her beneath the covers. Part of him was well pleased with what had transpired. The other part of him was shaken to the core. Never had he lost complete control of the situation, given to a woman a part of himself he knew could be twisted, used and then tossed away. But he had.
He waited for fear or panic to grip him but there was nothing. Only peace filled him as he lay back down beside her, drawing her close. She snuggled closer, her body relaxing against his, her hand over his heart.
“I believe that went well, Your Grace.” She giggled, apparently pleased with her formality when they were both nude. He responded with a smile.
He’d noticed these past weeks she had been laughing more frequently, and the careless sound slipped right under his defenses and captured him. “I have to say, I now understand what all the fuss is about.”
He chuckled. “And that was just one experience.”
He felt her raise her head and he opened one eye to look at her.
“There’s more?” He did not miss the excitement in her tone, or the flush that was now darkening her skin.
He groaned. “I have created a monster.” With one hand, he grabbed her by the back of the neck and brought her down for an openmouthed kiss. His body stirred, but he knew they both needed a break. Him for rest, her to recover. After he finished kissing her, he shoved her against his chest.
“Get some rest, then we’ll see.”
“But—”
“Go to sleep, Cicely.”
He closed his eyes waiting for her to argue, but she gave up her quest, softening against him. Moments later, her breathing deep and even, he relaxed, his own mind drifting into nothingness.
Cicely moved her hands over Douglas’ bare back, tracing the faint scars that marred his flesh. They were not that easy to see in the dim light of the fire, but she could tell they had been brutal.
“Where did you get these?”
He tensed and the moment of silence stretched.
“Tell me.”
For a moment, she was certain he would not. He rolled to his side and propped his head up with his hand. The pain she saw in his eyes, the nightmares she could almost feel, held her still. Waiting. Silently she pled with him to share, to give to her some bit of him. She worried he would not, especially when he laid on his back and stared up at the canopy on the bed. But as if unable to hold back, the story poured out.
“I spent most of my childhood at the estate, like many children of station. My parents kept me out of the city, telling people they did not want their son to be exposed to the unhealthy air. They would explain how I was a distraction and my overabundant energy would drive them batty within a day. But, they truthfully kept me in the country to hide the bruises.”
She bit her lip to keep from gasping.
“You see, the Dukes of Ethingham have a penchant for making money and beating the bloody hell out of their children. Father believed in beating the devil out of an ill-mannered child, me. But he had nothing on his father. My grandfather was a world-class bastard. I know why my aunt ran, not only for love, but to escape.”
“Oh, Douglas.” She blinked back the tears, her heart breaking for the boy who had suffered.
He didn’t seem to notice her words. He sank further into his memories, despair etched over his proud face, and continued, completely wrapped up in the retelling. “There was nowhere to hide when he was in a bad mood. Even in that cold estate with its multitude of rooms, if he was mad at you, he would find you. It could last for hours, days. It took me years to realize that the sadistic old bastard enjoyed the hunt. My parents would leave me for weeks on end with a man who hated me.”
She slipped her hand up to cup his face. “I am so sorry.”
“I do not want your pity.” His voice had turned harsh.
Cicely started. “I am not offering that. Maybe I have some for the little boy who was betrayed by people who should have been protecting him.
But the man I know, the one I love, is not that frightened boy anymore.”
He huffed a breath, then swallowed. “That is why I stayed off the mart so long. I swore I would never submit a woman or a child to that. I worried since both my father and grandfather were abusive that their blood tainted me in some way.”
“Despite the horrible childhood you were forced to endure, you have become a man people admire, and I know deep within my soul, that you would never hurt another human being for pleasure, especially not a child.”
He studied her face, his gaze moving over her features. “You’re sure of that?”
She did not hesitate. “Yes.”
With a groan packed full of surrender, he grasped her hand and used it to pull her closer. She fell over him, her breasts flattened against his chest. He took her mouth in a kiss that had her body humming within moments. It possessed. It declared ownership. Something she would give now, forever.
He rolled her over, stretching his body on top of hers, and said, “I do believe it is time for lesson two of the evening.”
Douglas watched Cicely tie the ribbon at her throat, then slide her feet into the slippers. Brushing a hand over her hair, she smiled at him.
“I guess I should be getting back.”
The sun was not even peeking over the horizon, but Douglas agreed she needed to go. Soon, the house would start to buzz with the early-morning work of servants. But he did not like it. He wanted her in bed with him.
He rose and felt a spurt of pride when her gaze roved down his nude body in appreciation. Pulling her into his arms, he gave her a quick, hard kiss. “We have one more night here, but then once we get back to London, we can start planning.”
“Planning?”
“Our wedding.”
“Wedding?” She blinked and just like that her expression shuttered closed.
He pulled back slightly. With horror, he realized they had not discussed the implications of their actions the night before. A small coil of unease whipped to and fro in the pit of his belly. Her tone. The deceptive calm, the careful silence following her words, made the unease shift rapidly to panic. “Is something amiss?”
She pulled completely out of his arms and cleared her throat.
“Nothing except there is no reason for us to marry.”
He bit his tongue. Their entire relationship had been too rash. He grabbed a pair of pants and stepped into them. After he fastened the last button through its hole, he said, “Other than the fact I just took your virginity?”
“Do not be silly. You took nothing. I gave.”
He opened his mouth to argue his point, but she stepped forward and brushed her mouth over his.
“Have you married every woman you have been with?”
Heat filled his face. “No, but tha
t was different.”
She shook her head. “Douglas, really, marriage was not part of the bargain. I did not ask it of you before. I do not ask it of you now.”
“What if I say it is?”
She moved away, frowning. “I beg of you, do not make this more complicated than it already is.”
The panic clawing his gut had him rushing forward. He caught her before she unlocked the door. She looked up at him, questions in her gaze.
“I plan on making it more complicated, more than you can imagine.”
She grimaced. “Douglas, I do not want to argue with you, and I have to get back now.”
Knowing she was right, he acquiesced. He unlocked his door, checking the hallway for people. Finding it clear, he slid back inside. As she moved to leave, he stopped her by placing a hand on her arm.
“Just know that this is not the end of this conversation.”
She searched his gaze with her own then nodded before slipping out into the hall. Closing the door behind her, he sighed. He should have known she would not agree to marriage, or be coerced. It would take more than losing her virginity for Lady Cicely Ware to accept marriage.
What that one thing was, he had no idea, but he would find out.
And she would find just how hard it was to tangle with a duke.
Chapter Sixteen
In which a villain suffers a mishap.
Cicely stared out at the pouring rain, her melancholy almost suffocating her. It had been a week since they had returned from the country, and she had yet to get Douglas alone. He still gave her those heated looks and danced every waltz with her. Sighting her loss of virginity—which she told him did not bother her in the least—he claimed they must marry. Each day she could tell he was chomping at the bit to go to Sebastian and confess everything that had happened.
She sighed, thinking once again that she had not chosen wisely. Oh, she could not have picked a better partner, the man she loved—even if he was being a complete drudge about the whole thing. He had shown her such tenderness, such love that she knew in that she had been right.
Once Upon an Accident 02 - Lessons in Seduction Page 17