Chapter 16 #2
When they reached the carriage, he turned to her, and she willed herself not to shudder under his dark, molten eyes.
“Allow me,” he said huskily.
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
She should have refused. She knew she should have.
But her hands rose of their own accord and landed lightly on his shoulders.
The instant his callused palms closed around her hips, raw heat surged in her core.
Alexander’s thumb deliberately stroked her sides in slow, knowing circles, as he hoisted her up and placed her inside the carriage.
His strength, touch, and closeness ripped a tiny, involuntary shudder through her whole body and he must have noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Because his gaze fell to her parted lips, then back to her eyes, and something enthralled yet tender flickered in his expression.
“There was no need for that.” She snatched her hands away from him and sat clumsily in the carriage seat.
How mortifying.
“Do not pretend that you did not enjoy it.” Alexander looked pleased with himself as he ordered the horseman and climbed in after her, shutting the door with a decisive click.
The carriage lurched forward, and suddenly the world narrowed to the two of them and the too-small space between their kneecaps. Theodora’s heart hammered so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
He watched her for a long silent moment before his brow furrowed. “Theo… is something wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” she replied too fast. “Everything is…perfectly fine.”
But Alexander kept staring at her. “Are you certain? You look as though you have caught a fever.”
She exhaled shakily, pressing her hand between her breasts. “My heart is racing, my hands are trembling, and my stomach is… tight and fluttering. And I am not unwell or afraid, so I do not understand why my body is doing this.”
Alexander smirked wickedly. “I believe that I understand what is happening.”
She glared at him. “Pray, do tell.”
Theodora did not expect him to lean in and pull her closer to him until she was between his knees. Her legs were trapped, but she did not want to retreat. Alexander reached out and tilted her chin towards him until there were eye-to-eye.
“Are you thinking about what I did to you the last time we were alone?” he asked softly, looking deep into her eyes.
Theodora found herself incapable of lying. “Y…yes.”
She trembled as she breathed him in. He smelt of sweat, cinnamon, and blood. Her body reacted wildly to his natural scent.
I have had enough of this!
Theodora opened her mouth to tell him to back off when Alexander closed the distance and captured her lips in a soft yet searing kiss.
“Mmm,” she moaned pleasurably against his mouth.
She did not realize how much she needed to taste him again until now. Alexander kissed her softly, almost carefully, but Theodora needed more. She nipped at his bottom lip; he hissed as he pulled away and cupped her chin, allowing his fingers to trail down her throat.
Theodora gasped and struggled to keep her balance on the edge of the seat.
“Do you want more, Theo?” His eyes were dark with passion.
She shook her head.
“Say it,” he commanded her. “Say you want more.”
She inhaled deeply, trying and failing to steady herself. “I want—no. I need more.”
Alexander scooted across the seat and his lips crashed down on hers before she knew what was happening.
Her breath caught when her back hit the seat of the carriage and he towered over her.
Theodora’s pulse roared in her ears as the kiss deepened.
Alexander’s tongue brushed hers in a slow stroke that made heat pool low in her belly.
He pulled back just enough to speak against her mouth. “Has your heart rate risen?”
Theodora felt as though her heart would burst through her chest at any minute.
She swallowed hard. “Yes.”
His eyes darkened with satisfaction. “Good.”
He kissed her again, slower, and hungrier.
One hand slid to her waist, fingers splaying wide, pinning her against the plush seat.
His other hand cupped the back of her neck as his thumb stroked along her skin.
Alexander tilted her head to take more of her mouth.
Theodora’s fingers curled into his shirt as she tried to pull him closer and a soft, helpless sound escaped her throat.
Alexander drew back and removed his shirt. Her eyes travelled along his torso; his bruises were bright and his injury by his rib looked frightfully swollen. She felt an odd sensation within that had nothing to do with their sexual hysteria.
“You are in pain.” She continued to stare at his lean body.
“You are unsettled?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“In a bad way?” His brows furrowed.
“I want you but…I do not want to hurt you.”
“Trust me, Theo, you will not hurt me.”
Theodora’s eyes travelled lower down his body to the growing bulge in his trousers. His member pressed impressively against the material and her eyes widened with curiosity.
Alexander smiled and resumed his position.
“Your touch only burns me. It does not bruise me,” he murmured against her lips.
Theodora shivered. His hands on her face felt unbearably hot, and she wanted to rip the cloak and dress off so she could feel his entire body.
“Alex,” she moaned his name.
With a flick of his finger, he untied the knot of her cloak, and it fell softly off her shoulders.
Alexander grabbed her hair and tilted her head back as he trailed hot, open kisses down the side of her neck.
Theodora’s legs parted and he fit between her perfectly.
His teeth grazed her breasts until she arched involuntarily.
