Chapter 37 Derek
Derek
Derek closed the distance between them. He knew she’d just given him an invitation with that whispered word. It was theirs.
Lips met, slow, tentative. Like neither of them knew what the kiss would bring: the resurgence of demons, or the rekindling of desire.
A part of him was terrified. The way she’d disappeared on him, fallen into a nightmare before his eyes—something inside his chest quivered.
He slid a hand to cradle her head, hold her tighter.
Derek had been helpless many times in his life.
Abandoned by his mother. Abused by his father.
Buried in the debt of his estate. He’d spent his life building walls against that feeling.
But over the past fortnight, life had barreled through them, exposing the frightened, helpless boy he’d thought didn’t exist any longer.
Being helpless was one thing when it only affected him.
It was another thing entirely when he was powerless to protect her.
It was unbearable.
I really wanted this. Still do.
Her disappointment had been as adorable as it had been heartbreaking. Christ, he wanted to give her this. She pushed into him harder, lips turning bruising, tongue demanding. He followed her lead, let her be the aggressor. And it hit him. That’s what she needed.
Make me forget.
But it wasn’t as simple as them erasing the memory with one of their own. She needed to reclaim it for herself, and he knew exactly how to help her do that.
He pulled away abruptly, and a frustrated little growl fled her. His teeth flashed in a grin. Which earned him a blue-eyed glare. She wouldn’t be disappointed for long. He hoped.
He hurried over to his discarded things and grabbed his cravat, then stopped before her again. He handed her the cravat. She glanced down at it and back at him, a question in her eyes. He gestured with his hand. “Up.”
She arched a brow, not moving a muscle. “Manners.”
His chin jerked back in surprise at the same time his cock twitched. He studied her. “You are such a surprise, minx.”
A slight blush spread over her cheeks. “A good one, I hope.”
She had no idea. A dangerous one.
“Up. Please.” A bolt of lust shot through him. Interesting. Women usually begged him. Apparently, he didn’t mind the role reversal.
She popped up, pert breasts bouncing. He groaned. It took every bit of his willpower to keep from going straight to her, crushing her to him and devouring her with hands and mouth.
But he resisted, walked right past, and fell back onto the chaise.
He spread out over it, throwing his arms up over his head.
Her curious gaze touched every inch of his bare torso and arms. Appreciation shone in those blue irises, and the beast inside him stirred.
It had come so close to getting what it wanted before it’d been thrust back in its cage. And it smelled opportunity.
“Tie me up,” he murmured. “This is for you, Livy. Take it back.”
Her eyes flared, and her mouth parted softly. And what a sight it was. The sight of her hungry.
Then she was moving. She leaned over him and bound his wrists with his cravat. And he wouldn’t be the scoundrel he was if he didn’t take advantage of the position. He lifted his head, finally taking one of those pink nipples in his mouth.
Her sharp gasp was like music to his ears. Her fingers fumbled, and she whimpered as his tongue rolled over her. He’d lied. That was music to his ears.
Then those glorious small breasts disappeared. He went with them, but his arms pulled against their restraint, and he fell back against the chaise with an oomph. He hadn’t been finished, dammit. But this wasn’t about him.
She studied him, her fingers tapping against her thighs. Nervous?
“Whatever you want. Whatever you need. It’s yours.”
Her gaze darted to the side. “Do you…urm…happen to have your spectacles on you?”
He grinned. She wanted to shag him while he wore his spectacles, did she? Blood rushed south, hot and heavy. He liked that idea quite a bit too. “They’re in my coat pocket,” he said huskily. “Go get ‘em, clever girl.”
She obtained them and was back before him much too quickly. He could have admired her lithe naked form bustling about for days.
Then she straddled him, and his mind went blank.
His mouth forgot how to make words. Because bloody fucking Christ, there was the heart of her.
She’d just boldly slid atop him, no hesitation, legs spread wide.
His blue-eyed avenging angel, gloriously naked, long legs surrounding him like he’d fantasized about.
And those golden curls were a wicked tease, curls that had his fingers twitching with need, screaming with the desperation to touch.
She slid his spectacles onto his face. And then—
He blinked. Did she just boop him on the nose?
She grinned down at him, oh-so pleased with herself.
His gut flipped over itself, and everything went unsteady. He couldn’t reconcile this mixture of all-consuming lust and light-hearted playfulness. It wasn’t something he’d ever had with a lover before.
