Page 64 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

“No. Well-bred English misses aren’t supposed to know about things such as that.”

He frowned. “So, your mother didn’t share anything with you.”

She bit her lip. “Mama told me that all I had to do was lie still and that you would take care of the rest. That men . . . knew what to do.”

Ev swore softly under his breath. “I do have experience in these matters.”

For a moment, a pang of jealousy erupted. Knowing what they were about to do, he had already done with other women.

“But lovemaking requires two partners, Addie,” he continued. “You lying there simply won’t do.”

“What . . . what am I supposed to do?” she asked, uncertainty filling her.

“Be an active participant. If I kiss you, kiss me back. If I touch you, touch me.”

“T-touch you where?”

He smiled. “Wherever you like. And I will do the same.” He paused. “As we get to know each other’s body, you must tell me which touches please you.”

Adalyn could think of a few places she wanted him to touch and felt the hot blush stain her cheeks.

“I see you already have a few ideas of where I can touch you. Have you ever touched yourself?”

She frowned. “Of course. How could a person not touch herself?”

The back of his hand stroked her cheek. “I mean have you ever touched yourself for pleasure?”

“I . . . I don’t know what you mean,” she stammered.

He cradled her face in his hands. “Then you haven’t.”

“How would you know?” she demanded.

Ev smiled gently. “I just do. And I plan to find those places which will bring you the most pleasure, Addie. That is my job as a husband. Everything I do, I do for you.”

His words brought a warm rush through her. Even though she wasn’t the woman he had wanted, he still would be good to her.

His thumbs stroked her cheeks. “We should begin. I will warn you that it is a slow process. We won’t learn everything this first time.”

“We won’t?” she squeaked.

“No. It will take hours of exploration.” He kissed her softly. “Of kissing. Of touching. Of joining our bodies together as one.”

“To make a baby,” she said quickly.

“Oh, I hope we will make plenty of them. But we will make love to one another not just to conceive a child. We will do so because we are man and wife. We will do so because we want to experience the special closeness that occurs between a wedded couple.”

“I see,” she said, trying to understand and yet totally failing to do so because she had no idea what was involved. Kissing, yes. And touching. She supposed how the pads of his thumbs brushed her cheeks was one way to touch.

“Then let’s get this over with,” she said, wanting the process to begin.

Ev chuckled softly. “You make it sound as if it some arduous task.”

“It isn’t?”

“No, not at all. Especially if . . .” His voice trailed off and his mouth took hers.

Adalyn didn’t have time to think about what he would have said because his kiss was too demanding. Her hands wound about his neck and she pushed her body against him. His tongue slid inside her mouth, stroking hers, causing heat to fill her. Her breasts began to ache. The place between her legs pounded steadily. His hands moved up and down her back and then slipped to her bottom, squeezing it. A frisson of what she guessed must be desire rippled through her.

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