His hands grabbed her waist as he slid lower, bunching the fabric of her skirt, and gathering it inch by inch until cool air kissed her thighs. She tensed suddenly.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, giving her a moment to refuse him.
“No, you will not stop,” she replied breathlessly.
Alexander smiled darkly as his fingers slipped beneath the hem and did not stop searching until he found the soft skin of her inner thigh. He stroked upward in lazy, teasing circles. Higher. Higher. Until he reached the damp heat between her legs.
“Oh!” she gasped and he groaned low in his throat.
Theodora felt her own wetness on his fingers as he played with her.
“Theodora…” He growled her name and parted her folds with two fingers.
Slowly and carefully, he began to circle her most sensitive part with the pad of his thumb. Theodora’s mind spiraled with each stroke. He was gentle at first, then his touch became firmer, and steadier.
“That feels so good!” She gasped as her hips jerked towards his hand.
Alexander slowly and gently pressed a finger inside of her, curling it just right, stroking an even more sensitive spot within her.
Her breath hitched as his finger entered her deeply while his thumb kept working at her mound in tight, relentless circles.
Theodora had never dared to explore her body in such a way.
She had tried those few times, but nothing she had done on her own had felt so sensational.
There was a slight sting at first, but she felt herself open up and as she did the most satisfying feeling rang through her body.
“Theo, I am going to loosen you up. Is that all right?” he asked her gently, but she could hear his own dark desires pushing through.
“Yes, please,” she begged and he listened to her pleas.
Alexander pressed a second finger inside of her, stretching her slowly.
Theodora’s head fell back against the seat as she moaned.
Her breathing turned ragged and desperate.
Pleasure coiled tighter and tighter in her core until she was trembling, thighs shaking, fingers digging into his shoulders as he thrust his hand in a gentle rhythm.
“Unravel for me,” he whispered as he looked up at her. “Let me feel you shatter around me.”
At his command, Theodora felt her rising arousal. His palm rubbed against her core and his fingers thrust wildly in and out of her. She choked on a cry when her inner walls suddenly tightened around his fingers and waves of release crashed through her.
“Oh, Alex!” she cried out.
“Good girl,” he grunted and worked her through it, slowly and steadily, until she was limp and trembling.
Only then did he withdraw his hand, bringing glistening fingers to his mouth and licking them clean while holding her gaze. The sight sent a fresh aftershock through her.
“You taste so good, Theo.” His voice was rough and unrecognizable.
Theodora was completely breathless. She tried to sit up slowly.
“Stop,” Alexander suddenly ordered her and she immediately stilled. “Stay just like that.”
He got up and sat on the seat opposite her.
Theodora struggled to gather her thoughts when she noticed that Alexander was stroking his unsheathed manhood.
She had not even realized that he had set his member free, but now she watched his movements carefully.
Her pulse picked spiked. She wanted to reach out and do it for him but she had no idea how to pleasure a man.
“May I…”
“Not tonight.” He left no room for argument. “Just sit there and watch.”
Theodora’s body trembled. Her legs were left wide open and Alexander looked between them as his hand moved up and down on his shaft.
Theodora breathed heavily through her mouth and lifted her skirts higher for him.
She felt a new wave of satisfaction when she heard Alexander groan loudly.
The rhythm of her breathing matched his while his hand moved faster and faster until he cussed and hot seed spilled over his naked thighs.
Theodora let out a soft moan as fresh desire settled over her. The sight of him would be etched into her memories forever. She needed a new release but to her dismay the carriage began to slow down, and panic gripped her.
Alexander exhaled loudly, pulled his trousers up and slipped his shirt on with no hassle whatsoever. Theodora fluffed her skirts down nervously and with trembling fingers tried to fix her hair and cloak before the carriage stopped completely.
Her body did not recover, and her breathing was shallow and erratic.
“Alex, how—”
“How do I feel?” he cut her off as his eyes darkened. “I feel as though I need you around every damn second or I will lose my mind. And when you are around, I feel as though I need to taste every part of you until I am fully satisfied.”
Theodora’s breath hitched.
“You do not have to tell me how you feel,” he continued as he eyed her with a smirk.
She was envious of Alexander’s stamina and composure. Even then he seemed calmer than she did as he helped her out of the carriage a moment later. He chuckled when he steadied her before her knees threatened to buckle and Theodora shot him a cold look before she brushed against him and walked away.
“Goodbye, Alex,” she tried to speak coldly but her voice wavered.
“I want to see you again,” he called out before she entered Dowell House.
Theodora looked back at him, still flushed and lightheaded.
“No,” she said simply and turned away before she changed her mind.
It was too dangerous to see him again, but heaven knew that she wanted to turn back right then and there, and continue what they had started. As the door closed behind her, Theodora could hear the Scarlet Duke’s laughter, and the sound followed her through the dark corridor.