Chapter Eight
Cate was drowning in this man. There was simply no other word to describe it. She reveled in the weight of him atop her body, the hardness of him mixed with the buttery soft leather of the sofa at her back.
Wrenching at his cravat, she kissed the skin she managed to uncover, but it wasn’t enough.
Was it desperation that drove her to seek out more of him or was it simply passion that had swept her away?
In the end, it didn’t matter, for she would enjoy him any way he would give to her.
Residual tremors throbbed through her core from that release he’d given her, and while it had been lovely and satisfying, she needed more from him.
So much more.
“Hold.” The duke pulled away to rest on his knees between her splayed legs. His chest heaved while his dark blue eyes twinkled in the low illumination of this part of the library. “What would you say to trying out one of the carnal positions listed in the book?”
“Ha! I would be all for it, but I need to study the drawings further. I’ve only concentrated on the text thus far.”
“I suppose we should be cautious lest we injure ourselves doing something naughty that would prove difficult to explain.”
“Just that.” She nodded. Then a new idea formed. “Switch places with me.”
“What?”
“Exactly what I said.” Tapping his hip, Cate struggled into a sitting position on the leather.
“Lie on your back.” Once he did so, and it was quite obvious of how aroused he was at the front of his breeches, she quickly straddled him.
“Much better.” Then she leaned over his chest and captured his lips with hers, kissed him with every ounce of feeling while she ground herself on him in the hopes of making him feel as crazed as she did.
While he groaned, an expression of stark need flitted across his face. “Damn it, woman, do you have any idea of what you are doing?”
“I have a fair notion.” Just feeling the hard evidence of his arousal as it rubbed against her center through the layers of clothing made her mad to have him moving within her.
“Minx.” The cheeky duke once more set out to pleasure her breasts by rolling her nipples from root to tip.
Wild sensation flooded her body. Surely, she wouldn’t be tossed over the edge with only breast play, but it was entirely possible.
“How am I such a wanton when in your company?” Perhaps she needed to lock herself away as a menace to society with this sexual appetite, but then, why was it socially acceptable for men to have such urges but it was frowned upon for women to enjoy such things?
“There are things in this world that have no explanation,” he murmured between sucking and nipping her nipples or dragging his lips along the side of her neck. “You, I think, are one of them.”
“Is that a bad thing?” As she spoke, Cate cupped his bulging length through the fabric of his breeches, and he hissed out a warning.
“No. God no.” Need danced across his face when she freed his hot, hard shaft from his front falls. Even more so when she gave it a squeeze before sliding her curled fingers up and down that member. “Catherine, no teasing. I’ll barely last as it is.”
“I guess that leaves me no choice.” With a mock pout, she rose up on her knees, moved her skirting out of the way, took him once more in hand, guided his tip to her opening, and then with a soft grin, she impaled herself onto his shaft, stones deep, until he’d fully penetrated her body.
And it was glorious.
Their groans blended together with the sound of the rain.
The firm grip of his hands on her waist reminded her of his strength, and not for the first time did she wish they were naked, but then she rocked her hips, wriggling about to make certain he was well seated within her while he thrust upward.
Heated bliss became her world, and with every crash of them coming together, her eyes threatened to cross. The length of him filled her so gorgeously, and when she leaned over him, the base of his shaft rubbed over the swollen button at her center to leave shivering tingles behind.
“Dear heavens…” She blew out a breath as she stared down at him. “This is lovely, of course, but I want more from you, Barrington. I need you deeper, want to feel it harder.” Would that make her seem desperate?
He nodded. “God, it’s so refreshing to couple with a woman who knows what she wants.
” After another strong thrust, he encouraged her off him.
“One second.” Before she knew what he was about, he left the sofa and then plucked her off that piece of furniture as if she weighed nothing.
Moments later, he relocated them both, hefted her upward and used the nearest bookshelf as leverage at her back.
Since he was tall and well built, she felt delicate and dainty in his arms. “Perhaps this is more to your liking?” He speared into her and it was so raw and real, and he was quite a decent size, that she cried out.
“Oh, mercy, yes, that’s wonderful!” Would the servants hear her exclamation?
