Page 37 of My Dark Duke

“Return in the morning,” Sebastian whispered to Higgins, who had just climbed down from his perch at the back of the carriage.

The young lad nodded discreetly and disappeared without a word.

Sebastian took Mary’s hand and led her up the steps to the door, which he rapped upon loudly. It was opened within a minute, by a young lad in dark clothing - the lad Polly had hired, no doubt.

Sebastian offered him a curt nod, but did not deign to exchange any pleasantries. Instead, he led Mary by the hand toward the staircase, lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

When they reached the bedchamber, he set Mary down, his breath strained from exertion and lust. She stood pliantly, watching him with her emerald green eyes.

There was trust there, a trust Sebastian did not feel he truly deserved. He hesitated, pondering if this was the time to act on his conscience, but she reached out to him first.

Her hand grabbed onto his shirt and she tugged him towards her. She was as unwilling to break the spell of desire as he.

Her signal was all Sebastian required to lose control completely. With a growl, he captured her mouth in another kiss, as his hands worked furiously to remove her clothing.

She too was busy; frantically trying to work his shirt out from his breeches, and to undo the many pearl buttons of his waistcoat. They fumbled and bumbled, in urgent passion, until Sebastian finally lost patience.

“One moment,” he whispered, breaking apart from her.

He spun her around, so that her back was to him, and with expert hands began to undo the buttons of her dress. Sebastian kissed each patch of skin as it was revealed, and once the offending garment was loose enough, pulled it down past her hips.

Her undergarments were of a higher quality than those she had worn on their first night together, but Sebastian had no time to admire their silk and lace intricacy. He undid her stays, lifted her chemise above her head, then pulled the ribbon tie of her petticoats open, so they fell to the floor with a sigh.

“Your drawers,” he commanded, as his hands began to work on the tight knot of his cravat. As she slid them from her hips, Sebastian busily undressed himself. Coat, waistcoat, shirt, then his boots, until finally he was left in only his breeches.

He felt her curious eyes upon him and hid a smile. She had never seen a man in all his nakedness, nor the male appendage. Perhaps, he mused, it might be best to reveal it slowly, so as not to frighten her.

He crossed the divide between them in two long strides and pulled her once more into his embrace. He shivered, as her hands explored his abdomen. Her touch was tentative and light as she stroked his skin, though her innocence was far more alluring than any practiced touch he had felt.

His own hands reached for her peach bottom, pulling her against him, so that his hardness was pressed against the softness of her belly. His desire roared loudly in his ears; so close, yet not close enough.

“We’re far too vertical for my liking,” Sebastian commented, before lifting her into his arms and depositing her on the bed.

“And I am far too clothed,” he added, as he undid the buttons of his breeches.

Her eyes followed him, as he slipped them from his hips, wide with nerves and excitement. Sebastian could not help but feel a surge of masculine pleasure, as she gasped when his manhood sprang forth.

“I was not expecting it…” she said, apologetically.

“Yes?” Sebastian raised a brow, wondering if he was about to be issued a soul-crushing set down.

“To be so big,” she finished, nervously glancing at him to see if he had found insult in her remark.

He preened a little, for though a duke, he was still a man. “It will fit,” he assured her, as he padded across the carpet to the bed.

His words soothed her nerves somewhat, though he could tell she was still nervous. She would have to be relaxed, if her body was to receive him, he realised.

Sebastian lowered himself onto the bed, so that she was trapped beneath him. He kissed her again, slowly and sensuously, before moving from her mouth to her neck, right down to her swollen breasts.

He captured one nipple in his mouth and with his free hand, he gently teased the other. Mary’s hips bucked, as she gasped with pleasure. His hand then fell to her womanhood, stroking the mound of auburn curls which guarded it.

As he suckled on her nipple, he nudged her legs apart, his fingers gently stroking her silky lips. They were slick with desire and temptingly warm, though Sebastian did not dare take yet.

She needed to be pleading for release, before he slipped inside her.

His fingers found her pearly nub, swollen with need and longing. She gasped as he slowly stroked it, tracing a circle around its mound. His fingers coated with her wetness pressed harder, assessing what level of friction she desired. Once he had discovered it, he increased his speed, stroking her clit until her hips bucked in wild abandon.

“Please, Sebastian,” she whimpered.

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