Page 23 of The Duke's Virgin

But he didn’t deepen the touch. He just leaned in and murmured, “Are you certain, Stacia? This isn’t something you can do over once it’s done. Your first time only happens once.”

I inched closer and wrapped my arms around his neck. Rising on my toes, I pressed my mouth to his. Echoing the way he’d kissed me, I traced my tongue across his lower lip and then teased my way inside. His chest rumbled against mine, and when I pulled back, he caught my hips and pulled me back. “I’m certain, Luka.”

His arms came around me. I hitched out a breath as he hauled me up against him, fully straightening so that my toes left the ground. We were pressed together from chest all the way down to my knees, and my heart banged hard at the contact.

“I guess we’ve settled on the where and the how.”

“What?” Dazed, I stared at him, not certain what he was talking about.

He rubbed his mouth over mine before answering, “Remember? I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted to shove your skirt up and fuck you right up against the door or take you to bed and seduce you slowly.”

My face heated as he stared down at me. “Um…”

“I’ll be taking you to bed. A virgin’s first time shouldn’t be a quick fuck against a door.”

My breath caught yet again as he laid me down. He’d carried me through the suite into the bedroom, and I’d never noticed.

The mattress was soft yet firm underneath me, and I curled my fingers into the silk comforter as he went to his knees in front of me and tugged my shoes off.

Had my skin ever been this sensitive? The brush of his fingers sent electricity coursing through me, and all he’d done was wrap his fingers around my ankles, thumbs soothing the marks left by my strappy sandals.

His gaze slid lazily up over my legs to meet my eyes as he dragged the flats of his palms along the outsides of my legs, and even more sparks of electricity jolted through me. By the time he reached the hem of my skirt, a bright, poppy red that ended a few inches above my knees, I was kneading the silk comforter and squirming restlessly.

If this was seduction, I wasn’t sure I could stand it.

Luka bent down and pressed his lips to my right knee.

“You have the prettiest, sexiest legs. And your skin is so, so soft,” he murmured, his lips feathering over my flesh before he lifted and transferred his attention to my other leg. He tugged me to my feet, and I shivered as he reached around and freed the hidden zipper.

He tugged the stretchy, narrow-fitting skirt down, leaving me clad in my panties, bra, and blouse. Then it was just the bra and panties, both a shimmery red that echoed the shade of my skirt. I had to fight the instinctive urge to cross my arms over my chest.

Luka straightened in front of me, that hungry look darkening his eyes again while his lids drooped low and his mouth parted. He took a step back, staring at me, tongue stroking over his lower lip.

“I don’t think I’ve done you credit. You’re not just the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. I think you may well be the sexiest woman ever created.” Under his heavy lids, his eyes glittered as he slowly shifted his gaze back to mine.

A nervous giggle bubbled up in my throat, but I managed to swallow it down. It would be silly to argue when he was complimenting me, wouldn’t it? Even if it was just in-the-moment flattery, it made me feel good.

The thought was still forming when he closed the distance between us and caught my face in his hands. My breath hitched as he tunneled his fingers into my hair and used his hold to arch my head back, angling me for the possession of his mouth. His lips crashed into mine, the kiss hungry and devouring. All-consuming.

In the back of my mind, I found myself wondering if maybe his words were a little bit more than just flattery.

I moaned and pushed more fully against him. Luka muttered against my mouth, and one hand slid from my scalp to my neck, then lower, seeking out the strapless bra. I felt it give way but was so caught up in his kiss, I didn’t give it more than a second’s thought, even when he stroked his fingers down my naked spine.

He broke the kiss and started on a path down my neck, his lips marking his progress. His arm, now at my waist, banded me against him, and I whimpered at the feel of his cock pressed into me.

His mouth closed around one nipple, and I jerked in reaction, the feel sending startling jolts of pleasure all the way to where that empty, aching void between my thighs had started to pulse.

His teeth scraped over me.

I moaned and wiggled against him. He grunted and caught my hip, urging me to follow his lead as he pushed his thigh between mine. Soon, I was riding the hard, solid muscle while he licked and bit at my nipple. Need gathered in my core, tightening my muscles and sending echoing pangs through my body. Clutching at his shoulders, I rocked harder and faster.

Luka muttered something against my skin that I couldn’t make out, but I didn’t care. I was too caught up in the sensations bombarding me, from between my thighs where I was already so wet, to my right nipple where he sucked and licked and bit, to my left, where he tugged and teased and stroked.

The orgasm hit hard, knocking me under unexpectedly as shocked, broken sounds escaped my throat.

When it ended, I was on my back with Luka bending over me.

My eyes cleared just enough to focus on him before he kissed me, tender and sweet and gentle.

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