A warm hand brushed away a tear he hadn’t realized had fallen.
“It is not your fault, Harry. You did what any man would do who cared about his family. England is far safer than India, especially for women. Bringing them here should have given them opportunities they might not have there. And it will, for Charlotte. Your father is to blame, not you.”
It still felt like his fault. He’d spent two years trying to get past his guilt and the feelings of hatred toward his father.
“Do you blame Tessa?” she uttered so softly he almost didn’t hear her.
Harry released a long breath. “I did for months, but slowly, I came to realize that she was not truly at fault. My father loved her but in a very odd manner. If he loved her as much as he professed in his suicide letter, he should have married her and not tried to marry her off to various men to increase her station first.”
“He was very concerned about his position in Society,” she reminded him. “For many people, it would have been scandalous for him to marry the daughter of a London banker. Or in truth a banker from Cornwall who was in prison.”
“He was the duke. He could do as he liked. He already had an heir, so it should not have mattered.” Just as he would marry Louisa no matter the objections from her mother, his sister or anyone else, she would be his.
“He didn’t look at it in that manner.”
“I don’t want to talk about my father when I have a beautiful woman in my arms.” He pulled her on top of him and kissed her softly. “I can think of far better things to do.”
“Oh? Again?” She smiled, flirtatiously at him. “It could not possibly get any better than what happened earlier.”
He laughed softly. “Better and better. I want you to tell me what you want me to do, and how you want me to do it. Never be afraid to speak your mind in the bedroom.”
She glanced down at him and then laughed. “Have I ever been afraid of speaking my mind?”
“Point taken.”
“What about what you want me to do? Will you tell me how I can please you?”
“Absolutely.” He moved his mouth along the line of her jaw until he reached her earlobe. Tracing the shell of her ear, he whispered, “I want you to touch me.”
“As you wish.” She slid off him and then skimmed her hand down his chest, deliberately stopping to circle his nipple. “Can I kiss you here?”
“Yes, please.”
She flicked her tongue across his nipple until he groaned from the pleasure of it. Already his cock was hard and ready for her. As she kissed his chest, her hand reached for him. The soft touch stoked the desire burning in him to an inferno. He clasped her hand and showed how just the lightest touch on his sac send him moaning from the pleasure of it all.
“You are driving me mad, Louisa.” He pulled her back on top of him. “Shall we try a different position?”
“There are more?” she asked with a hint of surprise.
“So many more.”
“Teach me.”
He’d always suspected she would be passionate in bed, but her lack of inhibitions aroused him even further. She showed no shyness at being naked with him, seeming to revel in their nudity.
“I will show you everything,” he said hoarsely as his cock pressed against her moist opening. He leaned forward and caught one perfect rosy nipple in his mouth.
She squirmed against him as he grazed his tongue over the tight bud. Her movements lined him up perfectly, and he lifted her hips enough to enter her. She gasped in surprise and giggled as he fell back on the pillows.
“It’s up to you, love. Take as much or as little of me as you can handle.”
Slowly she eased down on him until her eyes widened. “Oh my,” she whispered.
“Too much?”
“No, so perfect.”
He couldn’t agree more. Being inside Louisa was more perfect than he dared to imagine over the past seven years. Slowly, she began the timeless rhythm as she became accustomed to his size. He couldn’t help but stare at her face as emotions overcame her. Her eyes closed, and her mouth gaped open slightly as her moans of pleasure became more intense. He felt her inner muscles start to quiver and knew she was getting closer. He slid his hand between them and rubbed the sensitive spot in her folds, sending her over the top.