“Yes.” She reached for him, but he didn’t allow her to pull him back down. With the slight distance between them he had an almost tangible hold on his senses. “Duke, please.”
Duke pressed her fair hair back from her face and searched her gaze for some inkling of doubt. There was none. And he could argue with her no longer.
Decision made, he took her hands and urged her to the bed. Then he joined her on the bed, shifting to sit behind her. He found the laces of her gown and set to work on them.
Never before had a dress seemed so complicated. He’d unlaced enough of them surely but this one with its complicated ties confounded him. He’d never felt so ungainly and clumsy.
But when he managed to push the purple silk from her back and caught sight of the lacing of her chemise and the pale skin of the gentle slope of her neck, his throat tightened
Duke eased the top of the gown down to her waist then set to work on the stays. More curse words silently uttered, he freed her from the contraption and drew it away, leaving her only in her undergarments. She slid off the bed and stood then and Duke forgot to breathe. Forgot to do anything apart from sit and gape as a wave of uncertainty came across her face.
“Duke?” A hand lingered on the strap of her chemise, and he stared at the hand for many moments, willing it to move.Come on, just a little lower.Two silly little straps gone and then he’d have a view of her perfect breasts.
He swallowed and dragged his gaze back to hers as he realized she was waiting for a response. “Yes?”
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“Wrong?”
“Why are you staring?”
“Trust me, Violet, you’re doing nothing wrong.” Was that his voice? It sounded so low and dark and gritty, as though he had swallowed sand. “You are doing everything so very, very right. Now push down those straps.”
Her eyes widened briefly but he couldn’t bring himself to care if he’d shocked her. He kept his gaze on those gently vibrating swells of flesh, just waiting to be unleashed. Then she placed one delicate finger under the first strap and slid it down. He watched, transfixed. His heart thrashed in his chest.
When it was resting just above her elbow, she lifted her other hand to the second strap. He clenched his teeth and the crack reverberated through his head. Damn minx was toying with him. And, God help him, he enjoyed every moment of the sweet torture. He had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting at her though.Do it, he wanted to say.Reveal yourself to me. He hadn’t been this eager to see a naked woman since he was a young man.
But, apparently, he was a sap for torture as he relished each tiny movement of her fingers. Then the strap was down, and the tight fabric of her chemise hung about her breasts. He let out a long hiss of air through his teeth and gripped the bedding beside him.
Fair curls teasing her bare shoulders and with one nearly covering one eye, she cocked her head to one side, a tiny smile teasing her lips. Then she allowed a finger to skim across the tops of her breasts along the line of the fabric.
That was it. He couldn’t do it any longer. In one swift movement he was on his feet and standing in front of her. In another, he had her in his arms and was kissing her like a man possessed.
Hooking his fingers over the top of her undergarments, he pulled them down with a flourish. Violet gasped and flung her arms about herself—an attempt to shield herself from his gaze. He pried her hands away from her and looked his fill.
“Don’t hide yourself from me.”
He took in those full breasts with their rosy-pink nipples, down to her waist which was beautifully indented and curved but soft. Her hips were generous and begged for his hands. White stockings elongated her legs and seemed to draw his attention directly to the most intimate part of her.
“Bloody hell,” he breathed.
Dropping to his knees, he began to peel down her stockings. He took the time to skim his fingers over the sensitive skin at the back of her knee. Her thighs trembled and the scent of arousal imbued the air. Christ, if he had realized quite what she was hiding beneath those gowns, he wasn’t sure he would have held out for so long.
Duke removed her stockings completely. Now she was bare to him. She trembled all over, perhaps in apprehension, but he knew he’d banish that soon enough. He just had to take one long look and perhaps a taste.
Hands to her rear, he groaned and was gratified to hear a moan from her in response. He let his breath whisper over the curls at the apex of her thighs.
“Duke...” His name was but a tremulous sound from her lips.
Before she could offer any protest, he laved his tongue over her folds, tasting her on his tongue. It was all he could do not to explode then and there. Her hands came to his head, unsure at first, then when he repeated the movement, her fingers gripped his hair. He pressed deeper, harder, searching for that tight nub that would bring her exquisite pleasure. When he found his treasure and nibbled, her legs quaked, and she tugged sharply on his hair.
She could rip his hair out by the roots and leave him completely bald for all he cared. He would not relinquish his prize. Keeping his grip firm on her, he licked, nibbled and kissed until her sweet noises grew into great cries. He only hoped no one heard.
The grip on his hair tightened further and her knees near buckled when her orgasm overtook her. He tasted it and felt it ripple through her body. Fearing she might collapse, he came quickly to his feet and gripped her to him. She panted against his neck, her body still quaking with the after-effects.
“Oh, Duke...”
He scooped her up quickly and laid her out on the bed. She remained languid, a tiny smile on her lips. Hands relaxed at either side of her head, her hair had almost come completely out of its pins and ribbons and fair curls surrounded her like a wild halo. A flush lingered high on her cheeks and the top of her lip sheened slightly. He didn’t think he could get any harder.