Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(63)

He crossed the room in two long strides, his arms reaching for her and pulling her tight against his chest as his lips found the bounty he’d been dying to taste all evening. Her soft lips moved under his, and when they parted to give him entrance, his knees almost buckled.

The kiss was hard, possessive, showing her that she belonged to him. Only him.

Finally she tore her mouth from his.

“You must have known I’d never choose David.”

His heart took flight. “And here I thought you were an intelligent girl.”

“Then why are you here?”

He bent down and tenderly kissed her lips. “I can’t run anymore. I’m so sick of denying my need for you.” He grimaced, not believing how easily he’d folded. The future, and the world beyond finding her father, beyond seeking his vengeance, dissolved, along with his resistance. Years of resistance, wasted years.

To deny his attraction for her had been futile from the start. The power she had over him was frightening. He belonged to this girl, body and soul, and he knew it. He could no longer refute his turbulent need for her.

And thank God, for whatever reasons, regardless of his continued remoteness and cold treatment of her, she’d chosen him. His whole body was trembling, he’d never experienced such driving need, he was only just holding on, one minute more and he’d devour her. He swallowed hard.

“You know I will still go after Murad. This night, and our wedding, will not change that.”

“I haven’t said that I will marry you.” She cupped his cheek with her hand. “If my father can be found and Fredrick caught, I need not marry anyone.”

“Then I must let you be.” As he turned to go she grabbed his arm. “Hestia, don’t play with me. If you want me in your bed tonight you must agree to marriage. You’ll get hurt otherwise.” He placed his hand on her stomach. “What if you get with child?”

“You said that would be unlikely.”

He stood undecided, his need burning like a hot poker in his gut.

She dropped his arm and stepped back. “Your need to do what’s right, to be kind, gentle, and honorable, are all the reasons I fell in love with you. I know you will go for Murad because you made a promise to a woman you cared for. I know you will marry me because you think you’ve behaved dishonorably toward me. But I chose to go into your bed. I knew you did not really understand I was there. You owe me nothing.”

Alex’s heart beat swiftly as he stood breathing heavily in the small cabin, Hestia’s scent filling his nostrils. My darling, brave girl, you should push me away, not encourage me.

Holding his gaze she began to pull at the small ties on the front of her nightdress. “Don’t ask me to stop, Alex. I want this night even more than you do. It may be the last time I ever make love. For you are the only man I will ever love.” On those words the last tie came undone and the white linen slid down her curves.

His chest hurt as he slid his hand behind Hestia’s loose flowing hair and pulled her into a kiss.

The heat from her mouth matched the scorching of his hands as they slid over her smooth, silky skin. Naked in his arms she felt like heaven.

Hestia’s kiss was desperate, her lips parting his to allow her tongue to conquer his mouth.

Any thought of stopping, of walking out of this cabin, fled with his building need to devour her.

He swept her up in his arms and carefully laid her on the small bunk. His would have been preferable. “You should have come to my room,” he all but growled.

She smiled up at him. “I think the bunk is perfect. You’ll be close to me.”

Close? Very soon he would be closer than any man would ever be to her. “Just be careful of my side, since it’s so cozy.”

Her smile dimmed. “I’ll try to remember, but when you touch me I lose my mind.”

His eyes never left her delectable body as he hurriedly undressed and his desire spiraled higher as he noted her hungry gaze.

Once naked he stood looking down at her. Like the fiery woman she was, she did not look abashed. Instead, her eyes traveled boldly over him. Lingering looks at his groin saw him harden further.

She rose up on one elbow. “It’s not the first time I’ve been able to study the beauty of you, but I must admit the experience is far more titillating when you are awake,” she said, and crooked her finger.

He knelt down on the bed and loomed over her in all his natural glory. His heated gaze ignited need deep in her belly and she swore his eyes were like a touch, tracing over her sensitized skin.

Slowly, so he followed her movements, she opened her thighs wide. His moan made her heart soar. “You are so lovely,” he whispered against the skin of her inner thigh.

The reward for her bravery was the gaze he sent her. He looked at her womanhood with such desire. Hestia had never felt so beautiful—exposed, but beautiful.

His fingers stroked her belly, and shivers wracked her. When he finally delved between her thighs it was her turn to moan, and her head sank into the soft pillow.

At the first lick of his tongue she had to close her eyes against the pleasure he drew forth. Alex was setting her body alight with a delicious, all-consuming fire, and never in her life had she wanted so much to be burned. He expertly toyed with her stiff little bud, rubbing and pinching—the pleasure mixed with pain. She opened her legs wider still, lifted up to meet his clever fingers and tongue, desperate for more sensations.