Chapter 11 #2
Nora inhaled deeply as Godric stepped closer, his eyes slowly raking over her form once more.
She had sounded so mature just then, less petulant than all the times they had interacted viciously like this. He had never thought to expect it, could not imagine that such an occurrence would take place.
“No,” she folded her arms as she repeated with a withering glare. “I am not a child.”
“I find that hard to believe, Miss Nora,” he said dismissively.
“Your actions up until now have led me to believe otherwise. As you can imagine, you have not been the most reliable or trustworthy – even to handle your own affairs. And you will agree that such a task is the most basic thing expected of any grown adult.”
He was baiting her. It was quite obvious to him, but he did not understand it. Could not fathom why.
He only knew that if she proved him wrong, then it would be much more difficult to deny how much his body yearned for her.
“That is because you have judged me based on your own ridiculous standards. I can handle myself and my affairs just fine. As I have been, before you came into my life,” she told him with an incredulous expression.
“I still have my doubts. Although you appear to be a grown woman, you have committed yourself to behaving like the little girl I remember. Whilst acting like a woman who now knows so much about the world.”
“I know enough,” Nora said, though her voice had lost some of its conviction.
“Do you?” Godric's lips curved into something that was not quite a smile. “Tell me, Nora. What do you know about men?”
The question clearly caught her off guard. “I – what?”
“Men,” Godric repeated, moving even closer.
“You claim to be a woman grown, capable of making your own decisions. Yet a simple plea for help from a stranger led you to risk your life and honor without a second thought. If you are so easily swayed by compassion, how will you fare against a man who seeks to seduce you?”
Nora's cheeks flamed. “I would not –”
“Would you not?” Godric interrupted. His hand came up to rest on her waist, and Nora felt as though all the air had been sucked from the room. “You would not fall for pretty words and gentle touches? You would not let yourself be led astray by someone who knew how to play on your emotions?”
“No,” Nora said, but her voice came out as barely more than a whisper. “I would not fall so easily.”
“Are you certain?”
Before she could answer, Godric's other hand came up to cup her face, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone with devastating gentleness. Nora's eyes fluttered closed despite herself, her body betraying her even as her mind screamed at her to step away.
“Are you certain?” he repeated, his breath warm against her temple. “Because you seem rather easily affected by me.”
“I am not,” Nora insisted, forcing her eyes open to meet his gaze. “I am not so weak-willed.”
“Prove it,” Godric challenged, his hand sliding from her waist to the small of her back, pulling her flush against him. “Show me how strong your resolve is.”
His lips brushed against her ear, and Nora felt her knees weaken. This was wrong. This was dangerous. This was –
“Your Grace,” she breathed, her hands coming up to rest against his chest. She intended to push him away, she really did, but her treacherous fingers curled into the fabric of his waistcoat instead.
“Yes?” His voice was a low rumble that she felt as much as heard.
“This is – we should not – ”
“Should not what?” His hand traveled lower, settling on the curve of her behind and squeezing lightly. “Should not acknowledge this pull between us? Should not admit that you have been thinking about our kiss as much as I have?”
“I have not – ” she tried to lie, but the words died in her throat when his lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her neck.
“Have you not?” he murmured against her skin. “Then why are you shaking? Why is your heart racing? Why are you clinging to me instead of pushing me away?”
Because she tried as she might, she could not seem to make herself let go. Because his touch had reawakened that thing within her that she did not fully understand. Because every nerve in her body was screaming for more.
“I am not shaking,” she said stubbornly, lips curled into a petulant pout even as another shiver ran through her.
Godric chuckled darkly, the sound sending heat pooling low in her belly. His hand came up to cup her face again, tilting her head back so she was forced to meet his eyes.
“Still so stubborn,” he said, his tone bearing a hint of admiration. “Still refusing to admit defeat.”
His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip, and Nora found herself leaning into the touch despite every rational thought telling her not to.
“Admit it, Nora,” he commanded softly. “Admit that you want this. Admit that you want me.”
Her pride fought with her desire, but it was rapidly losing any place it once had. Her lips parted, ready to confess everything, when Godric's hand slipped beneath the neckline of her dress, his fingers skimming over the curve of her breast.
The sensation ripped a small, involuntary sound from her throat.
“There it is,” Godric murmured approvingly. “There is the truth you have been trying to hide.”
His touch grew bolder, more insistent, as he continued to explore the supple and soft flesh of her bosom at a deliberately slow pace.
Nora’s mind had lost the ability to form coherent thoughts, and therefore, words were now impossible as well.
Her head fell back, granting him better access, and she felt his lips curve into a smile against her neck.
“So responsive,” he praised, his thumb brushing over her nipple through the thin fabric of her chemise. “So eager, despite all your protests.”
“Please,” Nora breathed, though she was not entirely sure what she was begging for.
