Forbidden: Claude (Second in Command #2)(34)

His eyes fastened to her as she slipped the gown down her shoulders and dropped it. It fell into a purple pool of velvet around her feet.

“My God, you are beautiful,” he whispered, causing her to forget what she wanted to say. The firelight filled the room with an orange glow, and the sound of the snapping logs on the fire added romance to his seductive stare.

“Will you make love to me, Evie?”

Her body trembled at his request. She wanted this more than she had ever wanted anything in her entire life.

“Don’t you want to know who I really am first?” she asked in a whisper, wanting to tell him but not wanting to ruin the moment.

“Nay. I don’t want to talk about lies at this moment. I don’t want to hear anything that will make me want to stop from giving you pleasure as you’ve never felt before.”

It was a promise she wanted him to keep. The heat of desire spiraled through her. She wanted – needed to know how it felt to make love to Sir Claude Montague if it was the last thing she ever did in her life.

She nodded slowly. “I would like that, my lord.”

His hands grabbed for his waist and, in one motion, he’d unfastened his weapon belt and laid it on the floor. Then he kicked off his shoes and removed his doublet and tunic. “Come to me, Evelina,” he said, holding out his hand.

If there was a voice in her head warning her not to do this, she didn’t hear it over the loud pounding of her heart reverberating in her ears. She flung herself into his embrace. Claude smothered her with hungry kisses, sweeping her off her feet.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, kissing him long and hard. This felt right. She was safe and protected in his strong arms. And when he slipped his tongue into her mouth, she felt a tingling between her thighs. His hardened form pressed up against her womanhood right through their clothes.

He fell to the pallet with her atop him, cradling her in his arms. Pushing her shift up and over her head, it left her bare breasts exposed. “You are even lovelier than I’d envisioned,” he said, staring at her breasts. Bringing his mouth to one nipple, he used his tongue and lips to bring her to a rigid peak.

“Oh, Claude,” she cried out, arching her back, feeling so wanton. Like a dirty little secret, acting this way only excited her, making her want him even more. His hands slid down her back, slipping under the top of her braies. His nimble fingers quickly untied them, and he pushed them down her legs, filling his hands with her rounded cheeks.

“God’s eyes, Evie, you are perfect.”

The sound of their heavy breathing filled the room. Evelina felt so hot she thought she was going to combust. Hurriedly slipping her hands around him, she managed to remove his braies as well.

The sight of his engorged manhood made her gasp. Shadows from the firelight danced on his body, and all she could think of was that he was the man she wanted in her life. He was the man she chose to marry and spend the rest of her life with from now on.

“Take me, Claude,” she begged him. “Make me feel the pleasure you promised and do not stop until I cry out in ecstasy.”

That turned his gentle touch to one of urgent, needed passion. He flipped her onto her back, bringing one leg around her, pressing his erection into her and making her cry out in need. As he leaned over, kissing her, his hand slid down her stomach ever so slowly. His fingers found and played with her nether hair and then he slipped one finger between her womanly folds.

“Oh, Claude,” she moaned, lifting her hips to help his finger slide in and out guided by her liquid passion. Her breasts ached to have him suckle her again, so she pulled him to her and thrust her breast into his mouth.

His fingers moved faster as he suckled her nipple, bringing her closer and closer to reaching completion. And then he pulled back, spreading her legs apart, slipping in between them, watching her with hooded eyes.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You could never hurt me, Claude. I am ready for you so please don’t deny me what I have waited for my entire life.”

He slid his weapon of love into her, filling her completely like a sword slipping into a sheath. She heard him moan. When she looked at him, his eyes were closed, and his mouth was partially open. Evelina watched the rise and fall of her breasts as she tried to catch her breath.

Claude moved his hips slowly at first, sliding in and out teasingly, making her want to scream.

“No more teasing, Claude. I need you now. I am so close to my release.”

His actions quickened. He thrust into her again and again, faster and faster as she lifted her hips to welcome him.

She couldn’t get enough of him. She met him over and over in the throes of passion, feeling the vibrations of love bringing her to a precipice that she had never climbed before. Then Claude released his seed with a shout, and the excitement of it brought her to climax as well.

She had never felt so hot in her entire life. Neither had she ever felt so sated and satisfied as she did now.

Claude collapsed next to her on the pallet, holding her up against his chest and kissing her behind the ear.

“That was beyond words,” she told him.

“You are the girl I have been waiting for my entire life,” said Claude.

“Really?” Her heart beat faster. Mayhap, she had found a husband and wouldn’t have to marry the wretched Lord Onfroi after all.

“I think I am falling in love with you, Evelina.” His eyes closed partially, and he looked drained. “Why do I always fall in love with the wrong women?”