Page 44 of The Duke and the Scarred Bride

“You feel heavenly.”

Why he had to keep saying such damning words, she would never know.

She writhed, uncertain of the unfamiliar terrain they were traversing even as she felt pleasure build low in her belly. Her fingers dug into his hair when he nipped her pearl even as his fingers moved in and out of her.

“Please,” she begged.

But she didn’t know what she was begging for—she could barely hold back the sounds escaping her throat. The whole house must have been aware of what they were doing, but she didn’t care. It was increasingly difficult to make any rational decision, with him exploring her body so intimately.

The ball of pleasure in her belly grew and grew till she was clawing at his shoulders, and then the world exploded in a vision of white so bright that she thought perhaps she had died of pleasure. There was nothing but silence and a blissful feeling, as if she was floating.

She didn’t know how long she remained there, but when she finally remembered with whom and where she was, her body spasmed and jerked, and she wondered if this was how it always was between a man and a woman.

She flushed as she recalled where his mouth had been and what his hands had done to her, but she couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. There was still a void that needed to be filled, and she wondered if he would perhaps do it.

She opened one eye, stealing a glance at him, and was surprised to see him lying next to her so casually. He had one arm wrapped around her, the other over his eyes, and he looked in no hurry to move. She frowned, lowering her head back to his chest. She closed her eyes again, relishing the aftershocks of her climax.

That can’t be all, can it?

He hadn’t even undressed.

She couldn’t even ask the question, as she worried she would dampen the mood. Her eyes were still too heavy to open, and her legs felt like jelly. If she tried to stand up now, she would surely fall.

She smiled to herself, recalling how he had pleasured her, and she couldn’t help but wish he would do it again. Her sisters’ words hadn’t been enough to describe just how wonderful intimacy between a man and a woman was.

She sincerely hoped that what had happened would thaw the ice wall her husband was hell-bent on keeping between them because now that she had experienced pleasure at his hand, she knew there was no going back.

“You should get back to your chambers,” he announced suddenly, shocking her.

Her eyes shot open, and she realized she would have likely fallen asleep if he hadn’t spoken. She scrambled off him and righted her nightgown, feeling ashamed by how exposed she had been.

“Pardon?” she asked once she was covered, wondering if she heard wrong.

“You should head back to your chambers now,” he repeated tonelessly. “It is getting late.”

She nodded and rose from the cot, stumbling a little but then steadying herself on still wobbly legs. She was surprised that he led the way but said nothing. Perhaps there was still hope.

She was careful as they went down the dilapidated stairs, and she realized that she was indeed lucky she hadn’t hurt herself in her bid to find him.

When they finally stood outside her door, she turned to him.

“Will you be sleeping here?” she asked, smiling up at him shyly. “I do not know if my bed is big enough to?—”

“I won’t be joining you tonight or ever.”

She frowned, wrapping her arms around herself. “May I ask why?” she asked. “Did I do something wrong? Did I not… Did I not please you?”

“This was a mistake. It should have never happened,” he told her, not looking the least bit remorseful. “I took advantage of your innocence, and I am sorry. I hope you find it in yourself to forgive me for breaching our agreement.”

“You didn’t breach it. I gave my permission.”

“Have a good night.”

“We are not done talking.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Perc—”

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