Page 18 of A Night of Desire with a Duke
"No?" He pressed gently, making her sit. "Never touched yourself in the dark? Never wondered what it would feel like?"
Her face flamed. "Ladies don't..."
"Ladies do. They just don't admit it." He knelt before her, his hands on her knees. "Open for me."
"What?"
"Your legs. Open them."
"James, I don't think..."
"That's right. Don't think. Just feel." His hands pressed gently, inexorably, spreading her thighs apart. "That's it. Good girl."
She was completely exposed to his gaze, more vulnerable than she'd ever been in her life. She wanted to close her legs, cover herself, but his hands held her steady.
"Beautiful," he breathed, and then his mouth was on her inner thigh, pressing hot kisses to the sensitive skin.
"Oh Heavens," she gasped, her hands flying to his hair.
"It is just me." He nipped at her thigh, soothing it with his tongue. "And we're just getting started."
His mouth moved higher, and higher still, until...
"James!" She tried to close her legs, shocked. "You can't..."
"I can and I will." His hands held her open, gentle but firm. "Trust me, Catherine. Let me give you this."
The first touch of his tongue made her cry out, her back arching off the bed. It was too much, too intense, too everything. But he didn't stop, his mouth working against her with skillful precision, finding spots she didn't know existed.
"That's it," he murmured against her. "Let go. Let me hear you."
She couldn't have stayed quiet if she tried. Every stroke of his tongue drew sounds from her she didn't know she could make—gasps and moans and, when his tongue touched gently that one particular spot, an actual scream.
"So responsive," he praised, kissing her carefully. "So tight. We'll have to go slow, sweetheart. Make sure you're ready for me."
"I'm ready," she gasped, though she had no idea if it was true.
"Not yet. But you will be." He started touching her carefully while his mouth continued its sweet torment. "When you come for me—and you will come for me—I want you to say my name."
"James, I don't...I can't..."
"You can and you will. Just let go, Catherine."
Something was building inside her, a tension that threatened to snap. Her hands were in his hair, holding him against her as her hips moved of their own accord. When he curled his fingers inside her, pressing against something that made her see stars, she shattered.
"James!" His name tore from her throat as pleasure crashed over her in waves. He worked her through it, gentling his touch as she slowly came back to herself.
When she finally opened her eyes, he was leaning over her, his expression smug and satisfied. "That was one."
"One?"
"We're not nearly done, sweetheart."
She reached for his trousers, suddenly desperate to touch him. "Then why are you still dressed?"
"Impatient little thing." But he stood, unbuttoning his trousers with steady hands. "Are you sure you're ready to see all of me?"
"Yes."
