Page 82 of The Virgin Duchess

Frederick—true partner that he was—simply looked upon her with a striking grin, pulling Charlotte across the small table between them to press his lips to hers. Her mind swam, sinkinginto the depths of their connection from the sensations, and a tiny moan slipped free.

In so quick a time, Charlotte found herself wound up so tightly by the maneuvers her husband was doing, plying her with kisses and caresses, playfully nibbling at her bottom lip. She grinned against his mouth before pulling herself back to catch her breath.

“Please tell me, dearest, that dinner was notallyou had planned for this evening.”

Frederick met her eyes with such intensity and desire that it made Charlotte’s pulse quicken, her thighs pressing together beneath her dress.

“Hardly.” She stood up from her seat, taking Frederick by the hand and dragging him toward their bed. “Though, I am afraid that a change in attire is required.”

His brow cocked up as he smirked, and Frederick held her close as the backs of his legs met the bed.

“Oh, and what would that be?”

Charlotte smiled, lost in the gorgeous, alluring grey of Frederick’s eyes.

“Nothing.”

A rumble left Frederick’s throat, and he hauled her against his chest, crashing his lips down on hers. They danced together in an exquisite tumble of fingers and lips and tongues, and then Frederick slipped back, smiling down at her.

“First things first,” Frederick whispered, then flew away to lock the bedroom door so that they would not be disturbed before returning to her side.

“Now,” he grinned, running his hands along her body, “allow me to assist you with that, darling.”

Charlotte chuckled as Frederick took the sleeves of her dress and guided them down her arms. Together, they worked to slip the uppermost layer of her clothing down her body, leaving Charlotte in her chemise and stays. Frederick began to work the stays free, unlacing and winding fabric from her body.

The chilled air around her skin was such a difference from the heat that had been trapped in her clothing, and she was grateful for the fire in the hearth that kept the room a soothing temperature. Before Frederick could reach for the hem of her chemise, she glided her hands across his chest and unfastened his waistcoat.

“You need to catch up to me, husband.” Charlotte grinned, and the look Frederick returned made her heart patter against her chest. “Though, perhaps you wish to begin with your trousers?”

Frederick cocked a brow, eyeing Charlotte with a deviousness that she had come to love so fondly. And he held her against him,hovering his lips over hers, and he breathed out. The warmth of his breath dusted over her, and Charlotte felt her core clamp down in anticipation.

“I could, dearest,” Frederick mused, brushing his lips to her in a ghost of a kiss, “or you could do it for me.”

Charlotte grinned reaching for the fall of his trousers that concealed the fasteners that held them up. She was gentle and slow about removing the pants from Frederick’s body. As she did, he freed himself of his shirt, pulling it over his head and throwing it somewhere in the room.

“Now, it is you who must catch up.” The words were such a tease, and Frederick wasted no time in gathering up her chemise and bunching the skirt around her hips.

Just as she had Frederick’s trousers undone, Frederick had made it so that all that needed to be done to render her naked was to pull the chemise up over her head. They each did their part, revealing themselves to each other in tandem.

Her sweet husband was quick to take her breast in his hand, bringing her hardening nipple to his mouth and nibbling playfully. Charlotte moaned, her head falling back as she held onto Frederick to prevent herself from tumbling over.

“Mmm,” he whispered against her skin, “you are so much more sweet than the finest fruit, so much more intoxicating than the strongest wine.”

“Frederick…” It came out on a moan. “I have thought of you so often. Worrying about your injuries…I’ve been desperate for this moment.”

“That makes two of us, my love.”

Frederick swept Charlotte up into his arms and settled her on the bed. Guiding her down with his hands, her husband plied her with kisses that wandered down her body. She squirmed beneath him, the sensations both overwhelming and not enough. When he reached the crook of her hip, Frederick eased her thighs apart, then slid his hand up to her breast once more, playing with her as his caresses worked ever closer to her center.

“Oh, God,” she mumbled, her eyes rolling closed. “Yes…please…”

It was a lightning bolt that struck through her when Frederick’s tongue made contact with her. He toyed with her painfully aroused nipple as he explored her thoroughly, dragging the wet, strong muscle between her folds. As he found that sensitive bud at her tip, Frederick closed his lips around it, sucking diligently.

“Ugh!”

Charlotte bucked against him, the intensity already enough to get her right to the edge of climax. Frederick continued his delightful assault, claiming her breast with his fingers as he claimed her center with his mouth. She rocked against his lips, unable to keep her hips still. When Frederick pulled back ever so slightly, she whimpered.

“Already so worked up, dearest. Shall I release you?” He kissed her seam—gently and not enough. “Or shall I have you enduring the build-up?”

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