The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(91)

Tears pricked behind Lucy’s eyes.

He lifted her tenderly, easily, and carried her over to the sofa. He laid her down so reverently. “Lucy,” he whispered as he covered her with his huge hot body. “I love you.”

He thrust into her again in one sure solid movement and she arched her back off the sofa. He leaned down and sucked her breast into his mouth, playing with her, toying with her. He thrust again. “I want you.” He thrust again. “So. Damn. Badly.”

Lucy was completely mindless. Her fingers tangled in his dark hair, her mouth open and red and raw from his fierce kisses. She’d been a bit tender when he’d first entered her but that was long forgotten now with all the overwhelming feelings he was stoking in her body. He plowed into her again and again and that, combined with the force of his hot wet mouth sucking on her nipple, made her groan. She was so close, so close. And he knew it.

He gave her a devilish grin and pulled out of her. “No!” she cried this time reaching for him, tugging on him, trying to force him back inside her by wrapping her leg around his back. Instead he let his wicked hand slide down to the juncture of her thighs, where he slipped one hot finger inside of her. Lucy’s head rolled back on the cushion. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Never, my love. I just want to give you the most amazing feeling of your life.”

“You already have,” she breathed.

“To date,” he said wickedly, just before he slipped his finger back inside her. His dark head moved back to her breast, tugging relentlessly with his teeth. Once, twice, matching the rhythm of his finger. He stroked her again, again, while his tormenting mouth kept up its pressure on her helpless breast. Then his thumb found that perfect spot between her legs and he rubbed it in a circle just as his mouth tugged for a final time on her swollen, aching breast.

“Oh, God, Derek!” she cried as the wave of her orgasm crashed over her with a force that tore a scream from her chest. He rolled onto her quickly and slid inside her, her internal muscles climaxing, flexing. He thrust into her one, two, three times, gritting his teeth as her hot wet warmth milked him and he exploded in the most intense release of his entire life.

*

They snuck out of the drawing room. Derek had put his clothing back on and been on the lookout for servants. Lucy had tossed on her shift and said a little prayer that they’d make it up the staircase and down the long corridor to Derek’s bedchamber without being caught. But truthfully she didn’t care. All she cared about was this man, her love, the way he made her feel, the way she hoped she made him feel, and the amazing fact that they’d found each other and were going to be married. Married. She still couldn’t believe that. Even though she said it over and over in her head, it started to sound made up, as if it had no meaning. But she repeated it nonetheless.

They made it safely to his bedchamber. Derek quickly locked the door behind them, then scooped Lucy into his arms and carried her over to the bed where he laid her gently. She pushed up onto her knees and pulled her shift over her head. Derek quickly shucked all of his clothing again and soon they were rolling around, giggling and laughing and kissing and then, seriously, making love.

“I’ll never get enough of you,” Derek whispered into her hair after they finished.

Lucy propped herself up against the pillows, the sheet pulled up under her arms. Derek situated himself next to her.

“So tell me, Duke of Decisive, when did you know for certain you loved me?”

Derek braced both hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling, a grin on his handsome face. “Let’s see. I believe it was right around the time when I realized that thinking of another man’s hands touching you made me want to tear the chap limb from limb.”

Lucy widened her eyes. “Truly?”

“Yes, when I saw Berkeley helping you into your coach at the theater, I wanted to kill him.”

Lucy shook her head. “Like the time you punched the tree?”

“Yes,” he growled. “Exactly like the time I punched the tree.”

She laughed. “And your murderous thoughts translated into love?”

Derek turned to brace himself up on one elbow and stare at her. He pushed a curl behind her ear. “I knew it because I remember thinking that if I married Cassandra, I wouldn’t mind who she consorted with.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s amazing to me that you love me.”

He traced her cheekbone with the tip of his finger. “Why would you say that?”

She pulled up the covers to her neck. “You could have had Cass. Cass is so perfect and pretty and well put together. She’s demure and sweet and never says anything rude or cross or offensive. Me? I’m quirky. My eyes are two different colors and my hair is too curly and completely unmanageable and when I blow my nose I sound like a goose.”

“A goose?”

“Yes. Did you know when Cass blows her nose, you can barely tell?”

He pulled her into his arms. “Apparently, I like ladies who are rude and cross and offensive.” He smiled at her. “Until I met you, I’d never met anyone, let alone a female, who stood up to me the way you did, who challenged me. It was quite a new experience for me, I have to say.”

She smiled against his shoulder. “It was?”