Page 65 of The Duke of Lies
He reached up and cupped her nape, dragging her down for an openmouthed, scorching kiss. He licked and sucked at her mouth, devouring her in an attempt to satiate his raging lust. She kissed him back with equal abandon and fervor until he feared he might burst.
He drew back with a sharp gasp. “Verity, I’m going to spill my seed if we don’t commence.”
“Show me,” she repeated.
Putting his hands on her waist once more, he guided her back. “Raise yourself over my cock.” When she did, he grasped the base of his shaft and pressed the tip to her wet sheath. “Now lower yourself.”
She rested her hands on his chest, and he watched as she sank onto his flesh, impaling herself inch by delicious inch. Her channel tightened around him, encompassing him in dark, spectacular velvet. When she was flush against him, he groaned, putting his hand back on her waist.
Without direction, she began to move, up and down, going slowly at first. Her breasts taunted him, and he couldn’t resist reaching for the globes. He massaged her, using his fingers to coax her nipples into stiff, tight peaks. Desperate to taste her, he moved one hand beneath her arm to her back and urged her forward.
She descended, changing the angle of their joining. As soon as she was close enough, he came up off the pillow and took her nipple into his mouth. He kissed and sucked her, and she began to move on him more quickly.
Cries of delight and anticipation flew from her mouth as he licked her. She pumped her body over his, taking him deep, then nearly relinquishing him from her flesh, then doing it all over again. Her speed increased as her muscles worked, and he sensed she was building to her release.
Then the world stopped for the briefest moment. She sat back slightly, pulling her breast from his mouth. Her hand cupped his balls, and he jerked with need. His climax had been building, but now it rushed over him. He gripped her hips and drove into her with mindless desire. She cried out, her moans filling the chamber as she met him thrust for thrust. She bore down around him, and he spent himself with a final cry of ecstasy.
She fell forward, collapsing onto his chest, her breathing fast and hard to match his own. He caressed her back and smoothed her hair as he fought his way back to full awareness.
After a few minutes, she slipped to his side and he clasped her tight against him. She rested her head on his shoulder, and Kit didn’t think he’d ever felt more content. But he knew it couldn’t last. Not until they surmounted the obstacles before them.
With regret, he pierced their veil of bliss. “I need to tell you about what I found at Cuddy’s.” He’d reviewed the ledger after she’d left him the other night.
She put her hand on his chest and lifted her head to look up at him. “What’s that?”
“Cuddy kept a ledger detailing his embezzlement—receipts of what he stole and payments to multiple recipients.”
Her eyes widened with alarm or interest or both. “To whom?”
“I don’t know. There are amounts next to letters or numbers or, in one case, a symbol.”
Her brow creased. “What sort of symbol?”
“A cross on its side.”
“He couldn’t have been giving money to a church.” She scoffed, resting her head back on Kit’s shoulder. “I’m not sure he ever went.”
“I doubted that too, but what do I know of Cuddy? I wish I’d been able to get him to talk. I found one other thing—a letter from your father. In it, he said he would take care of matters regarding his dismissal and told Cuddy to remain in Blackburn.”
Verity snorted, and Kit had to stifle a laugh at such an inelegant sound coming from her lips. “Of all the pompous things to say… But of course he would tell Cuddy he would handle it. I do believe he thinks Cuddy reported to him.”
And because of that, Kit wondered if her father wasn’t somehow involved in the embezzlement. That was another reason he wanted to go to London—to query her father. “Given your father’s association and involvement with Cuddy, would it be a stretch to think he might know of the embezzlement?”
Verity stiffened, but only for a moment. “That would be…distressing. May I see the ledger and my father’s letter?”
“Of course. I would appreciate your counsel.” He kissed the top of her head and stroked her arm. He wasn’t ready to leave their cocoon just yet. He was enjoying getting to know her without secrets and lies between them. “How did you come to marry Rufus?”
She took a breath and hesitated, but only for a moment. “We were invited to a house party here—I was just nineteen. My father was always soliciting invitations for us in the hope that I would catch the eye of an important nobleman.”
“And you caught Rufus’s eye.” Kit had no trouble believing that. He would choose her from every other woman in the world.
She nodded. “Apparently. It was a terrible house party—that was when Augustus’s son fell into the pond and drowned. Rufus tried to save him, but he was too late.” She frowned momentarily, her expression turning pensive. “Actually, that’s the only time I recall Rufus displaying any compassion or care. Augustus was devastated, and Rufus made a great effort to comfort him. I remember being impressed by that, and it’s why I accepted his marriage proposal. He asked that we wait six months so they could observe a mourning period. I was, of course, more than happy—or at least relieved—to delay. I didn’t even know him, but I looked forward to doing so based on what I’d seen. My father was overjoyed.” She looked up at Kit. “It was such a coup—me marrying the heir to a dukedom. In hindsight, I wondered if my father employed some method of extortion to bring it about.”
Her mention of the word extortion sent ice down Kit’s spine. His suspicions regarding her father suddenly seemed more credible. “Why did you think that?”
“It was incredibly important to my father that I marry well. He craved a title so badly and did everything he could to make me attractive to suitors—tutors, deportment, dancing lessons. But I was still just the granddaughter of a baronet without particular wealth or influence. Without something beneficial to offer, how could he persuade the next in line to a dukedom to marry me?”
“Persuasion would not be necessary if I were the groom. One look at you, and I’d be lost. One day with you, and I’d be enslaved. One lifetime with you would not be enough.” He felt her shiver.
