Page 28 of The Lady's Guide to Well-Endowed Dukes
He swept her into the moves she’d danced a hundred times or more—with other partners, in other places. Yet, tonight, it was as if this were the first time. Her feet knew the steps, but she feared she would stumble. Meanwhile, her heart fluttered to feel his hand upon her waist. Her gown of golden tulle was gauze-light, so that the heat of his palm suffused through the fabric to her skin.
He did not speak, but his attention never left her, as if he were drinking in every nuance of her appearance—as if this were the last time they would hold each other, the last time he would see her.
When the music drew to a close, her hand and waist remained captive, as if he were in some trance. She stood for some moments before whispering, “Lord Rockley, the dance is ended.”
He came to himself, apologizing, but still did not release her.
“You must let me go.” It required her own effort to free herself.
She was not his. He had no claim upon her. There was no understanding between them, and she was not his to command. Something choked inside her.
“Excuse me.” She walked faster than was seemly, leaving the salon at the far end, where a door led directly to the deck. There she was assaulted by the night air, for they were sailing once more, toward Marseille. She regretted the absence of her shawl immediately but could not bring herself to return inside.
Instead, she hurried past the windows of the salon, wanting to escape. She was in the hold of emotions she could not subdue, and her tears welled. Brushing them aside, she ran, until her shoe slipped from her foot. She didn’t care to pick it up, but took herself to the nearest rail, and clung there, letting the wind whip her hair.
The moon hung low, streaking the sky violet through shredded clouds, while the waves rushed and frothed, passing in monotonous repetition as the ship moved relentlessly through the water. A sob rose up from deep within her chest and she was helpless to control it.
“Stella!” Rockley’s arms came unexpectedly about her, pulling her tight to his chest.
The warmth was exactly what she needed; nonetheless, she tried to pull away.
She was impotent against his strength; powerless when his mouth brushed beneath the lobe of her ear. Weakly, she dropped her head back upon his shoulder, wanting his comfort, no matter the pain it would cost her.
His lips found her neck and he buried himself there. “Come back with me—my bed this time.”
What am I doing?She wasn’t sure she’d uttered it aloud, but he replied nonetheless, his mouth brushing beneath her ear.
“We don’t need to name this. Just let me love you.”
Turning her to him, he claimed her mouth in a kiss that left her soft-boned with desire. She wanted to resist, to hold herself apart, but she could not. She said nothing as he led her to theinterior of the ship, along passageways quiet but for the distant hum and throb of the engine deep beneath their feet.
She scarce took in the appearance of his cabin. It was the same as hers, without the litter of feminine paraphernalia. The bed was neatly turned back, the sheets crisp white.
“I want you naked.” There was raw need in his voice. He didn’t bother with his own attire, focusing all his efforts on stripping her of hers. The tulle soon pooled at her feet, her corset was unlaced, her chemise, petticoats and bloomers were thrown aside. He kissed each portion of her body as he revealed it to the air, grazing his teeth over her buttocks, biting and squeezing there. Her breasts he devoured just as ferociously, filling his mouth with her abundance.
Only her gloves he left as they were, the black silk reaching beyond her elbow. He raised an eyebrow on finding her to be missing a shoe but was too intent on removing her stockings to enquire. Kneeling, with his thumbs hooked at the top, he drew them down, then kissed his way up again, from the inside of her ankle to the top of each thigh. A shiver wracked her when, from his position at her feet, he brought his mouth to her sex. He moved her leg to his shoulder, the better to enter her there, making his intimate invasion with his tongue. She came hard and quickly, her fingers wrapped in his hair, and he looked up at her from his position of submission, his face lit by an adoration that pierced her heart.
Her voice was husky with need. “I want you naked too.”
Together, they made short work of his clothing, and he soon stood before her, tall and broad, a lithe animal. Pressing her own, gentle kisses, she walked about him, letting her breasts skim his nakedness, delighting in the tickle of his hair as she brushed against his masculine beauty. She trailed gloved fingers across his muscular thighs, across tight buttocks and the hard planes of his back. His nipples, small and dark and flat, eachreceived their own kiss and the teasing flick of her tongue, stealing a half-caught sigh from him before she cast a path down his taut stomach.
She reached for his cock, so large and heavy, and already swollen hard.
“You want me to touch you here?” She wrapped her gloved hand around the base.
“Yes, touch me.” He swallowed.
“Like this?” She squeezed where she encircled, then began to stroke. The sight of him—firm and full and hot—was more arousing to her than anything that had come before. His lubrication dripped clear.
“I want to taste you.” She dragged her hand along his length, moving her grip to take him there, working his tip, smearing his slickness.
“You want that too, don’t you, Your Grace? You want my tongue on your cock? You want to feel me lapping you?”
“Yes!” The yearning on his face was tortured.
She knew he was watching as she slithered downward, kneeling as he’d done before her. She kept her hand upon him all the while, maintaining a rhythmic motion as she brushed her lips along his arousal. Reaching his sac, she breathed deeply, inhaling his musky scent, before taking one succulent plum into the warmth of her mouth. She hummed with pleasure, wanting him to feel the vibration deep in his root.
She gave the other the same treatment before working her way upward again, using the flat of her tongue upon the underside of his length. She broke off to rub her cheek there, reveling in the velvet-smoothness which wrapped the rock beneath.