Her pulse rushed so hard through her veins it pounded in her ears.
Unable to deny herself from touching him, she stroked a hand along his jaw.
The faint prickle of stubble rasped against her skin.
A muscle twitched beneath her fingertips.
With every beat of her heart, she feared she’d shatter from need or from him moving in and out of her passage.
For this one moment, she wished only to feel his lips and to have his body sliding against hers.
Worrying about scandal could wait; trying to puzzle out her future would benefit from a delay.
In this one fleeting second, there was only her and him—the man who’d slipped through her fingers. “Give me more.”
“I never thought you would prove voracious, but damn that’s attractive.
” He crushed his mouth to hers, claiming her lips with a strength she couldn’t deny; her senses were consumed by this man.
The muscled length of him pressed into her softer body while the hard shelf cut into her back, but the dratted duke pulled out of her body.
His arms around her felt like iron bands, his fingers fire as he played them up and down her sides.
The warmth of his tongue as he tangled it against hers sent heat between her thighs.
She moaned into his mouth and burrowed closer.
His clean, crisp scent wafted into her nose and left his indelible stamp upon her brain.
This man was her employer, and what they were doing together was wrong, yet she couldn’t call a halt to it even if she’d wanted to.
What was wrong with her that she ended up in carnal relationships with men in authority over her?
Perhaps she didn’t wish to open that particular box in her mind.
Instead, Cate threaded her fingers through the silky hair at his nape.
She stood on tiptoe to feel the full extent of his kiss.
Her sensitive nipples rubbed against the front of his jacket, and she moaned from the exquisite torture.
The heat of his hands seeped into her rear as he gripped her derriere. His fingers feathered over her skin, and she shifted in order to spread her legs, locked her ankles at the small of his back, hoping he’d stroke her pulsing button.
When he drew abstract patterns over her buttocks, she wrenched away to pepper his chin with kisses. “Stop teasing. I need you inside me.”
“Where is the fun in that, though?” He grasped her hips and ground his pelvis into hers, teasing her opening with his tip. “Yet things are quite urgent.”
“Barrington!” Daring much, she drew a hand between their bodies and caressed the impressive length of him. His breath hissed. She smiled. “Don’t make me stroke you off, for I will, but I’ll be quite perturbed if you don’t finish me.”
“Such a managing baggage.” The head of his member rubbed along her folds.
A host of shivers fell down her spine and clashed with the ones invading her insides.
“I rather adore it.” He shoved into her passage without warning, and then Cate’s world dissolved beneath a wave of pleasure.
“Damnation, you feel good.” He pulled out only to thrust again.
The duke groaned and held his position, fully sheathed inside her.
His breath stirred the loose hair at her temple.
There were no words she wanted to waste on how he made her feel.
There was plenty of time for that at a later date.
She grasped his shoulders and tilted her hips, wriggled them to take him in as far as she could.
His thick, long length filled her, stretched her more than she’d ever been.
Each tiny movement on his part set off a flutter of sensation through her core.
Her insides tingled and tightened. She pulled him closer, wanting him to move yet hoping they could remain like this forever.
She’d never felt such a bond with anyone before. A tiny piece of her heart unexpectedly flew into his keeping. Oh, dear, that is not good.
Barrington held her steady with his hands beneath her thighs. His gaze softened and a mixture of awe and pleasure illuminated his expression. He closed his eyes and moved within her. Each penetration sent glorious sensations through her body.
With each slow, gentle thrust, Cate lost her grip on reality. “This is lovely, but… I want wild, Your Grace. I want you, uninhibited.” Was that really her voice that sounded far too graveled and smoky?
He grunted. “Fuck. I don’t want our joining to be lovely.”
“Then do something about it.” A tired smile curved her kissable lips. “You are guiding this seduction.”
“Ha. I rather think that is a lie.” But his rhythm increased as did his bid to claim her. Stronger. Harder. Faster. Each slide sent her closer to the edge.
“Barrington, send me flying.” Desperation filled her voice. Cate dug her fingernails into his shoulders.
“I’m trying.” He pumped into her. Each thrust sent intense sensation racing along her spine.