Chapter Fifteen #3
“As much as I want to, there is no time. You’ve sent me dangerously close to the edge already.
However, the night is young.” Seconds later, he hooked his fingers into the fabric of her nightdress.
The sound of fabric tearing seemed to echo in the sudden silence.
“Order three more, for I can’t spare the time to finesse you out of this garment. ”
Awareness of him rippled over her skin. The chill in the air worked to tighten her nipples into pebbled tips.
Though there was something frightening about seeing him in the hold of such strong emotions, it was also a victory of sorts; he was showing them to her without embarrassment.
And in doing that, he was beyond gorgeous.
She rose up onto her elbows in order to remove the torn nightdress.
“It’s a horrible waste of coin, but I can’t stop you.” When she met his gaze, she dared him to give up his insane plan of removing himself from this world. “What else do you want tonight, Blackhawke?”
Please say it’s a long lifetime with me.
“Let me show you, and bear in mind, this is only the opening act.” Then he layered his body over hers, kissed her with the familiar intensity she’d come to expect from him.
It was the beginning of the end for her, and as she surrendered herself into his care and mastery, she looped her arms about his shoulders.
The strength of him, the pleasant weight of him pressing into her was as arousing as the glide of his lips on her skin.
When he balanced on one forearm and fondled her breasts with his other hand, shivers played up and down her spine.
“Make me fly, James. I need the release, for today has been quite… something.” In the illumination from the single candle, the scar on the left side of his face had the potential to be gruesome, but she thought, instead, it gave him character, made him different, and she was glad for it.
“Put a babe in my belly so I might have something to remember you by if…” Not for worlds would she conclude that sentence.
“Don’t put more responsibility on my shoulders when they are already bowed beneath the weight of other things.
” If the words were clipped, she didn’t comment, for they were both under enormous strain.
“We have tonight, for the future isn’t promised.
” Then he moved down her body, kissing and licking a path over her skin as he went.
Gooseflesh followed in his wake. While she wanted to argue with him until he capitulated, there was no time and she didn’t want to expend the effort.
As he encouraged her legs apart, she wriggled into a more comfortable position, but the second he buried his head between her thighs and put lips onto that sensitive flesh, she bucked more firmly into his care.
“James, no. Not tonight. I want you inside me.” What sort of woman had she become that she practically begged a man to take her?
He didn’t answer with words. Oh, no. Instead, the duke devoured her as if she were his favorite dessert.
All too soon, he set a rhythm made by lips and tongue and fingers; she was floating, flying, tumbling through a world of pleasure she’d only ever found with him.
Over and over again he penetrated her passage with that talented tongue.
Again and again, he bedeviled that swollen button at her center with his fingertips.
And when he was done with that, he suckled and teased that nubbin with his lips and tongue until it was all she could do just to catch her fingers in his hair and hold him to where she wanted him.
Merely for an anchor.
When she shattered, only then did he raise his head and peer at her with eyes that were dark with raw need.
Her strength flagged, for he’d done his job far too well.
“Good heavens, Blackhawke. You will kill me if you’re not careful.
” There was such breathlessness in her voice, she was surprised she didn’t fade away.
“Never, if I can help it.” The words were graveled, and when she peeked into his face, he’d shuttered his emotions. “Let us see how quickly you can come again. Before she could question him, he encouraged Eloise onto her knees. “Turn about and grasp the headboard. I’ll need you to brace yourself.”
“Why?” Shivers of anticipation went through her body as she did as instructed, but to be honest, she rather enjoyed seeing him nearly undone.
“You’ve tempted me beyond reason this night and my patience for foreplay has quite vanished.”
“Weren’t you the one who cautioned patience?” Yet she smiled knowing she’d managed to affect him so strongly.
“I did, but I’m so hard I’ll wager I can break the window glass, and this erection demands satisfaction immediately. Now do what I ask.” The command in his graveled voice sent shivers down her spine.
“Oh!” Eloise did as requested, but she glanced over her shoulder at him, but not before moving pillows out of her way. “I rather like being ordered about.” Oddly, it was part of his charm… if it was possible for a man like him to be charming.
“You bring it out or rather yank it from me,” he all but growled. “Catch me against the edge until I have no choice but to act.” As she talked, the duke gripped her hips while she splayed her legs as best she could on her knees, and he fit his wide tip to her opening and bent her over.
The feel of his solid body framing hers from behind was both comforting and highly stimulating. “Perhaps this is the man you should have been all along—this daring and brave duke who doesn’t hide behind— Oh!”
He thrust into her passage with such authority and went so deeply they both groaned with appreciation.
Eloise’s eyes crossed as intense pleasure danced through her body. “This a good start to our wedding night,” she managed to gasp while shifting her stance into something more comfortable. “How else will you impress me, I wonder?”
A grunt was his only answer. Every time he penetrated her channel, he went deep, oh so deep. His shaft rubbed against the swollen nubbin at her center, enhancing the need he’d already invoked.
His hold on her hips was hard enough that he’d probably leave marks on her skin, and she craved that souvenir, wanted only him. “This will go quickly. I’m ready to pop off; you arouse me beyond belief.”