She licked her lips, her gaze raking over him, like she didn’t know what to feast on first. Then she followed it with her nails, lightly scoring down his chest and abdomen. His eyes slid shut, and a shaky breath escaped. This was going to be the sweetest torture.
Lips feathered along his jaw until they reached his mouth, brushing over his own like a silken caress. “Thank you for this,” she whispered.
And then those soft lips were trailing down his neck, tongue and teeth tasting as she made his way to his chest. His body coiled tight.
She was thanking him? He couldn’t fathom whatever for.
Her tongue dipped into the hollow between his stomach muscles, and he hissed out a breath. He was the one who was thankful.
Her fingers worked the placket of his breeches, and even the subtle brush of fabric over his oversensitive shaft was nearly too much.
He’d wanted this for so long. In a few short moments those hands would be on him.
Around him. Pleasure curled at the base of his spine.
Another button popped free. A wave of heat coasted over him.
Sweat dripped down his neck. And then his breeches were undone, his cock tenting his smalls.
His chest was working embarrassingly hard, like he’d just climbed a flight of stairs and wasn’t leisurely lying on a chaise.
Her long, elegant fingers stroked him softly over his smalls, and the most embarrassing noise fled him.
His eyes slammed shut. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
If I invest 1,500 pounds in East India shares, yielding a five percent return compounding monthly…
Her hand blessedly stilled. “Are you… Are you going over investments?” she asked breathily.
His eyes drifted open and met hers—midnight dark and heavy-lidded. Apparently, he’d said that out loud.
He nodded slowly. Her bottom lip was trapped between her teeth, like she was trying to hold herself back. Like his frantic mathematical ramblings…were arousing.
“So, there’s one tiny problem,” he started slowly. “I haven’t had sex in ages. There’s a very good chance I may be a bit quick on the trigger. I was attempting to distract myself.”
Her hand squeezed, and a low groan ripped from deep in his chest.
“Fuck. Yes. This is going to be embarrassing. I’ve wanted your hands on me”—his gaze flicked to her mouth—“those lips. For far too long.”
She pulled down his smalls to mid-thigh. She licked her lips, eyes trained on where his length lay heavy against his stomach. “How long has it been, Derek?”
Could one die from anticipation? “Since the night you stole my clothes,” he gritted out.
His skin prickled. Her fingers hovered a breath away from him. Bloody hell. He could swear he could feel their phantom touch.
She traced a finger over his crown, sliding through where he was making a mess of himself. “That’s an interesting admission.”
Heat slapped his cheeks. He hadn’t thought of that.
“That is what? Less than a month? That’s not so very long, my lord.”
A tremor rippled through him. Everything felt upside down, inside out. He was at her mercy. Yet, she laced her dominance with deferential my lords. His body couldn’t decide whether it was meant to submit or take back control.
He scoffed to cover up his rattled thoughts. “A month is ages—” His voice cracked as she pressed a kiss to the base of his length. “It’s—nrgh—It’s equivalent to a decade for a debased cove like me.”
“Do you know what I thought when I first met you?” She licked up his length, and he died. He died.
“I thought you were a tad melodramatic. I think my assessment was correct.”
Hmm. There might be some truth to that statement.
Maybe.
And then his cock disappeared into her mouth, and he couldn’t remember what they were speaking of.
The only thing he could process was the tight, slick glide of those sinful lips down his length.
He’d known it’d be a pretty sight, that plush mouth split open wide around him.
She moved over him slowly, tongue teasing along the underside until he was slick, each pass growing smoother, more fluid.
Pleasure raced through him, building, building.
She sucked on each upward glide, cheeks hollowing. His ballocks drew up tight.
No no no. It was too much. “Stop,” he said hoarsely.
She slid off with a pop, confusion clearing away some of the desire drenching her stare. He couldn’t have that. “Too good, love. And I do not come first. That would be inexcusable.”
Her lips twitched before she flattened them. “How gentlemanly of you, my lord.”
“You’re awfully fresh, you know that?”
She leaned forward until her mouth was just above his. “You bring out the worst in me.” She kissed him. Lazy lips lingering. “I do things I’d never have dreamed of doing. All because you said so.”
Want flooded his groin. “Then I have another challenge for you, clever girl.”