Page 53 of A Duchess to Unravel
Theo’s eyes flooded with relief as he felt her body relax into him.
“You thought of me?” She whispered.
“How could I not?” Alistair asked, soothing both hands now up and down her waist, her hips hungry for the feel of her. “Your body is beautifully sensitive to my touch, little kitten, and has my entire body on edge at any given moment, has me wondering when you will be ready for your next lesson.”
He smiled devilishly then added, “Especially when you make me angry.”
Theo’s kiss was sudden and fierce. She yanked at the collar of his shirt, pulling him down to her height. Alistair quickly took the control from her, sweeping her off the floor and taking over the kiss by forcing her to take his tongue. He felt her shiver as he dominated her, and satisfaction filled him.
“I’m ready,” she whispered between kisses. “Give me my next lesson.”
Resting on his side, Alistair’s fingertips brushed along the taut peak of Theo’s nipple. He swirled his thumb around the perfectly pink bud, then cupped the buttery soft underside of her breast; squeezing gently. He watched, fascinated as Theo’s chest rose with a sharp intake of breath. Her eyes still closed, she murmured something he couldn’t quite make out, then sighed.
He was rewarded with a throaty whimper when he slid his hand to her other breast, giving it equal attention. Alistair dipped his head, slowly, as if he had all the time in the world and drew her free nipple into his mouth as he thumbed the other. Theo’s reaction was instant. Her whimper transformed into a needy moan as her spine arched away from his bed, away from his side, and he felt her thigh brush against his still throbbing manhood.
Just the small touch sent painful shards of need shooting to his loin, and he had to fight and swallow the moan attempting to break from his own lips. Alistair had been fiercer than intended with his lesson. His arousal and want to teach her had clashed with the residual anger he’d felt over her display at dinner, and his ministrations had all come with an edge of sharpness.
Still, she’d shattered for him. Twice. Now as she lay sprawled out before him, drowsy and delightfully naked from his intensity, he was prepared to make her shatter a third time in a much gentler fashion. Just as soon as he was done drinking in the sight of her.
Alistair raked his eyes down Theo’s body yet again. Greed, strange and new, sparking within him. Her discarded gown, undergarments, and corset lay somewhere on his floor, long forgotten by both of them. She didn’t need it. With the heat of hisbody and flames roaring in his fireplace, Theo hadn’t shivered from the coldness of the castle once.
He’d reveled in the art of getting her out of her clothing. Had removed each article with teasingly slow fingertips, followed by trailing kisses that had her panting and trembling by the time he’d finished. She’d whispered his name in pleading tones before he’d even lavished attention on her breasts or pulsing sex, and when he’d finally gotten to them, she’d unraveled almost immediately. It was only when he’d had her begging, did he release his feral side, and she hadwelcomedthat side of hm.
Which had him wondering … had she been as pent up as he had? Had she been longing for his touch just has he had been longing to touch her? The very idea pleased him greatly.
Alistair lifted his head from her breast, smoothed his hand up the soft swell and toward her throat. He let his fingertips dance around her collarbone, circle the small dip just below her throat. Then he circled his hand around the thin column of her neck and squeezed lightly. Her pulse beat rhythmically into his palm, just above his wrist where his own pulse began to beat in time with hers.
For a moment, their matching heartbeat had him smiling, content. Then he frowned, realizing that it was a romantic notion to enjoy such a thing. He enjoyed pleasure. Specifically, enjoyed giving it. He loved the way it gave him control, the way it caused the person he was with to plead for more and often offer to do whatever he wished in order to get more. He did not,however, enjoy being on such equal grounds that would cause him to enjoy a shared heartbeat.
Alistair slipped his hand away from Theo’s throat, wanting to get away from such thoughts. He let his touch travel back down over her breasts once more, then toward her ribcage and again, he stopped. Raising himself further up on his elbow, Alistair stared down at Theo, glancing once at her still-closed eyes before letting his gaze drop back down to her thinning waist. She was so small that half of her ribcage was taken up by his hand; and he could feel each individual bone.
“Why are ye not eating, Theo?”
Theo’s relaxed, supine body went rigid as her eyes flew open. She looked at him with pure betrayal and moved to get up. All it took was a simple flex of Alistair’s muscles to prevent the movement, and he gave her a look that had her frozen in place.
“Answer the question, Theo.”
His tone held no malice, but he made it clear that he was not letting her up without an answer.
“I am fine.” She replied, a bite to her tone.
“Not if you are starving yourself,” Alistair countered.
Her eyes swept down her body, and she scowled.
“You had no issues with my body when it was dressed. Is seeing me bare so awful?”
Alistair’s eyes narrowed.
“That is not the point I am making and ye know it,” he replied.
She reached for one of the rumpled sheets, as if trying to cover herself, and Alistair caught her wrist.
“Enough,” he commanded. “I have always been attracted to your figure. Ye know that. It is not about the way ye look. What I want to know is why you are not taking care of yeself.”
A pink blush slowly filled Theo’s cheeks as she lowered her eyes.
“I have not been hungry.”
