Chapter 21
Della stood before Royce in nearly see through chemise, and he could not help but question how he would have felt if it had been Miss Putnam before him, standing there in such an intimate manner. Would he have had the same urge to claim her as his own, like he did with Della? In his gut, he knew the answer was no.
“You are absolutely breathtaking.” Royce’s hands moved slowly over Della’s body until they came to rest just below her breasts. “These are heaven,” he said, lifting them up for a closer look. Bending over, he took the tip of her chemise-covered breast into his mouth, using the fabric to his advantage.
With a soft moan, Della weaved her fingers through his hair, holding him firmly in place. With a dark chuckle, Royce moved to the other side and repeated the same ministrations, thoroughly enjoying her reaction. He was beyond hard, and as much as he wanted to sink into her core and pound away until they both found bliss, he knew he could not.
He wanted to make this night something Della would always remember. Something that, when they were old and gray, would reignite the embers and keep them burning at the mere thought of it.
Still latched onto her breast, Royce walked Della backward until the backs of her knees hit the bed, forcing her to sit down. “This needs to go,” he said as pulled at her chemise. But Della stopped him before he could remove it.
“I think this is terribly one-sided, Your Grace.” Della smiled. “Why am I sitting here clad only in a chemise while you remain fully clothed?”
“That can be easily rectified.” Royce shoved away from the bed, grabbed the bottom of his shirt, and pulled it over his head. Keeping his eyes on her, Royce undid the buttons on his breeches. “Should I stop?” Royce quirked an eyebrow at Della.
“No…” she said in a breathy whisper.
Tucking his thumbs below the waist of his breeches, Royce slowly guided them down his legs. When he stood, Della’s eyes went wide. His cock jutted forth, standing like a soldier at attention under her curious stare, and she bit at her bottom lip, tilting her head to the side as if she was contemplating something important.
With deliberate steps, he moved toward her, allowing her enough time to observe him, and eventually settled on the bed. He placed his hands behind his head, causing his muscles to flex and bend.
“Do you wish to explore?”
“Is that not uncomfortable?” Della asked, staring at his manhood where it curved upward along his stomach as she scooted over and settled down beside him.
“It can be, but in this case…no, it is not.”
“I am sure there are many words that this goes by,” she said, reaching down and gliding a single finger along the sensitive underside. Della jerked her hand back as Royce drew in a ragged breath through his nose. “Did I hurt you?”
“Della, it would take much more than a feather-like touch to hurt me. There are many words people use, but I will not elucidate on them tonight. And the main word used to describe that—” he looked down— “is cock.”
“Cock,” Della repeated, gently stoking her finger up and down over his length, his cock growing harder with every pass.
With a teasing touch, her finger traveled from his manhood, circled his naval, before finally reaching his chest, where she gently caressed each of his pale pink nipples.
Royce watched as Della leaned forward and copied what he had done to her. She ran her tongue over one, and he hissed at the contact. Inspired by his reaction, she sensually traced her tongue along his chest, gradually moving to the other side, and delicately sucked it into her mouth. The intense sensation made his hips instinctively lift off the bed.
“Good God! Warn a man before you do that!” Royce laughed at his own response.
“You did not warn me!” Della chastised, placing her hand on her hips.
“Touché. I think that is enough exploring for today.”
“Oh, but…” Della protested.
“You can explore whenever you like, Della. We are married now, remember? Just say the word, and I am yours.” Royce sat up and kissed her firmly. “Now…my turn.” With a wicked grin, he flipped their positions and straddled her hips. “Now, who is wearing too much?”
Royce lifted Della’s chemise over her head, letting it flutter to the floor as he bent to take her still erect nipple into his mouth. A soft scream escaped her lips as she lay utterly naked beneath him like an offering; much like she had done in his dreams.
“Open for me.”
“What?” Della propped herself on her elbows and stared at Royce as he got up and kneeled in front of her.
“Please.” He grinned, stroking his hand up and down her thigh. “Trust me.”
Della laid back and hesitantly let her legs fall open; her face growing red with embarrassment, knowing Royce was staring at the most intimate part of her.
His arms wrapped around her thighs and pulled her closer before he drew his tongue up and over where she ached with desire. A whimper escaped from her as Royce hummed his satisfaction and used his arms to pin Della’s hips down to the bed as she squirmed under his tongue’s perusal.
“Relax Della. Just let yourself focus on how I caress you.” She heard Royce say before she felt his fingers replace his tongue. “How it feels when my fingers move in and out of you.”
Della concentrated on the unfamiliar sensations, taking deep breaths as Royce’s fingers steadily moved in and out. And soon a slight pressure began to build, ebbing and flowing with each stroke, drawing a moan from her lips.
Seeming to understand what she needed, Royce sped up, each movement sending her higher and higher until she burst forth, her body trembling as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.
“Perfect,” Royce said, his fingers glistening with the evidence of her arousal. Lowering his hand, he took hold of his cock and placed it at her entrance. “Della…”
Wrapping her arms around Royce, Della pulled him in for a kiss. “I trust you.”
With those words, a quiet tension seemed to leave him as he pushed forward ever so slightly and withdrew, driving deeper with each slow roll of his hips.
Della wanted to tell Royce she loved him but did not think now was the right time to tell him how she felt or what he meant to her. Nor did she know how he would respond to sentiments he had not wanted in his marriage.
