Page 66 of The Duke of Ice
“With pleasure.” Violet tore apart the knot of his cravat and pulled the fabric from his neck. She slid her hands down to his chest and pushed his coat from his shoulders. As the garment fell to the floor behind him, she unbuttoned his waistcoat. All the while, she stared into his eyes, not wanting to break the connection moving between them. It had been so long since she’d felt close to someone. And now that he was here, she wanted to savor every moment.
He shrugged out of the waistcoat and backed away, giving her a flash of alarm. “I’m taking off my boots.”
She exhaled, watching as he perched on a chair in the corner and removed his boots. His stockings followed, and he padded barefoot to the bed.
Reaching for him, she pressed her palm against his chest. His heart beat strong and sure beneath the linen of his shirt. She pulled the hem from his waistband and pushed the fabric up his chest. He lifted his arms and whisked the shirt over his head.
As the bare expanse of his chest was exposed to her, she splayed her hands across his muscles. He was so different than he’d been before—harder, wider. “You look as if you do manual labor.” She ran her fingertips over his flesh, loving the feel of him.
“I work with my tenants on occasion. And I ride. And fish, of course.”
She smoothed her hands over his collarbones, shoulders, and down his biceps. “You still row.” She remembered the day he’d taken her out on the canal at Sydney Gardens.
“I do. It’s a bit trickier in the ocean.”
She looked at him sharply. “Is it safe?”
“Is anything?”
She wondered at his question, but not for long as he drew her night rail over her head. Cool air rushed over her, and her nipples stiffened beneath the chill.
“You look cold. We can’t have that.” He lowered his head and drew her flesh into his mouth, his lips caressing her breast as he tongued her nipple.
Desire gripped her hard and fast as sensation rioted through her. It had been so long since she’d been touched like this. She couldn’t compare him to Clifford. There was no similarity whatsoever aside from the fact that they were in a bed.
He cupped her breasts, lifting them as he feasted on first one and then the other, his lips and tongue wreaking delicious mayhem on her senses. She closed her eyes and cast her head back, giving herself over to his touch.
With one hand, he clasped the back of her neck and eased her back until she was lying flat across the bed. She stretched her legs out, and they dangled over the edge of the mattress. He stood between them, the wool of his pantaloons brushing her bare thighs.
Continuing to lavish attention on her breasts, he moved one hand to her clitoris. He’d taught her that word eight years ago just before he’d given her the first orgasm she’d ever experienced. Then he’d explained how he was going to put his mouth on her there. She’d tried to stop him, horrified that he would suggest such a thing. But then he’d kissed her flesh, and she’d come undone.
He parted her folds with his fingers while his thumb worked to build the pressure inside her to a boiling point. She cried out as her hips began to move of their own accord. She couldn’t have stopped her body’s responses if she’d wanted to.
His mouth left her breast, his tongue tracing up her sternum to her collarbone, then ascending her neck until he licked along her jaw. “Violet, do you remember when we were together before?”
“Every moment.” She’d lived on those memories.
“Open your eyes.”
She did as he bade and saw him looking down at her, his gaze dark and dangerously seductive. Her body quivered with longing.
“We didn’t talk beforehand—last time. If there’s anything you don’t want me to do, or anything you don—”
“Just kiss me, Nick.” She clasped his neck and drew his head down so she could show him how badly she wanted him. She arched up with her whole body, spearing her tongue into his mouth.
He slanted his head, and his fingers dug gently into her neck as he held her captive. The kiss was deep and dark, almost bruising. It was everything she’d wanted for as long as she could remember.
His hips snapped into hers, and she could feel the length of his erection through his garments. She thrust back, wrapping her legs around his hips. The hand that was still between them worked her flesh, tormenting her until she pulled away and cried out, unable to contain her passion.
“Kiss me everywhere,” she rasped.
He obliged, his mouth moving across her cheek to her ear and making a slow, seductive descent. He paused at her breasts again, using his teeth this time to lightly nip her tightened flesh. She moaned and rotated her hips, seeking release.
Then his lips were on her abdomen, leaving a trail of fire and need along her flesh. He gripped her hips and dragged his tongue downward. “Open your legs.” He pushed her thighs apart and then did the same to her folds, using his thumbs to stroke and tease her. Mindless with need, she arched off the bed.
Then he answered her silent pleas and put his mouth on her. His touch was soft at first, gently licking her with his tongue as his thumb moved across her flesh. She thrust her hands into his hair and tugged at the locks, urging him to give her what she wanted, what she needed.
He sucked her clitoris, stoking her release to the breaking point. When his finger slid inside her, she fell over the edge as an orgasm claimed her body. She shook with the force of it, her legs quivering and her breath coming in rapid pants.
