Page 74 of The Duke Says I Do
More enticing heaving of breasts with the second boot’s removal, then she took off his light stockings. She remained where she was, staring at his feet with an attention that he was sure they didn’t deserve. “Portia, is everything all right?”
Wonder edged her smile. “Even your feet are beautiful.”
Granville glanced down at his toes. He couldn’t see it.
“You’re just lost in a fog of pleasure.” He was, too.
She rose on her knees to kiss him. He expected passion, but her lips were tender. With Portia, sweetness was as mighty as passion. It had the ability to stab straight through to his heart. By the time she was on her feet, he lay back in a complete daze.
A daze that vanished in an instant when she turned her back and swept her hair out of the way. “Can you undo my dress, please?”
At last. At last. Hallelujah, at last!
With unsteady hands, he unlaced the blue gown until the dress fell away to reveal the pale skin of her back. “Your stays, too?”
“Yes, please.”
He placed a nipping kiss on one shoulder. “I’m done.”
Her shiver was visible. “Ooh, that was nice.”
She turned to him, eyes heavy with desire. Her hands clutched the drooping bodice to her breasts.
“Will you show me?” he asked gently. “Please?”
After a brief hesitation, she lifted her hands away and gave one of those alluring wiggles. For a suspenseful second, the dress clung to the perfect slope of her breasts, before slithering to the ground to reveal her remaining undergarments.
As if the loss of her gown marked a turning point, Portia quickly discarded her corset and untied her petticoats. Only the cotton, knee-length shift remained.
Granville noted the lavish curves made mysterious under sheer white material. The breasts that had haunted his fantasies. The intriguing dip of her navel. The shadowy delta between her thighs.
He stepped forward and swung her up into his arms. With a startled laugh, she hooked her hand around his neck. “What are you doing?”
“You’ll see.” He carried her across to the bed and placed her crosswise on the mattress, letting her bare legs dangle to the floor.
“But…”
When she tried to wriggle away, he caught her leg. “Trust me, Portia.”
An uncertain blue gaze focused on him. Whatever she saw there must have reassured her because she lay flat again and stared at the ceiling. “I do.”
That shouldn’t sound like a declaration of love, but somehow it did. His heart overflowing with joy and gratitude, Granville fell to his knees and caught her thighs.
“Let me show you what my tongue can do, my lady,” he murmured, carefully pulling her knees apart. Anticipation was headier than wine.
He delayed a moment to remind himself to take his time and do this properly. He also lingered to take in the beautiful sight of her cleft, satiny with readiness.
When he didn’t begin, she tensed under his touch. “You’re looking at me, aren’t you?”
Her voice was higher than usual. She must guess his plans.
“You’re gorgeous everywhere.” Granville smiled with wolfish eagerness, so perhaps it was a good thing that she looked anywhere but at him right now.
He saw her swallow. “That’s…lovely to hear. But I feel rather—”
“Self-conscious?”
“That’s one word for it.”
