Page 38 of Her Sinful Duke

She laughed, eyeing him. “Maybe to hide the fact that you are a true gentleman?”

“Me?” he echoed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. With a playful grin, he rose from his seat, determination evident in his movements. “Oh, but my dear Penelope,” he retorted with mock seriousness, “I fear you’ve underestimated just how ungentlemanly I can be.”

Before she could protest or even react, he swiftly closed the distance between them. With a swift, practiced motion, he scooped her up into his arms, her laughter ringing out like music in the air.

“What on earth are you doing?” she gasped in surprise, giggles bubbling forth uncontrollably as he twirled her around the room, their laughter mingling in a symphony of joy. As they danced and twirled, their movements were anything but gentlemanly and lady-like, and it was exactly how she wanted it to be.

“Proving a point,” he replied through the onslaught of laughter.

As he gently lowered her back to her feet, their breaths mingling in the air between them, a charged silence enveloped them like a warm embrace. Their eyes locked in an unspoken understanding, the intensity of their connection tangible.

In that sizzling moment, James leaned in, his lips capturing Penelope’s in a fervent kiss that seemed to deepen with each passing moment, and Penelope knew this was a kiss that would not end like the others.

CHAPTER19

Being placed on the table, with everything else pushed aside, was the last thing Penelope expected. Plates and glasses clinked all around them as they fell to the ground. But that was the least of her concerns. All she could focus on were James’ lips on hers, demanding everything of her.

Her heart gave a little thump as he pulled away, staring at her with those wild eyes, grinning at her. Slowly, without breaking his gaze, she noticed he was using his fingers to grab the hem of her gown, pulling it upward.

“James…” she whispered, her cheeks flaring up. Her insides were already throbbing from their kiss. Now, she was at his mercy, waiting to see what he would do.

“Shhh,” she heard him say. “Let me pleasure you…”

Her gown pooled around her waist as his knowing touch moved it higher, revealing her thighs and even more embarrassingly, the place between her legs. With his eyes fixed intently on her, she felt a rush of wetness between her thighs, but instead of clamping her thighs together, she relaxed them, as if her own body knew what it needed to do.

His head dipped to hers, and his tongue licked her upper lip, sending thunder bolts of longing through her body. His other hand was caressing her inner thigh, parting her legs even more. She had never sat like this, with air kissing her most intimate flesh in such a carefree manner. Yet, nothing about it felt wrong. How could it when he was gazing at her as if she were the most beautiful thing in the world?

She couldn’t resist moaning softly as his hand traversed higher and higher. The trail his fingers left on her skin felt like a trail of burning fire when suddenly, he lowered himself onto his knees before her. Her eyes widened in shock.

“James, you… you don’t mean to…” But she didn’t have the courage to end her question.

Instead of a response, he looked up at her and grinned. His gaze made her frantic. It made her yearn for his lips and touch more than ever. His head disappeared between her thighs, his tongue gently flicking over her flesh.

“Oh…” she moaned louder, not caring that they were in the dining hall, and anyone might enter at any moment. That fear vanished from her mind. Nothing existed in her thoughts apart from the pleasure that James was giving her.

He licked her softly, slowly, savoring her like a most delectable dessert. The pulses of his tongue were wickedly sinful, perfectly teasing her into more passion. She had no idea that such pleasure was even possible. Heat unfurled from somewhere deep inside of her as he continued licking that deliriously delicate place no one else had touched before him.

His tongue continued to flick faster and faster, his lips sucking her, drawing more pleasure out of her. She closed her eyes for a moment, and all she could hear were the wet sounds his tongue was making against her sensitive flesh. She gave herself up to him completely, grabbing a fistful of his hair, keeping him in place, almost as if he might move before he was allowed to. She surrendered to him and the wild bliss that overtook her, yearning for more.

Inside the confines of her closed eyes, she lost control. It was too much to handle. An explosion of heat raged through her entire body as a million tiny little stars peppered the inside of her mind. Her heart was beating faster and faster, her body tensing, her breath ragged. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was feeling at that moment. A tidal wave of ecstasy crashed against her, taking over every inch of her consciousness, and all she could do was give in to the sensation which came and went in more waves.

When she opened her eyes, James was still on his knees before her, gently kissing the inside of her thighs. She couldn’t find the words to say anything. She was still trembling, her body and mind still burning as if she had a million fireflies inside her, lighting up the way.

“I think I would very much like that as my dessert every evening.” He grinned at her in a way that made her laugh melodiously.

Gently, he got up and lowered her skirt. Apart from a slight blush that lingered on her cheeks, there was nothing that could have revealed the intimate moment they just shared. She looked around at the food and dishes on the floor.

“Goodness,” she exclaimed, feeling a little bad. “What will the servants think?”

He shrugged. “What could they think? They all know we have a clumsy master.”

He helped her sit back into her chair although sitting was difficult. Her entire body was still trembling from the aftermath of that deliriously intoxicating moment. She watched him walk over to a long rope in the corner and tug on it twice.

“I think I am in the mood for some ice cream,” he said mischievously. “All that heat on my tongue needs some balance now.”

“Oh,” she blushed at his words, realizing that he meant it as a compliment.

“I love your heat, Penelope,” he whispered, and at that moment, a knock on the door interrupted them.

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