Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
Selina felt like she was vibrating out of her skin with excitement. Heat pooled between her legs. She still felt his touch on her breasts and could not begin to imagine what he was capable of doing with her once they were behind closed doors.
Dominic was silent as they made their way through the manor. His hand on her back practically scorched her skin while also gently urging her to keep up as they strode to Dominic’s room. The walk to his room seemed to take an eternity in her eagerness to finally be alone with him.
As soon as Dominic closed the doors behind them, he turned and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. She barely had the chance to sneak a glance around the spacious room, decorated in shades of dark green.
This was the first time she had been in his room, so she was naturally curious what it looked like. However, it was the duke himself who really captured her attention.
His mouth was on hers in the next moment.
He gently bit her bottom lip, and she opened up her mouth for him as she put her hands on his chest. She meant to explore his muscles through his shirt, but as soon as she touched him, he pulled back, concern in his eyes.
“Do you wish to stop?” His voice was a little breathless as he looked down at her.
She shook her head. “Definitely not.”
His brow furrowed. “Then why did you push me away?” He did not sound angry, merely confused.
“I did not mean to,” she said. “Truly. I just want…” she blushed, finding it difficult to voice the thought. “I just wanted to touch you,” she finally said shyly.
He smiled and shed his suit jacket. He let it crumple to the floor before making quick work of his cravat and waistcoat, tossing them to the side. “I want you to touch me,” he said as he started to unbutton his dress shirt. “I want you to explore my body as much as I will explore yours.”
Selina watched, breathless, as he revealed his muscular body underneath. She had known he was strong before, but she had not realized just how strong he really was until now. His muscles rippled as he moved, and she wanted to kiss and lick her way over his stomach, his chest, his arms.
Dominic watched her reaction with dark eyes and a slight smile on his face. “Do you like what you see?”
She nodded silently and reached out to touch him. He sucked in his breath as she traced the ridges of his muscles with the tips of her fingers. “You are beautiful,” she said, her voice full of awe.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he said huskily. Gently, he cupped her jaw with his hand and tilted her face up so she was looking at him. “Before we continue, you must know that if you want to stop, all you have to do is tell me. I never want you to feel obligated to share my bed.”
Selina smiled up at him, warmth spreading in her chest. “I cannot believe they say you have a heart of stone.”
“I am serious, Selina.”
“So am I.” She reached up to gently touch his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. “I know you will never force me to do something I do not want, because you are one of the kindest, gentlest men I know, even if you try to hide that behind a gruff exterior.”
“You have not experienced enough kindness in your life if you think I am kind and gentle,” he said.
“You cannot fool me.” She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Now, if you do not mind, I would like to go back to exploring your beautiful body.”
He groaned softly as she traced the ridges of his chest, before moving lower to explore the muscles of his stomach. When she reached the waistband of his trousers, his hand stopped her. “I cannot go another second without seeing you undressed before me.”
A shiver ran down her spine. She smiled and gave a single nod before reaching behind her to feel for the laces of her dress.
But it was not fast enough for him. He grabbed her waist and spun her around effortlessly so her back was facing him. He made short work of the laces on her dress and tugged her dress down impatiently.
It fell into a puddle on the floor, and she gingerly stepped out of it, dressed in only a corset and chemise now. He helped her out of the corset, and she pulled the chemise over her head so she stood naked before him.
His eyes roamed over hers, hungrily, as if she were a feast created only for him. “You are stunning,” he whispered. “Get on the bed, so I can worship you properly.”
A small, nervous giggle escaped Selina’s lips as she got into bed. At least she did not have to worry about disappointing her husband.
As she spread out on the bed, she had to resist the urge to cover herself. Dominic had seen her in a state of undress before, but she had never been exposed to a man like this.
However, despite her shyness, she could not help but revel in the way he looked at her as he knelt on the bed, next to her. He looked at her as if she were the most precious thing in the world to him, as if she were something to claim, but also cherish, all at once. It was intoxicating.
His hands traveled over her breasts, teasing her nipples into hard points before he continued moving downwards. The flat of his hand smoothed over her stomach, making her shiver, before he went even lower, his fingers touching the pearl above her sex. “Spread your legs, sweetheart,” he murmured.
Selina whimpered softly as she spread her legs. Surely, if he touched her there, she would go mad…
His hand trailed over her folds, sending a frisson of pleasure through her body. She felt herself get slick with desire. “Please,” she said, her voice breaking. She did not even know what she was asking for, but her hips lifted up to get more contact with his hand.
He chuckled. “Do not worry, sweetheart. I will give you what you want.” He dipped a finger into her folds, and it brushed against the sensitive little nub within.
Selina’s entire body shuddered. She had touched herself there only a few times in the past, in the privacy of her own room, but Dominic was giving her more pleasure than she had ever dared give herself.
He chuckled as he teased her down there, his fingers moving quickly over her bud. “I love watching your reactions,” he whispered. “I love knowing what I can do to you.”
Selina squirmed. She felt pressure building up inside of her, as if she was going to explode, but before she could, he pulled his hand away from her. She whined. “Please, please, please.” She hardly recognized her own voice in her desperation.
“Do not worry, sweetheart. I am not going anywhere.” His fingers came back a moment later, but instead of teasing her bud, he plunged one inside of her.
She cried out in pleasure at the feeling of his finger filling her up.
“You are so tight, sweetheart,” he said, moving his finger in and out of her. “So deliciously tight.” His thumb pressed against her clit before he pushed a second finger inside of her. “Let go for me, sweetheart. I want to watch you fall apart on my bed.”
She did not know what he meant, but as she closed her eyes, she felt that wonderful pressure building up inside of her. She felt like she was going to explode. Let go, he said. So she let herself get lost in the feeling of his hand on her, claiming her.
The pleasure seemed to explode throughout her entire body. Selina let out a shaky moan as she trembled. Slick wetness exploded from her core, but Dominic did not seem to mind.
When the pleasure had subsided enough for Selina to think straight again, her husband withdrew his hand, raised it to his mouth, and licked it clean. “You taste as wonderful as you look, sweetheart.”
“I had no idea it could feel like that,” she said breathlessly.
“It can, if the man knows what he is doing.” He sounded a little smug.
Selina giggled. “And here I thought it was your friend who was the Velvet Duke, not you.”
He chuckled. “Just because I do not seek pleasure with every willing lady I encounter does not mean I have not had my share of experience.”
She reached for his trousers. “I would like to return the favor. But you will have to teach me.”
He smiled, but stayed her hand with his own. “Not tonight,” he murmured. “Right now, I just want to hold you in my arms.”
She smiled and moved closer to him. It was strangely difficult for her to move her body because she felt like a lead weight. Dominic had made her feel more relaxed than she had ever felt in her life.
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her up against him, so her head was resting against his chest. She closed her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. “Your arms make me feel safe,” she mumbled. “I have longed for you to hold me, just like this.”
“I am glad to hear it.” His voice shook with emotion as he spoke. “I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to be happy here.”
Selina remembered what he had told her in the carriage, about Eugenia jumping to her death.
She also remembered the railings he insisted on being installed on the balcony windows before she moved into the duchess’s suite.
He must have been so scared I would share Eugenia’s fate.
“I am happy you are my husband,” she said.
“Greystone is my home now, and I could not have asked for a better home or family.”
He did not reply. He merely kissed her forehead and held her tighter.