Chapter Eight #2
It was rather lovely to let go of her control and in doing that, the relaxation found within the act somehow enhanced the feelings unexpectedly brought into it.
To say nothing of his impressive stamina.
Cate whispered encouragement as she clawed at his shoulders and met his final drive.
Over and over, he went. Deeper he drove until she was completely lost in him and what he was doing.
In an odd part of her brain, she wondered if the Egyptians in that book ever coupled against a wall and if they did, was it in the palace?
A few books tumbled to the floor around them.
“Tell me you’re close.” Need graveled his voice as he pounded into her and his fingers dug into her thighs.
“I can be.” As he watched with hunger shadowing his eyes, she put a hand between their bodies and worked her own button.
“Oh, goodness.” The faster she rubbed that nubbin, the more the back of her hand brushed the root of his member.
It seemed to inflame him, for his thrusts grew frantic and uninhibited.
“Barr!” Release came over her quickly, and intense, and she gasped from it.
But he kept going, and when she went over again, she truly thought she might expire, for her body shuddered, threatened to break apart, and a half-stifled scream escaped her throat.
Seconds later, he followed her into the void, grinding into her as his length pulsed. Her inner walls squeezed around him in a series of frantic flutters. His member shuddered and pulsed. With a stifled shout, he thrust once more, but they were both spent.
As his ragged breathing echoed in her ears, he eased her down his body, and once she found her footing, she melted into him.
Her skirts fell into place, but she swayed.
He bundled her into his arms, and she sighed at the luxury of everything that had happened.
One of her favorite things after intercourse was being held by a man to bask in that residual feeling of bliss.
When she stirred, he kissed the top of her head and then released her.
She offered him a tired smile. “You were correct, Your Grace. That was more than lovely.” She cupped his cheek then went further to furrow her fingers into his hair at his nape simply to extend the intimacy.
“And better than I could imagine, especially after all that teasing.”
“Damnation, that was unexpected,” he said as he leaned into her, keeping her pressed between him and the books. “God, you were amazing.” Such honesty threaded through his voice that she warmed from the praise.
“So were you. I’m impressed, Scarborough.” For a bit, she was content to be held because she adored how a man’s strength felt around her, and he was quite accommodating as they came back from the heights.
Eventually, he pulled away to tuck himself back into his breeches and right his clothing. “I suppose this means everything has changed.”
“Only if you wish it.” Cate frowned as she tugged her bodice back into place. Surely, he wouldn’t demand marriage merely because they’d given into passion. “I should return to the translation.”
“No.” The duke shook his head. “Let’s order tea and have a chat. After the things we’ve gotten up to, I’d like to know you a bit better. I don’t want the heat to be all there is between us.”
Well, that was quite unexpected, and it sent knots of worry into her belly. “Why?”
He shrugged as his expression turned enigmatic.
“Translation work is long and exhausting, and it’s the Christmastide season besides.
” Once he moved across the room, he unlocked the door and pulled it open.
“I don’t want you to think I only value your presence to relieve tension or for a bit of slap and tickle.
” Then he yanked on a brocade bell pull.
“I hold more respect for you than that.”
“Oh.” That was exceedingly different from her previous two trysts with employers.
“That would be quite interesting. Thank you.” What did that mean going forward?
She couldn’t begin to say, but something had shifted between them during that coupling, and it both gave her a bit of hope as well as discomfited her.
“Did you wish to move back into the drawing room?”
“No, this will do nicely.” He pointed to the box he’d brought with him. “I thought we could do a bit of decorating in here, merely to mark the passing of the season.”
She nodded. “All right.” With a queer little tremor around her heart, she cleared her throat. “Allow me a few moments to refresh myself then I’ll be happy to join you.”
“As luck would have it, I have just two months ago installed a water closet at the end of the corridor on this level.” With a wink, he ushered her into the hallway.
“With a flush toilet. It was insanely expensive, but I figured if I were doing renovations, I wanted to modernize in every way I could. That was one of them.”
“How interesting. Thank you.” As she made her way along the corridor, she tried to wrap her head around the man the duke truly was, and why she was running a huge personal risk being with him in such a way, for sooner or later, she feared she would do something silly or stupid, like give away her heart.
And that had ended horribly the last time.