Page 67 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
“I have been a coward and a fool,” he whispered. “I was sure that by keeping my distance, you would be better off. I lost control that night. I thought that our marriage was meant to be one ofconvenience, not…” He could feel his chest tightening, his eyes burning.
He let one of his hands drift from her cheek to stroke her hair. How was she so perfect that he had missed even the feel of her hair against his fingertips?
“But I never stopped thinking of you, not since that night, not since the moment I first saw you,” he admitted hoarsely. “Every time you walk into a room, I can barely breathe for wanting you. I have tried to deny it, to pretend that I am a man of sound mind. But your voice, your scent, your touch—it all sends me spiraling into madness, and I need…”
He hadn’t realized that his eyes were damp until he blinked hard to clear his vision.
“Laurence,” Edith whispered, her eyes filled with awe. “If that’s true… if you really feel that way, then stop running from it. Stop running from me.”
He could hold back no longer.
He pulled her into a kiss, his lips desperately crushing hers with the force of suppressed need. She wrapped both arms around him and gasped against his lips, pulling them both back onto the settee before the fireplace.
“Laurence,” she groaned.
He felt himself hardening, his breeches tightening.
“Again,” he moaned, kissing her neck. “Say my name again.”
His hands quickly went to the hem of her dress and her petticoat. He pulled the garments off, throwing them away as if they had offended him. Finally, she was bare underneath him.
For a moment, he just looked down at her, taking in the sight of his beautiful, naked wife. He couldn’t help but lean down and kiss her neck, making her shudder and writhe beneath him.
“Laurence,” she moaned.
He felt a tug at his breeches and looked down. Her hands were already on the waistband.
“Please…” she whispered.
For a moment, his mind went blank with pleasure at her plea. He groaned and pulled off his clothes, his length now standing proudly between his thighs.
He was aware he was well-endowed. Edith’s eyes devoured his hard, naked body, and her delicate hands reached out to touch him. Upon feeling her soft fingers on his engorged member, he was certain he would climax.
“Is this what my wife wants?” he asked, breathless.
“It’s a good start,” she teased.
He smirked and leaned down, kissing and licking her thighs. She moaned and grabbed his hair gently. He licked her folds methodically, searching through them with the tip of his tongue for the spot that would make her cry out his name.
He sucked and caressed with fervor, as though feasting on his last meal, and when he found the spot that had made her cry out before, he drew his teeth around the sensitive area and sucked hard on the rigid nub, making her scream and buck.
That sound…
It was the most perfect sound that had reached his ears. He stood up and wiped his mouth before pressing his engorged shaft between her thighs.
“Hold onto me,” he said tenderly. “Bite my lip or neck if you feel any discomfort, and I will pause.”
She whimpered and shook with anticipation.
He lined up his length and slid into her, pushing slowly into her heated depths. She gasped and grasped at the cushions, then clutched his buttocks in encouragement. They moaned in unison as they joined together.
“You feel incredible,” he whispered in her ear.
CHAPTER 13
Edith groaned and dropped her head onto the cushions.
Laurence started to move inside her, slowly at first. Each thrust sent her to new heights of rapture.