“Please, what?” Godric's other hand was at the fastenings of her dress now, expertly making quick work of the buttons. “Please stop? Please continue? You must be specific, Nora.”
“I – I do not know,” she admitted, her voice breaking.
“Then allow me to help you decide.”
The bodice of her dress gave way, and cool air hit her hot skin. Godric's hands were everywhere at once, tugging at her clothing, caressing the exposed flesh, driving her closer to ruin with every touch.
His lips found the curve of her shoulder, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along her skin. Down to her collarbone, across to the swell of her breast, his tongue tracing patterns that made her writhe against him.
“Your Grace,” she gasped when his mouth closed over her nipple.
“Godric,” he corrected against her skin. “Say my name, Nora.”
“Godric,” she obeyed, her fingers tangling in his dark hair.
“Good girl,” he murmured, and the praise sent another jolt of pleasure through her.
His hands continued their exploration, one cupping her breast while the other slid down her side, over her hip, gathering the fabric of her skirts. Nora felt as though she were burning from the inside out, every touch stoking the flames higher.
When his hand finally reached its destination, sliding beneath her skirts to stroke the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh, Nora let out a sound that was halfway between a sob and a moan.
“So wet already,” Godric observed, his voice rough with desire. “So ready for me.”
His fingers found her center, and Nora nearly collapsed from the intensity of the sensation.
Only his arm around her waist kept her upright as he began to stroke her with expert precision.
His ministrations bore no hesitation or reluctance, and his fingers explored the moist heat between her legs eagerly.
“Oh God,” she whimpered, her hips moving of their own accord against his hand.
“Not God,” Godric corrected, his lips finding her ear. “Just me. Only me.”
His fingers thrust in deeply, working her over rapidly and building her pleasure higher and higher until she felt as though she might shatter from it. Just when she thought she could bear no more, when she was teetering on the very edge of something explosive, he stopped.
“No!” The protest burst from her lips before she could stop it.
“No?” Godric's tone was infuriatingly calm. “Do you want something, Nora?”
“Please,” she begged shamelessly. “Please do not stop.”
“Then ask me properly,” he commanded. “Tell me what you want.”
Nora had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. But the need coursing through her was too powerful to deny.
“Please,” she whispered. “Please let me... I need to...”
“You need to what?” His fingers resumed their movement, but slowly, torturously. “Say it.”
“I need to finish,” she gasped out. “Please, Godric. Please let me finish.”
“Since you asked so nicely,” he murmured, and his fingers began to move with renewed purpose.
The pleasure built again, faster this time, climbing toward that precipice. Nora clutched at his shoulders, her nails digging into the fabric of his coat as waves of sensation crashed over her.
“That is it,” Godric encouraged, his voice dark velvet in her ear. “Let go for me, Nora. Let me see you come undone.”
When the release finally came, it was like nothing Nora had ever experienced. Her entire body tensed, then she fell apart, pleasure flowing from where his fingers had caressed and stroked her. She cried out, the sound muffled against his shoulder, as tremors wracked her frame.
Godric held her through it, supporting her weight as her legs threatened to give out, his fingers slowing to a stop as she came down from the peak.
When she finally regained some semblance of coherence, she found herself pressed against his chest, his arms wrapped around her in an almost protective embrace. She could feel his heart thundering beneath her palm, his breathing as ragged as her own.
For a moment, they simply stood there, wrapped in each other.
Then Godric stepped back, releasing her so suddenly that she nearly stumbled. His expression had shuttered again, that familiar cold mask sliding back into place.
“Return to your home now,” he said flatly, already turning away from her to adjust his own disheveled clothing. “It is late.”
Nora stared at his back, feeling as though she had been doused with ice water. “What?”
“You heard me,” Godric said, his voice devoid of emotion. “Go home, Miss Nora.”
Hurt and anger warred within her. “You cannot just –”
Godric interrupted, turning to face her again, his eyes dark – this time missing the desire that had stirred her insides.
“Your actions have shown that you clearly require a strict guardian, someone to keep you from making foolish decisions. As such, I will be by your side at all times going forward. Is that understood?”
Nora felt as though she had been slapped. She yanked her bodice back into place, fastening it with shaking fingers, her cheeks burning with humiliation.
“Perfectly,” she bit out.
She turned on her heel and marched toward the door, her entire body vibrating with fury. How dare he? How dare he reduce her to begging, show her such pleasure, and then dismiss her as though she were nothing more than a troublesome child?
As she walked back to her own house, her emotions in complete turmoil, one thought manifested in her mind with perfect clarity.
If Godric wanted war, she would give it to him.
He had made her feel anger, confusion, and desire. Now it was time to make him feel something in return.
This time, she would make him angry. Furious, even.
And she would enjoy every moment of it.