Page 86 of A Game with the Rakish Duke
Catherine took a deep breath. “Yes. It is still warm. The cold has not set in yet.”
They kept walking, heading deeper into the woods. Suddenly, Catherine knew exactly where he was taking her.
“You are leading me to the lake,” she stated, smiling. “The lake where I saw you swimming that day.”
He didn’t reply. They rounded a corner, and there it was—the lake, shimmering in the sunlight, looking even more gorgeous than when she had last seen it, surrounded as it was by vivid red and gold-leafed trees.
They walked to the edge before they stopped. He turned to her, looking at her intently.
“I asked you that day if you would join me,” he began. “You refused, saying it was not the proper thing to do.”
Catherine laughed. “I did,” she said. “I was not yet ready to surrender to you, even though I longed to do it.”
He reached up, stroking her face with his hand. “Are you ready to do it now?”
Catherine’s heart fluttered. She could barely breathe as she gazed at him, his beloved face, asking her to join him for a swim in the lake.
Slowly, she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered. “I do believe I am.”
His eyes lit up. He drew her towards him, whispering in her ear, nuzzling her, before he turned her around and carefully unlaced her gown which slid to the ground. Then he tenderly removed her stays and chemise, tossing them to the ground, too. She blushed as his eyes lingered on her body.
“I longed to see you like this that day,” he whispered, his voice husky. “I still cannot believe that this is happening, Catherine. That you are finally mine… and I am yours.”
“I am yours,” she whispered back, her heart thumping hard. “I willalwaysbe yours.”
Boldly, she moved towards him and removed his jacket, her eyes never leaving his. When she had tossed it to the ground, she slowly unbuttoned his shirt, doing the same. He took off his boots. And then she unbuttoned his britches, pushing them down his legs. Thomas stepped out of his britches… and he was standing there, completely naked.
Her eyes feasted on him, taking in his magnificence. His broad shoulders, his smooth, muscular chest, his strong arms. His manhood stood proud and erect. Her heart rate quickened just looking at him, exactly as it had that day by this very lake.
She had wanted to touch him then, but she couldn’t admit it. She had been too afraid. Too afraid to give in to the power of the desire she felt for him. Too afraid of where it might lead.Too afraid that it would take her somewhere she could no longer control her life.
She wasn’t afraid any longer.
She ran her hands over that glorious, hard chest, luxuriating in the feel of it. In the feel of him. He stood there, barely breathing, letting her touch him, her hands suddenly everywhere, exploring with no limit. She heard his sharp intake of breath, noticed the agonized look on his face, his gleaming eyes, as her caresses grew bolder.
Suddenly, he took her hand, pulling her to him. They stood face to face, so close, breathing each other in, not moving. And then, without a word, he led her to the water.
It was colder than she had expected. The water lapped around her like silk, enveloping her in its depths. He pulled her to him again. She wrapped her legs around him as they kissed, feeling the heat rising between them even as the coolness lapped at her body.
When he entered her, it was as if they were merging with the water and each other. They moved gently, twining themselves around each other, buoyant in the water. Catherine felt the familiar need, the rising sensations, edging ever so gently towards that glittering pinnacle.
When it came in a slow, glorious rush, she cried out, clinging to him. She heard her voice echoing in the silence. Thomas gripped her tightly, shuddering as he poured himself into her.
For a long while, they simply embraced, holding each other up in the water before they walked out of the lake. They lay on the bank side by side, their hands intertwined, gazing up at the sky.
Catherine watched the clouds moving, shifting patterns, so beautiful and entrancing that she felt like she could look at them forever.
“Happy?” Thomas murmured, taking her hand and kissing it.
“Immensely,” she whispered, her heart overflowing with love for him. “I have never been more glad to lose a card game in my life.”
He laughed. “I am glad you lost, as well.”
Yes, she had found her courage at last. The courage to live fully, to give herself to another person… and to love. The past was gone forever. And now, all she longed for was the present and the future. With him.
The End?
