Page 71 of A Duchess Disciplined

She beamed at him, and his heart seemed to skip a beat. It was late, and aside from Geoffrey, they were the only ones awake. He cupped Catherine’s face between his hands and kissed her deeply. Her body was warm and pliant, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him close. As William kissed her, he inhaled Catherine’s sweet scent. She smelled of rose oil and lavender mixed with the many flowers in Lady Beckingworth’s garden.

He broke the kiss, and she stared at him with wide eyes. Catherine’s lips were swollen and slightly parted, and a little thrill rushed through him at how ready she looked to be ravished.

“Shall we go to the bedchamber?” he asked.

“Oh, yes!”

William put a hand between her shoulder blades and bent over, so he could sweep an arm beneath her knees. He lifted her up, and she gasped in delight. She was as light as feather, and he easily carried her up the stairs. Catherine was so warm and pleasant, so eager for him.

“Once we reach the room,” he said in a low voice, “I am going to tear that gown from you, and I am going to kiss every inch of you. I noticed how many men were gazing at you today.”

Catherine’s breath audibly hitched. “I do not know what you mean.”

“I do not believe that somehow, but regardless of whether you know or not, no other man will see you like I do.”

“No,” she agreed.

He quickened his pace, as best as he could with Catherine held in his arms. William knew her body well. He had already gazed at her so much and touched her so often. Once they reached his room, he nudged open the door with his foot. He crossed the sitting room and entered the bedchamber. William promptly deposited Catherine on the bed and seized the skirts of her gown.

He hitched them up past her thighs. Catherine lifted herself onto her knees, so he could pull her gown over her head. William untied her stays, working the laces so quickly with his fingers that they nearly tore. Catherine’s breasts heaved and strained, and his blood warmed with the sight. “So beautiful,” he murmured, placing a kiss on each breast.

He tore the stays from her and cupped her breasts. Catherine moaned and put her hands on his shoulders. William worked her breasts between his hands, enjoying their weight in his palms. His thumbs rubbed rough, quick circles over her nipples. They grew to hard peaks before his very eyes, and color rose to Catherine’s face.

“Oh, please!” she exclaimed.

“Whatever you want,” he growled.

He tore away her petticoats and chemise, and she was naked on her knees before him. With feverish need, William kissed her everywhere—her jaw, her throat, her breasts, her stomach. He worked a path down to her core, trailing hot kisses. Catherine groaned and dug her nails into his shoulders.

She writhed and bucked and twisted, like a woman out of control. He sensed the pleasure growing within her and marveled at how readily she reacted to his touch. William’s trousers grew tighter, his member growing hard at the sight of his wife, entirely nude.

He flicked his thumb over her pearl, and she bucked, urging him to touch her there. “Please,” she said, tossing her head back. “Oh,please.”

William traced hard circles around her core before dipping his finger between her delicate folds. He found her already damp with desire. “Look at you,” he said. “You are always so very ready for me. What a good, attentive wife you are.”

Catherine groaned. “I will be the best wife in the world if you keep doing this.”

“I intend to,” he said.

He slipped a finger inside her, and Catherine’s inner walls clamped around the digit. She rocked her hips, bringing herself down hard on him. William grinned. He ceased his movements, but she quickened her pace. Catherine brought herself up and down on him, her thighs clenching as she sought to find her release.

William grinned, watching as her face grew as red as a rose. Her curls bounced around her face, as sweat began to dot her brow. “Oh, please! Please, I am so close!”

Perfect.

He withdrew his finger, and Catherine emitted a small, need-filled wail. She gazed at him with a dazed and desperate look. “Please,” she begged. “Please, I was so close.”

William slowly removed his jacket, while she gazed at him with wide eyes. He tossed the garment on the floor, followed by his waistcoat. Catherine gulped. William removed his shirt next, giving her a long moment to take in his appearance.

His manhood ached insistently, and William feared that he would spend in his trousers if he did not sheath himself inside her. He unfastened his trousers, and his manhood sprang forth, already hard and nearly weeping.

“Is this what you need?” he asked. “My manhood in your tight passage.”

She squeezed her thighs together and nodded. William smiled and stroked himself, shivering as the pleasure began to curl in his abdomen.

“Yes, I want you inside me,” she said.

He quickened his strokes, groaning as the pleasure grew. Catherine inhaled sharply and watched him. William could tell that the pleasure was beginning to take hold of her, too. She could not remain still on the bed. Instead, she kept shifting on the bedlinens. Her hips and thighs bucked and quivered.

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