Page 77 of Courting Claudia

“But what has it gotten you?”

She shrugged. “It’s not about me. I have a responsibility to my family and my family’s name. I have a duty to uphold my father’s reputation.”

“If the politicians are driven by the antics of their daughters, then Parliament is in more trouble than I thought.”

“That’s not precisely what I meant.”

“Your father’s reputation is no longer your concern. You are my wife now.”

She said nothing for a while, just continued to drag her fingers lightly across his abdomen. Perhaps now wasn’t the best time to discuss her father. Her hand inched lower, following the trail of hair below his belly button. He felt his blood stir and knew it wouldn’t be long before he could take her again.

He enjoyed her curious exploration of his body and didn’t want her to stop.

“Did you always want to be an artist?”

“No. I didn’t know I could draw until after my mother died.” Her fingers brushed against his sensitive flesh. “It had been a hobby of hers, and I suppose I tried it as a way to feel connected with her.”

She was watching his body change, and that made it all the more exciting. She would soon know the power she had over him, the power to arouse him, to make him think of nothing else but making love to her again.

Lightly, she moved her hand against him, a feather of a touch with the tips of her fingers, back and forth. She was telling him about her past, important information, but he found he could not concentrate.

“So I painted at first. Watercolors, because that is what well-bred ladies do.” Her touch became bolder, rubbing a bit more firmly and moving across his length to the tip.

He closed his eyes.

“I don’t recall what made me decide to try drawing, but I wanted to do something with more detail, more dimension. It was never my intention to end up drawing fashions. I envisioned myself doing portraits.” She wrapped her hand around him, and he released a moan. Her boldness was intoxicating. She moved her hand up and down, and he wished he could see her face. But then it didn’t matter at this point, because he could barely concentrate on her words.

“But I love doing the fashions. I love the intricate details of the dresses and getting them perfect in my pictures. I especially love hearing about that perfection at balls when the paper has just been released.”

Faster and faster she pumped him, and he knew his release was near. He didn’t want it to happen like this, as erotic as the situation was. He stilled her hand.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No. You’re doing everything right. But I won’t have any control in a few moments, and this can get messy.”

She lifted her head. “Oh?!”

He tilted her head and kissed her nose. “But suffice it to say, I enjoyed that very much, and we’ll have to continue that again sometime. When things can be cleaner.”

“Like in the water?”

“Exactly. I like the way you think.”

She chewed at her lip.

“What are you thinking about?”

“That was rather amazing. The way your body works. The way you responded so rapidly and boldly only by my touch.”

“I’ve responded to less than your touch. Sometimes it’s something you say, or the curve of your neck, or the hint of your perfume. I’ve never wanted a woman the way that I want you.”

Three days since her wedding, and married life was nothing like Claudia had anticipated. Derrick had what seemed to be an unquenchable desire for her body, and she matched him with every stride.

She wasn’t ready to say she was comfortable with her nakedness around him, but there was so little time for thought once he started touching her that she didn’t have many moments to fret about it.

He’d said he’d never wanted any woman the way he wanted her. It was a glimmer. Certainly not an admission of feelings, but it gave her hope. He didn’t talk much about Julia, but she knew that Derrick’s first marriage had ended with his heart broken. Claudia still did not know the full story, only that Julia had broken his heart. Not by her death, but by some betrayal before she’d died. Perhaps once he realized that Claudia would never hurt him, he’d open up his heart to her.

So much for keeping her own heart closely guarded. She tried not to expend too much thought on the matter, but she was fairly certain she loved him already. She wouldn’t dare admit to it for fear it would break whatever spell she miraculously held over him.

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