What the Duke Wants(67)
“I can walk,” Carlotta murmured against his neck, as she buried her head there in a decidedly contented fashion.
“No, not fast enough.”
“Impatient?”
“You have no idea, and I actually think I have been quite patient! Any other woman would have been proposing to me at my first blink in their direction! You, I had to chase across half of England.”
“How trying for you.”
“Indeed. But lucky for you, I find you worth the effort.”
Carlotta laughed, a deeply seductive sound that made him increase his pace, and not a moment too soon, they entered his room. He set her down, kissed her quickly and then turned and locked the door. And for good measure, he put a chair in front too.
Nothing was going to interrupt him.
Nothing was going to interrupt this.
****
Slowly, with measured grace he circled her, his eyes roaming every inch, setting her on fire with his gaze alone. Wherever his gaze landed felt like a fiery touch, igniting a passion within her that she didn’t know existed.
And she suspected it was only the beginning.
Mercy.
His eyes, so light and mischievous usually, smoldered with blue fire. With one deliberate step after another, he slowly strode towards her, his gaze never leaving hers, freezing her in place as she waited, breathless for whatever happened next.
Because honestly, she hadn’t much of a clue as to what happened next. She knew it was intimate, she knew a few basic particulars, but beyond that? Nothing. Yet she didn’t feel fear or even embarrassment at her lack of knowledge, rather an anticipation for her very thorough education.
Because the duke, Charles, was nothing if not thorough.
She inhaled deeply, letting the moment overcome all other senses. Closing her eyes, she waited. A moment before his lips caressed hers ever so gently, she felt his warmth against her skin, heating her without even a touch. Tenderly, he traced the seam of her lips till she opened them, welcoming his caressing tongue as he began the dance, one she could only follow as he led.
Pressing for more, she leaned into him, demanding more of his kiss, but he didn’t give in to her demands, he backed away.
“No love, the anticipation, it is part of the glory, and possibly the most important part,” he whispered against her lips then nibbled them wickedly.
“Anticipation?”
“Yes…” he murmured then bowed to kiss the curve of her jaw.
Her eyes closed in passion and all she could hear was the sound of her heart, the sound of his breathing.
His very measured breathing against the gasps of her own.
“Why aren’t you as affected?” she lowered her chin to meet his gaze, insecurity slithering into her heart like black ink.
“Not affected?” His eyes widened and he took a step back. “Every inch of me is demanding I take you without even the slightest or smallest precursor to lovemaking. Your name is a litany in my mind, whispered by my heart every time it beats. The fact that I’m wanting to make this the most amazing…” He kissed her neck once more. “…blissful, reverent, and erotic experience you’ll ever have… until the next time… and the time after that till I’m too old to see straight.” He chuckled against her skin, inhaling deeply. “I want to remember every moment, every scent that I inhale off your fragrant and flushed skin. I’m far more affected than I might seem because if I even allow the slightest lapse in my self-control, this will be over before I even have a chance to begin.
“I’ve made my share of mistakes, Carlotta. This will not, be one of them. I’m not simply making love to you, I’m giving you everything I am.” He murmured against her skin, his hands caressing her shoulders and pausing at the ribbons of her dress, unlacing it. A moment later, it pooled at her feet in a heap of lavender silk. The warmth from his hands saturated her soul, melting her into a world where nothing apart from him existed. Kissing her neck his hands wound around her back, deftly undoing each button until none remained. Her skin was feverish, overly warm yet she trembled, never having been so exposed to another person.
And she was still in her underpinnings.
Softly, he tugged, unlaced, and removed every last barrier. His touch was methodical, possessive and like sparks causing her body to ignite in a delicious fever. Once finished, he reached down lacing his fingers within hers, gripping them tightly as he slowly let his gaze travel down, stepping back he took her in, completely bare.
The embarrassment that she anticipated in such an intimacy never surfaced. Rather she found that she felt bolder. Stronger. Like she had faced her greatest fear and realized it was never a fear to begin with. Taking a deep breath, she smiled and lifted their interlaced hands… and spun slowly, like a dance. His gasp caused her to smile, a knowing smile that only a woman as desired, as loved as she could ever experience. With their hands still raised, he released her hand and trailed his caress down her arms, flowing over her most sensitive areas and resting on her stomach. He pressed into her belly till she stepped back and she was flush against him. Her eyes drifted closed.
“I love you,” he whispered as he kissed her neck. “But I do believe I’m reaching my limits…”
“Oh?”
“Hmm,” he murmured against her skin as his hands roamed her hips, squeezing them and rubbing his jaw against the curve of her shoulder.