Page 40 of A Duke Trapped in Desire

God, how I want her.

He could have gladly removed his trousers and made love to her, to claim her as his own so that the two of them were completely united. Yet there was something about sharing this moment with her above the gambling hall he could not abide. He would pleasure her, yes, maybe even take some pleasure for himself, but he wouldn’t take her completely – not here, not in this way. He had a better idea for that night.

He bent over her on the bed and kissed her, moving his lips to hers with such fervor that one of her arms raised around his neck. The way she held onto him plastered their bodies together. He barely had the room to lift his hand between them and search for that tender spot between her legs.

He found it swiftly, discovering she was already wet, ready for him. She moaned into the kiss as he began to touch her. He knew he should have been gentle at first, soft, preparing her, yet his desire for her made his fingers fast, and she seemed to love that speed. Her hips moved with his hand until her body was moving completely to the rhythm that he made.

She laid a hand to his. Stunned, his movements froze, and he inched back from that kiss, fearing he had done something wrong. The smile on her lips showed that all was well.

“Show me,” she whispered, her hands moving toward his trousers. He lifted himself up, uncertain what she meant at first. She shifted to his tailcoat and sat up, pushing the jacket off his shoulders then his waistcoat and his cravat. Lastly, she reached for his shirt, trying to pull it over his head. “Please, James.” Her plea was enough to make him help her. He tossed the shirt away, throwing it somewhere across the room though he didn’t care to look where it had landed.

The moment he was exposed, he froze, feeling her hands beginning to explore him. Those sensual fingers travelled down his chest, exploring the carving of his muscles there. He was suddenly glad he practiced his fencing so much with Michael and made a point of riding. It kept him physically fit, something that seemed to enamor Marina, for as she explored him, her lips parted in a small ‘o,’ and her fingers became firmer on him.

When she reached down to the fastening of his trousers, he held a hand over hers, wanting her to be sure.

“Please,” she whispered once more. “Show me what to do. I want you to feel what you make me feel.” Her words snapped any resistance he might have felt.

He helped her to undo the fastening then his trousers were pushed down his hips, revealing his length to her. At first, her eyes went wide, and he smiled a little, clearly seeing how stunned she was to discover his length. She wet her lips for a second, not once looking away from him.

“Lay down,” he said playfully, intending to take command of her again. She did as he asked, her Pomona green gown gathered around her hips, revealing her legs and the curve of her hips that had him so enamored. He reached for her center, but she held a palm to his chest, stopping him.

“I’d like to be in control this evening.” Her words had him practically growling as he pressed his lips to her neck, pressing kisses and playful nips there. A coil of pleasure had begun in his stomach, shooting very low indeed. He didn’t think it was possible for his body to stir more or for his length to stand more to attention. “Show me what to do, James.” She placed her hand in one of his.

Lifting himself off her a little, he took her hand and directed her to his length, showing her exactly what to do.

CHAPTER14

Marina was enamored as she watched James’ face. She did as he showed her, until soon, he let his own hand fall away, so it was only her pleasuring him. He braced himself over her, one hand to the mattress as his face began to redden and small growling moans escaped his lips.

Never once did he look away from her. His eyes on hers made the moment so intense that Marina couldn’t fathom why they had not done this before. How come they hadn’t shared in this excitement the first night they were married? Better yet, why didn’t they lock the door of that first bedchamber they had found themselves in and explore this feeling then?

He moved one of his hands off the mattress, inching toward her center. That first touch had her mewling, wanting more of his touch. She became quite distracted as she tried to please him, for her own pleasure was taking over.

James was just as bold as before, moving his hands without relent or hesitation. The confidence with which he thrilled her had her panting, closing her eyes until her eyelids fluttered. Her end was coming much quicker this evening though she supposed it had something to do with the fact they were sharing pleasure tonight, rather than it being her alone. The intensity was overwhelming, and when she reached her end, it took over her body.

Closing her eyes firmly, all went black with stars as his name passed her lips. She panted, trying to recover, as she felt him release. He moved himself away from her all of a sudden, just far enough that his length was buried in the bedsheets beside them, masking what had happened for a minute.

She was still struggling to catch her breath as she reached out toward him, her hand going for his arm. He moved before her fingers could touch the bare skin there. He rolled over on the bed and flipped her with him so that she was laid on her back on the mattress, her head on the pillow.

“James,” she barely managed to say his name before his lips found her own. It was a slower kiss than before, just as heated but not so fast and demanding now. The slowness of it was sensual, urging her hands to raise and tangle in his dark hair, pulling him down toward her.

When they parted, she was very aware of how bare they both were. His trousers were around his hips, his torso exposed, and her gown was still ruffled around her waist. As they looked at one another, Marina smiled, unable to contain it.

“I think I quite like the way you try to distract me these days,” he said, his voice so deep and quiet she had to strain to hear it.

“Me too. But I…” She trailed off. She wanted to know him completely, to experience what it was like to be made love to by James, yet he shook his head.

“Not here, Marina,” he whispered, trailing kisses down her cheek that soon reached her neck. “In our home, then yes… someday soon.” He melded their bodies together, and she embraced him tightly, lifting her leg past his hip to cling to him.

Had she known such intense intimacy was possible with James, she would have gladly walked up to him the first night she had ever seen him at a ball. Yet there was no way to turn back the hands of the clock. She was just glad she knew him as she knew him now.

Abruptly, there were sounds from downstairs in the gambling hall. James lifted himself up, a frown betraying his anger at those noises.

“Did you forget where we were momentarily? I certainly did,” she teased him, her hand reaching out to his bare chest.

“Very much,” he agreed, nodding. “In the midst of that… ah, I could only think about what we were doing.” He kissed her again with one slow kiss that was so gentle her hands curled around his biceps, holding onto him. “We can’t stay here.” The words were sudden, leaving her bereft as he climbed off her.

“Oh.” She sighed deeply, reaching for the skirt of her gown. She had loved every minute of what they had shared, yet now, a sadness crept in. With how easy he was leaving her, climbing off the bed, she was reminded of something.

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