Page 71 of A Duchess to Reclaim

“More,” she pleaded, burrowing her fingers into his thick hair, and a deep moan poured from Dominic’s chest in response.

“Anything,” he whispered, hiking her legs higher on his waist, “Anything you want.”

Just the simple act of him tilting her hips gave him deeper access, and they both gasped at the new blooming pleasure. Her hand traveled from his hair to his back, where she raked her nails down his spine and toward his chiseled backside. When she tightened her fingernails there Dominic gave another powerful thrust and he once more said her name in a trembling, need-filled voice.

She had wanted this, had all but begged for it. But now that she felt this insurmountable pleasure rising within her, she began to feel her heart break even more. How was she going to live without him this close?

She shook her head, not wanting to think of the unavoidable loss, and leaned up to kiss him. Dominic responded immediately, opening his mouth and letting her tongue go wherever she wished it as his thrusts grew faster and more powerful.

“Dominic,” she gasped, breaking away from his kiss when the pleasure became too much. She tossed her head back into the pillows, her toes curling as that great wave steadily rose.

“Wait,” he commanded, moving faster, “Wait for me, my vixen. We go together.”

Amelia whimpered then bit her bottom lip, trying desperately to control the rising intensity with an ever-weakening grip. Then, just when she was about to lose it all she felt Dominic’s manhood harden and swell even more, and the wordnowripped from his lips.

She let out a gasp, followed quickly by a deep moan as she let go. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed into her womb as she felt her release and his at the same time. They pulsed together as he pressed his forehead against hers, her womanhood squeezing and suckling him tight as he spilled his seed within her.

Their breathing heavy, bodies slick with sweat, they remained locked together and trembling for several long moments. In the still silence she felt and heard her own heartbeat, followed by a thrum of a deeper bass. It was then she realized it was Dominic’s, beating in time with her own.

* * *

The sun was coming up. Breaking away the dark gray clouds with shards of purple and yellow. And yet they didn’t move. Dominic wondered if either of them had blinked or even breathed after they finally stopped making love.

Their first time had been a revelation, but it had awoken even more desire for another, and he had spent the better part of the darkened morning hours buried deep inside of her; listening and feeding off of her sounds of ecstasy.

Now they laid together on their sides facing another, Amelia’s head resting on his arm with her leg thrown over hip. Their eyes hadn’t left another; even as the night faded away into morning. He was exhausted, and he could tell by the small, dark circles under Amelia’s honey brown eyes and her blurry gaze that she was too. But he couldn’t sleep, and it was obvious that neither could she.

They hadn’t spoken yet. About what they’d just shared or what he was about to do; but in that silence he still heard everything. His doubts. Her own. The questions of their future. And there was a mourning of sorts; one he continuously pushed away for if he lingered on it too long; it would swallow him whole.

She knew him.Trulyknew him. Like no other woman did or ever would. And she accepted him and his incapabilities when it came to certain forms of human emotion.

Amelia drew in a deep breath, her head lolling slightly. It was just enough motion to allow a wild curl to tumble over her eyes. He reached up immediately, brushing it away with his fingertips. The moment he touched her flesh pleasure sparked through him, and he drew his thumb over her cheek, her lips, then opened his palm and flexed his fingers around her throat.

She gasped lightly at his touch; instantly awakening the arousal they had only recently been able to put to sleep.

Stay.A voice whispered in his mind.

Hurt laced through his heart at the thought, and he forced himself to withdraw his touch.

“You should get some sleep,” he whispered.

He tried to keep his hand at his side but within seconds he was touching her again, running gentle fingertips over her arm, down her hip.

“So should you,” she murmured, her tone sleepy.

She then reached out to touch his face, tracing her thumb delicately over the hollows under his eyes that matched hers, then cupped her palm to his jaw. Unable to help himself, he turned into her touch and placed a kiss in her palm.

“Our work here is done,” he told her, bringing his hand up to cover hers. “You don’t need to stay in London any longer. Take the girls and go back to Ellsworth. It’s yours. As are my accounts. Build one hundred aviaries if you wish. Buy the girls anything their hearts desire. Spoil them rotten. Spoil yourself.”

Pain flashed in Amelia’s eyes at his words, but she nodded.

“What shall you do?” She asked. “Are you going abroad again?”

Dominic shook his head.

“I will remain here. Along with handling other business, I will make sure your father doesn’t try any more extreme measures to make a profit.”

Felton Hollowcroft was satisfied with the deal Dominic had struck now, but men like him were never truly able to grasp the concept of building wealth. The next time he ran out of money, Dominic wanted to be able to make sure that he wouldn’t go after Amelia or his other daughters again.

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