Page 52 of Healing the Duke's Desires
The sound of a distant fountain provided a soothing backdrop, its gentle trickle mingling with the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of crickets. Tranquility enveloped the gazebo, as if it existed in a world apart from the rest of the estate.
Emily and Alexander stood in the center of this enchanting space, the moonlight casting a soft glow upon their faces. They were surrounded by the timeless beauty of the garden, which seemed to mirror the blossoming of their own emotions.
He walked over to her, and her heart fluttered inside her chest. A million thoughts raced through her mind, but she could not find words for any of them. When he cupped her cheek with his hand, a surge of warmth rushed throughout her entire body. She couldn’t imagine that anyone would ever have such an effect on her.
“I know this is out of the ordinary,” she said, feeling as if she were talking incoherently, but she needed to tell him so many things in such a short amount of time. “But I needed to tell you what lies in my heart. The kisses, Alexander… they weren’t mistakes. They can’t be… and meeting each other…”
“Could never be a mistake.” He finished her sentence so easily. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Emily, I… Nothing I do is without you in my mind.”
She couldn’t believe she was hearing all of this. Whether it was the moonlight or the darkness, she didn’t know. But this place allowed their most hidden desires to rise to the surface without any fear of being judged. The gazebo was hidden from plain sight, at a safe distance from the manor house.
This was madness, but then again, so was everything that had happened with him. She couldn’t control herself any longer, as his stare burned into hers. She wanted him to ravish her right here and now.
“Alexander… I fear that I am doomed to unhappiness…” She said it in the only words she could think of.
She wanted to tell him everything—about her feelings, about her upcoming betrothal, about her plan not to go through with it—but her mind could not conjure up the words.
All she could do was gaze at him in devotion, painfully aware that every beat of her heart belonged to him. And being here now, under the moonlight, inhaling his scent, she knew she might be granted only little crumbs of happiness. She had to grab them. She had to seize the moment and take the little that she could, for perhaps fate had something else in mind for her.
“Don’t say that,” he whispered back.
“No, no, listen to me.” She spoke hastily and out of breath; this moment would not last forever, no matter how much she wanted it to. “If that is true, if I am doomed to be unhappy, I want to choose happiness now, with you…”
None of what she was saying made much sense. Words betrayed her, but where words were insufficient, eyes spoke enough.
“Let’s make this moment ours, Alexander… I don’t want anyone to steal it away from us.” She allowed her most secretive thoughts to reveal themselves to him at this vulnerable moment, but she didn’t care. All she wanted right now was his lips on hers.
As if able to read her mind, he did exactly that. His mouth crashed over hers, like the ocean crashed against the shore, with possessiveness and longing. He grabbed her around her waist, pulling her close. She knew she would not be able to push him away even if she wanted to. His fingers kept her close, clutching desperately at her, as if she might disappear if he let her go even for a single moment.
He backed her against the railing of the gazebo, lifting her up. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. His mouth on hers, his hands pulling up her gown, pooling it around her waist, made her forget about everything else. He was her sun, her moon, illuminating her path through the darkness, bringing with him all the light she could ever need.
His fingers slid between her thighs. As soon as she felt them, warmth washed over her. Her mind turned blank. Her body reacted to his by opening her legs wider, showing him that she wanted this as much as he did. Bravely, she lowered her own hand, grazing against his pants.
“Oh…” she managed to gasp through their kiss, curious to touch more of him. He was within reach so easily, so readily. She couldn’t resist gripping his manhood with her palm, feeling it grow harder and harder.
Suddenly, he pulled away. His lips were wet from her kisses. His eyes burned with a deep fire as he stared at her. They were both breathless.
“Should I stop?” he asked, still unable to catch his breath.
All she could do was grab him by the cheeks, pull him in to her own face so that their foreheads were touching. “I don’t ever want you to stop.”
This was all he needed to hear. Their lips came together once again, even more desperately this time. His skilled fingers coasted over her most secretive place in gentle caresses that were driving her insane with desire. She was completely overwhelmed by sensations.
She felt more wanted than ever before. Everything about him drove her mad. As his finger flicked between her seam, her insides throbbed with yearning. He hastened his tempo, stroking her firmly, making her wetter and wetter with each stroke.
“Oh…” she moaned again, but it sounded more like a purr.
She had no idea how he managed to bring her to the edge so quickly. It was all so unexpected, so sudden. A tidal wave of pleasure washed over her as she clenched desperately at him, keeping him close, his finger rubbing the pulsating place, and that friction only made the pleasure even more intense. She felt as if she were on fire, her body, her mind, her entire being.
At that moment, he fumbled with his trousers, pressing against her wet folds. He stopped kissing her, breathing heavily. She had never been more in love with him than at that moment. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring. That didn’t matter. She was with him now. She was desperate to feel him inside of her, for them to finally become one.
“Take me…” she murmured, feeling her cheeks burn.
He grinned at her comment, a beautiful, mischievous grin. She hooked her legs around him tighter.
“Emily…” he whispered her name like a prayer, like a promise.
Slowly, as they gazed into each other’s eyes, he slid inside of her. Everything changed. Darkness became darker. The light of the moon became brighter. And everything in between strengthened, blossomed, exploded into color. It was a strange sensation, a mixture of both pleasure and pain. Hot and wonderful. Intrusive and welcoming. It was all emotions and sensations in one. Her mind had withdrawn.