“Then lose yourself.” She had already fallen into the madness he created.
“Make it unforgettable, so I’ll remember…
” Her knuckles were white as she gripped the headboard of the massive bed.
A low moan released from her when he slammed into her.
“This is… this is… Oh please, don’t be gentle. I don’t want that tonight.”
Did that make her depraved or a harlot? Surely a duchess would never ask for something like this. Had she already failed?
“Indeed, for perhaps our time is slipping away.”
“Don’t, Blackhawke. Not now.” Then she went silent, biting her bottom lip, for his next push nearly hurtled her over the edge toward bliss.
Soon he found a rhythm, dug his fingers into her hips for greater purchase, and apparently set out to send her to the heights of pleasure with alacrity and conviction and possession. Never had she felt so secure, so protected, so wanted.
Over and over, he slammed into her, giving her exactly what she’d asked him for.
It was heady stuff, addicting for certain, and she couldn’t have enough.
“I need more,” she gasped, lifting her head, and looking at him from over her shoulder.
Pure pleasure lined his face, warring with concern, but he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
“I want to feel all of you, unabandoned and without restraint; I want you to live for once.”
“At times I fear you are one of my nightmares, yet I crave you anyway.” James tangled a hand into her hair and tugged. “Does this help?”
“Oh, merciful heavens!” The slight pricks of pain along her scalp enhanced the pleasure filling her being. “Yes!”
Deeper he stroked as the candle snuffed itself out.
Faster he moved while the acrid scent of smoke filled the air.
This coupling had nothing to do with emotions or thoughts of the future.
It was raw, real, and based only in mutual need and primal passion, perhaps born of fear.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in her ears above the falling rain against the window glass.
Her breasts swung wildly from the exercise.
Heat engulfed her and the ambient temperature in the room cooled the flush on her skin.
Still he thrust while she bucked her hips backward against him, meeting each one with her own power, which sent him ever deeper.
“Oh, yes!” When he snaked his free hand around her hips to rub his fingers over her feminine button, her control shattered. “Hurry!”
“What the devil do you think I’m doing?” He followed the question by a series of deep, oh so impossibly deep and hard, teeth-shatteringly hard thrusts that sought to separate her soul from her body. “Eloise, please say you’re close.”
“Ah!” White light moved up to meet her as she fell over the edge and tumbled, hurtled really, into an intense release.
A keening cry pulled from her throat. It was all she could do to hold onto the headboard as he continued to spear into her.
Her core convulsed frantically around his member.
Seconds later, the duke hit release in spectacular fashion, for he shouted out her name, buried himself in her passage while tugging her tight to his body.
His shaft jerked and pulsed, warmth filled her, and her body milked him dry.
“Bloody hell that was powerful, almost bordered on madness,” he whispered and wrapped his arms around her. His breathing was as ragged as hers. “What are you doing to me, Elli?”
Oh, he was adorable. “You nearly killed me.” She laughed, but it was a shaky affair.
Exhaustion clung to the sound. “It was quite wonderful, and I rather think you’ve spoiled me for anyone else.
” Then worry snuck in to steal some of that joy, for why couldn’t she have him in a forever sort of way?
Why couldn’t she enjoy a long marriage with this man she knew not at all?
“You are mine, Elli. Mine. No other man will have you.” Blackhawke pulled away, severing their intimate connection.
“Then make certain you remain to stake that claim,” she shot off before she could recall those words. Immediately, she missed his warmth, his solid form against hers. When she teetered the moment she let go of the headboard, he caught her in his arms.
“Knowing a woman can’t sustain balance after coupling is the best compliment a man could receive.” A note of smugness threaded through his voice.
“How arrogant you are,” she whispered with a grin.
“Perhaps, but I can only be who I am.” He laid her upon the bed. “Shall I carry you to your suite?”
“Not just now.” She settled her drowsy gaze upon him. Dear God, she could hardly move as pleasant lethargy weighted her limbs. Residual tremors danced between her thighs. “I would like to remain here, for I suspect we’ll couple again before dawn.” At least she hoped so.
“Indeed. I’ll claim you as many times as you’ll let me, and even if you don’t,” he said in a low, rumbling voice as he tugged the bedclothes around them.
“So demanding.” She shot him an exhausted smile. He was both devastatingly handsome and adorably vulnerable as he peered back at her. “Why can’t you see how needed you are in this world, James?” Exhaustion propelled the words as she closed her eyes and relaxed into his hold.
Though his body tensed, he didn’t leave, nor did he demand she go.
“Sometimes the darkness isn’t fair; it cheats me out of many things, for I’m no longer strong enough to fight.
” The warmth of his breath steamed the shell of her ear, then he glanced his lips along her temple.
“Sleep now, Eloise. I’ll be here when you wake. ”
She drifted in a cloud of contentment, yet her lips pulled downward with a frown. How long did she have with him, and how could she reach him past the land where the nightmares and despair held him captive? Something had to help!
Don’t leave me, James. I need you for so much more than being bedded.