Much Ado About Dukes

He reached for the pins at the front of her gown and made easy work of them.

She decided not to think overly long on how he had acquired such skills.

For he had her gown removed in a trice, and she stood in nothing but her chemise and stockings within moments.

His gaze trailed over her as he guided the thin garment up and over her head until she stood in nothing but her stockings and shoes.

The cool air of the room touched her hot skin, and her nipples hardened.

His gaze drew to them, and he let out a moan of anticipation before he dipped his head and took one into his mouth. She arched against him, shocked by the pleasure of such a thing.

He swept her up again and walked to his great bed. Then he pulled back the counterpane and set her down on the cool silk. She gazed up at him, vulnerable, feeling more alive than she could remember ever feeling.

It was difficult not to try to cover herself. She’d not been fully naked in front of anyone in years. Not since she was a girl, really.

Beatrice pressed her hands into the mattress as he trailed his gaze over her breasts, then looked lower and lower.

That look was as powerful as any touch.

She felt sensations in places she had not known she could feel excitement.

Wordlessly, he lowered himself beside her. Gently, he traced his fingertips along her stockinged calf, traveling upward past her knee, then her thigh.

He skimmed the thin skin of her hip and slid upward over her belly to cup her breasts.

She gasped, astonished by the power of it and the strange need growing between her legs.

“Do you like that?” he asked.

She nodded, unable to express herself for the first time she could recall. But it was all so much.

“I want to touch you,” she finally murmured.

William’s eyes widened, but he nodded and climbed onto the bed.

He slipped off his boots and breeches and pulled her against him.

She gasped at the feel of his long, hard body. In all her life, she’d felt nothing like it…or his sex.

She hadn’t been able to imagine it. The feel of it pressed against her was nothing like she imagined the sketches or statues might be like when aroused.

It was hot, hard, and big. Far bigger than she’d anticipated.

She felt a hint of trepidation. But she trusted William, and she wasn’t about to act the silly miss.

He kissed her again, only this time, his tongue teased the line of her lips and she opened her mouth to him. And as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, his fingers slipped between her thighs.

She tensed, but as he kissed her and he slid his fingers along her slick folds, she felt herself trusting him more and more.

For it felt…

There were no words as he circled his fingers.

She tossed toward something. Something wild and indescribable. Something that was beyond control and rules. His fingers, confident yet gentle, traced over her delicate folds until they found a spot that caused her to gasp with a wave of such pure pleasure she was stunned.

At her gasp against his mouth, he continued to circle and stroke that suddenly aching spot, urging her body to some unknown yet seemingly impossible destination.

Just as she was certain her body was about to come apart, he pressed ever so slightly against her. She cried out at that sure stroke. Wave after wave of bliss rippled from her core.