Page 73 of The Duke of Ice
He pulled his mouth from hers, nipping her bottom lip. She gasped, but it was an earthy, seductive sound. “Those bloody hoops,” was all he could manage to say. His body shook with need.
She stared at him, her eyes keeping his captive while she slowly raised her skirt. “Untie them.” She turned, presenting the ties that held the hoops around her waist.
Nick pulled at the ribbons, his fingers trembling. It took a bit longer than it should have, likely because he was fixated on the curve of her backside, clearly visible beneath the thin linen of her chemise, but he finally tugged them loose. He offered her his hand, helping her to step clear of the article.
She still had so many clothes on. The volume was prohibitive. He didn’t want to wait to disrobe her—he needed her now.
“Violet, I need to—”
He cut himself off as she turned and dropped to her knees before him. Wordlessly, she unbuttoned his fall and adjusted his smallclothes so she could find his stiff cock. Withdrawing his flesh, she stroked it from base to tip, using a stroke that was swift and sure, giving him precisely what he craved.
As she did this several more times, he closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders, letting his head tip back. When the moist tip of her tongue connected with his sensitive skin, he moaned. Blood rushed to his balls, his cock, making him harder. He was desperate for her to take him into her.
Then she did. Her mouth closed over him, moving slowly until she took him as deep as she could. Her retreat was even more enthralling, her lips and tongue sending curls of ecstasy writhing through him. When she moved forward once more, she picked up her pace, and her hands clasped his hips, her fingertips digging into his flesh.
His need built, his pelvis moving with her. He tried not to thrust into her mouth, but it was so hard to hold himself back. He tried to regain the control he’d abandoned a few minutes ago, but it was more than just elusive—it was completely gone.
He opened his eyes an infinitesimal amount and tipped his head down. Her hair fell around them like a cascade of gold, the silken locks brushing his thighs. Her lips, pink and perfect, surrounded him. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. And he was going to spill himself in her mouth.
Somehow finding a thread of control, he withdrew from her. Reaching down, he gripped her arms and pulled her to her feet.
He stalked to the settee, bringing her with him. When he turned, she was delicately wiping her mouth. Overcome with lust, he kissed her, hot and hard and fast.
“I need you, Violet.” He turned her toward the settee. “Lift your skirts and kneel, facing the back.”
She hesitated, but only for a second before she lifted her skirts and climbed onto the cushions and settled on her knees. He grasped the bulk of fabric and held it up at her waist. She leaned forward, and with his free hand, he shoved the chemise, which was adamant about clinging to her backside, up to expose her flesh.
She widened her stance, opening herself to him, and it was all the invitation he needed. He stroked his fingers along her folds, eliciting a soft moan from her lips. She was warm and wet, more than ready for him. Good, because he was past ready. He was almost past thinking.
Guiding his cock to her opening, he eased inside, trying to go slow. The thin thread of control he’d found snapped in two as her tight heat engulfed him. Desire raged through him, and he surrendered to the madness, driving deep into her core.
She gasped, thrusting her hips back until her backside was flush with his groin. He gripped her hips, still clutching the mass of bunched-up fabric, and pulled back, trying to go slowly to savor the sensations. But when it came time to push forward, he had no such patience. The momentum of his need took over, and he plunged into her.
She moved with him, rocking back and forth, driving him to delicious torment. Her passionate cries urged him faster. Then she said his name. Over and over. It was part provocation and part plea. And it stole what little remained of his sense.
He dug his fingers into her flesh and claimed her as his orgasm built. Ecstasy coiled inside him and her muscles clenched around his cock, pushing him to the brink. He teetered for a moment before cascading into delirium.
He wasn’t sure how long he was mindless, but when awareness returned, their harsh breathing filled the room and their movements had slowed to nearly nothing. His grip on her clothing loosened, and the fabric fell against her leg and tried to drop over her backside. But he was still seated inside her. She felt so good, so right.
And he felt like a beast.
Withdrawing his flesh from hers, he let her dress cover her as he backed away. He tucked his slackening cock into his breeches and buttoned the fall.
She turned and slid onto her backside on the settee, her chest still rising and falling as she worked to regain her breath. She smoothed her wrinkled skirts over her legs and looked up at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Her brow creased. “For what?”
“I shouldn’t have taken you like that.”
“Why? I quite enjoyed it. I look forward to doing that again, preferably without clothing to manage.”
“Not the position.” He searched to find the right words but didn’t think there were any. “Me. I’m… You deserve better.” He had too much darkness, too much of the ice she didn’t want.
She stood and went to him, her arms coming around his waist. “That’s nonsense.”
“It isn’t,” he practically growled, his anger rising again. “You understand who I am now, and you have to accept I’m not the man you once knew, and probably not the man you want.”