With one more roll of his hips, Royce fully seated himself within her and stopped, his nostrils flaring slightly with each breath he took.
“Royce?”
“I am fine,” he said with a slight tremor in his voice as he bent down to take Della’s lips in a searing kiss. “More than fine. Are you?”
“Yes.” Della nodded as Royce readjusted his stance.
His movements became increasingly more forceful, creating a sense of fullness that made her body quiver with excitement. Soon the room felt like it was spinning; so strong were the sensations rioting around in her.
As Royce thrust over and over, the pressure built and built until it felt like water battering itself against a dam, demanding it give way lest it overflow, but give way, it would not. Della cried out, knowing what she wanted but unable to put it into words.
Without a word being spoken, Royce placed his thumb on the bundle of nerves above her entrance, using a gentle circular motion as his hips drove forward. Della’s body tensed as pleasure coiled deep within her.
“Let go, Della. Let go!” Royce demanded.
Della screamed her pleasure, her body obeying Royce’s words as if it were his to command. She felt Royce’s grip tighten on her hips as he thrust a few more times before finding his own release, letting out a trembling breath before collapsing heavily onto her.
Della smiled as she traced her fingers along his back as they lay there, the sweat from their exertions coating their skin. Still breathing heavily, Royce pulled her closer and rolled them to their side.
“That was…that was…”
“Indeed,” Royce laughed, reaching his hand up to push a damp lock of hair from her face.
A few minutes passed and neither of them wanted to move, their bodies too sated from their efforts. Royce eventually untangled himself and walked to the washstand. He cleaned himself quickly and grabbed a fresh cloth.
“Open your legs for me,” he said as he dipped the cloth in the water and wrung it out.
“Already?” Della quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Many more times if I have anything to say about it, however, this is for you,” he said, holding up the cloth.
Della did as Royce asked and let him lay the wet cloth on her. The cold made her gasp slightly, but it was soothing to the slight soreness she was feeling. Once finished, he threw the damp cloth onto the floor, climbed up, and slid beneath the blankets.
She could not help but find amusement in how Royce’s long, muscular frame dominated the bed. Holding his arm up in invitation, Della crawled toward him and snuggled into his warmth.
“Next time, we will do this in my room. My bed is bigger,” Royce said. “Better for me to have my way with you.”
With each lazy stroke of her arm, Royce’s lips lightly grazed Della’s forehead, causing her smile to grow wider and her heart to flutter. She nestled her head on his chest, finding solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and let it lull her into a peaceful sleep.
Beams of light poured through every window as the sun peeked over the horizon. Della yawned and stretched, only to be startled by a sudden pressure around her waist, which made her momentarily panic. But memories from the previous night slowly made their way into her consciousness as the morning fog cleared.
Della turned to her side, wedging one hand between her face and the pillow, and smiled at Royce’s still-sleeping form. She was sure he cared for her; he had all but said as much that night in the library after they visited the ruins. But uncertainty lingered as to whether he would ever be willing to hear the words she longed to say to him.
“Why are you staring at me?” Royce asked with his eyes still shut.
“How did you know I was looking at you? You have not even opened your eyes.”
“I can just sense it,” he said groggily.
“I am staring at you because I am trying to make sure this is all real, that I am not dreaming.”
Without warning, Royce sprang up and rolled on top of her.
“Does this feel like a dream to you?” he taunted, grinding his hips into her. “Does this?” He leaned down and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth.
Della could only squeak in reply as she rotated more fully onto her back and let her legs fall open, inviting him into her warmth.
“Your offer is wonderful, and trust me, I am more than tempted. But for your sake, I must decline. Besides, if we do not get dressed, how are you supposed to see your surprise?”
“Royce,” Della admonished.
“This really is not a surprise from me as much as it was one from Maggie. I just paid for it.” He laughed, exposing a small dimple on his right cheek.
“What else could you possibly surprise me with?”
“Oh, I can think of many, many…many things.“ Royce’s voice lowered suggestively as he placed a heated kiss on her lips before tumbling off the bed and headed for the dressing room.
Della watched Royce’s perfectly sculpted backside disappear into the other room as she lay there in bed, smiling. She could not remember when she had last felt this happy.
With Maggie, her happiness came from knowing they would be there for each other no matter what; of time spent together and the laughs shared. But the type of happiness she felt with Royce? That was entirely different. She had never cared about being a duchess; she only ever wanted the man behind the title.
Royce came back out, almost fully dressed, attempting to button his cuff. “Could you help me? I can use my right hand with no issue, but I seem to lack the coordination with my left.”
“Where is your valet, Tinsley?” Della inquired.
“I gave him a few days off to visit his mother. I did not think he would appreciate having to help me dress multiple times throughout the day.”
Della rose onto her knees and let the sheet slide down her front, putting every part of herself on display.
“Give me your hand, please,” Della said, reaching out for him.
She found herself captivated by Royce’s penetrating stare, and in an instant, he discarded his jacket, untied his cravat, and pulled his shirt over his head.
“I thought you said no.”
“I changed my mind,” Royce growled.
Della shrieked as Royce charged for her, tackling her back onto the bed. They both laughed as they fell, their lips and bodies meeting in a fiery passion that went well into the afternoon.