Page 68 of Defending the Duke (The St. Clairs 4)

“You were defending me. Rather nobly. It was the least I could do. Lady Chatham is a horrible person. She needed to be put in her place.” He grinned. “Besides, I am glad I married you.” Raising her hand, he kissed it as Aunt Constance and Hannah joined them.

Anthony escorted the trio to the carriage. Hannah talked endlessly but it didn’t seem to bother Anthony as it had before.

They arrived at home and he accompanied Laurel to her room.

“Fifteen minutes and I will join you,” he said, raising her gloved hand and brushing a kiss upon it.

Monkton undressed him and Anthony pulled on his dressing gown, his heart beating rapidly. He made his way to Laurel’s room. He’d come to a decision.

Anthony only hoped it was the right one.

Laurel was seated as Retta brushed her hair. He took the brush and said, “I’ll finish.”

He started at her image in the mirror and pulled the brush through the thick, dark locks. Over and over, he ran the brush through her hair. She closed her eyes and he drank her in.

“Don’t stop,” she murmured. “It feels too good.”

Anthony placed the brush on the table. “There are things that feel even better.” He came to stand so close that his body touched hers. He grasped her shoulders lightly and then ran his palms down her chest, cupping her breasts as he kissed her neck.

“Mmm. Maybe you’re right.”

“I’m always right, Duchess. I’m the Duke of Linfield.”

He stroked and kneaded her breasts, tweaking her nipples, sending shivers through her. He slid his hands lower and untied the knot of her dressing gown, parting it and slipping it from her shoulders. He began fondling her breasts again, this time, slipping his hands inside the night rail’s neckline. The smoothness of her skin felt so right under his callused fingertips. He pinched her nipples slightly and she moaned. He continued rolling them and her hips began to move.

“I believe you said something about nimble fingers,” he murmured into her ear.

“Oh, yes,” she sighed.

Anthony brought Laurel to her feet and turned her, kissing her deeply. He would never tire of the taste of her. He backed her up slowly until they came to the bed and she fell backwards, her legs dangling. Just how he wanted her.

He knelt, pushing the night rail up to her waist and then parted her thighs. He stroked her core, finding her already wet for him. Fighting the urge to unbutton his fall and plunge into her, he kept petting her. She began whimpering. He inserted a finger and teased her bud. It didn’t take long before she writhed on the bed. Her release came quickly.

He allowed her to calm and then began stroking her again. Those little sounds in the back of her throat thrilled him. He moved between her legs, holding her thighs in place and touched his tongue to her.

“Anthony!”

He looked up. Laurel had raised up on her elbows, her eyes wide.

“My fingers aren’t the only nimble thing I possess.”

With that, he touched his mouth to her and began kissing and nibbling at her sex. He felt how stiff she was. Slowly, though, she began to relax. Her hips began moving. He plunged his tongue into her and she cried out. Using his mouth, teeth, and tongue, Anthony brought her to a shattering climax. He kissed his way back up to her mouth and found tears on her cheeks.

Worry filled him. “Are you all right?”

“I... am. That was...” Her voice trailed off as she panted. After a few breaths, she said, “Wicked. That was very, very wicked, Anthony.” Grinning, she added, “And incredibly nimble.”

“I’m glad you thought so.”

He couldn’t wait any longer. While she lay almost paralyzed, he doffed his clothes and swung her legs onto the bed.

“I’m going to love you, Laurel,” he said. “As best I can.”

He meant the words in two ways. In a physical sense, his body joining with hers.

And emotionally. Letting go and truly giving himself to her.

Anthony made love to Laurel with a renewed sense of urgency. They climaxed together and he fell atop her, burying his face in her abundant hair. She stroked his back, pressing kisses against his throat. He rolled to his side, keeping his arms around her.

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