Page 34 of Her Devil of a Duke
How could he explain to her that he had been rude because the thought of her seducing Mr. Windham drove him to the edge of insanity? He couldn’t say it. To put it into words was mad! She was here for lessons in seduction and no more. He was the only one who had a personal attachment here.
She brings me peace. God knows why or how, but she does.
He bent forward and placed his other hand on the opposite side of the bathtub, so he could lean down toward her.
“Rafe…” she whispered warningly, yet the way she continued to say his first name rather than ‘Your Grace’ gave him hope. “I’m still angry.”
“Then give me a chance to soothe that anger.” He kissed her. It was sudden, yes, and he wouldn’t have been surprised if she had pushed him off her, or even splashed him with water just to get him away. Yet she did neither. Instead, she angled her head at once, as if his kiss was the very thing she had been waiting for.
He dominated the kiss, pushing her more and more, until he had hold of her mouth completely and they were both gasping for air when they pulled away. His length was rock hard, thinking of her bare wet body beneath the water. As he pulled back, she looked up at him, her cheeks blushing pink.
“And what’s this lesson for?” she whispered.
“A way a man should apologize for his mistakes.” Rather than taking her hand, he plunged his arm into the bath and wrapped it around her waist, using his grasp to pull her out of the water. She gasped but didn’t pull back or try to hide from him again.
As he carried her out of the bath, her body wet and glistening, he had no words left. He laid her on the chaise longue nearby, moving his body over her, ready to pleasure her once more.
He started with what he had introduced her to the night before, hooking her legs over his shoulders as he knelt on the floor beside the chaise longue and kissed her core. She was ready for him, that wetness between her legs different to the rest of her body.
Clinging to the cushions beneath her, she moaned repeatedly, saying his name as he drove her toward an oblivion of pleasure. He wanted to show her more though tonight, something else, do more than just repeat what had happened the night before.
Slowly, he moved up her body. He concentrated on her core with just a single finger, entering her so he could reach her pleasure spot, then he kissed up her bare hip and waist. She had the perfect curves, for they were slim, matching her tall body and long legs.
When he reached her breasts, he kissed them, first concentrating on the valley between them, then moving his attentions to one. He kissed her areola and took it in his mouth as he had done the first night. Now, she indulged in the pleasure even more, arching her back up so she was pressed into him.
Her legs quivered, raising higher and higher. He moved his hips against her own as he circled his finger inside of her, showing what their bodies could be doing if he released himself from his trousers.
Her breathing grew faster, even more labored than before, her nipples peaking and begging for his attention. Releasing them, he moved to meet her lips and kissed her again, so she could taste herself on him. With their bodies attached together, he moved his chest over hers, loving the feeling of her breasts pressed against his bare skin.
He slipped a second finger inside of her and began to pump. Into their kiss, he could feel her breathing grow faster, with her legs quivering more and more around his hips. It was a sure sign of her nearing her end, and he didn’t let up. He just kept pumping her, then curling his fingers upward, knowing there was a sweet spot there that would bring her new pleasure.
She hit her release. Rafe broke their kiss and raised himself up on one hand, watching her as she found that end. She blushed a rich shade of red, her breasts bouncing between them as her legs shook. Her body tightened around his hand, the rush of warmth and wetness making him want to plunge his length inside of her.
I cannot. Not tonight. This was about saying sorry for my behavior earlier.
Slowly, she came down, panting, with one hand on the cushions beneath him and the other planted into the center of his chest. He didn’t release her body but kept teasing her with slow movements of his fingers, showing that if she wanted it, he would happily do that for her again.
“Well? Am I forgiven?” he murmured softly.
“I haven’t been given such an apology before, but…” She opened her eyes, looking up at him with a sultry smile. “I’d say on this occasion, you’re forgiven. Is this how you always apologize? Is it how you intend to keep apologizing when you say the wrong thing?”
“With you? Believe me,” he lowered himself down to her, hovering his lips over hers, “I have many ways I can apologize.”
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
“You wish to dress me up? Like I am some doll?” Evelyn asked in amazement, following Rafe through the corridors of the house.
“Pah! Hardly.” He indulged in his laughter, tipping his head back. Evelyn raced to keep up with him, admiring him as he laughed. It was something over the last couple of days she realized she endeared an awful lot, seeing him this open.
The night she had first arrived at the castle, the idea of hearing a laugh from him, one so joyous, seemed mad, but apparently, a few days could make a huge difference. He smiled now as he walked through the corridor, pausing when he reached a window. Only now did that smile fade as he looked out at the snow.
“Does it anger you?” She flattened her palms against the cold windowpane, looking out over the icy expanse with him.
Strangely, after his passionate apology the previous night, Evelyn felt she could ask Rafe anything. It was as if the night before, a barrier had been taken down between them. As physical and as passionate as their connection was, there was something deeper to it. He’d come to her when he could have easily just sent her out of the house in anger at their argument. Instead, he’d apologized in his own passionate way.
The Duke of Ravensworth… I find myself liking him. Could that be so wrong?
“The snow?” Rafe’s voice had deepened. “I just don’t like it.”
