Chapter 9 #2
Then he did the unthinkable and lifted her into his arms, as if he were a groom carrying his bride over the threshold. Although the gesture was completely absurd, Astara could not help but laugh in delight because of it. She had never felt so free or uninhibited from her usual, staid existence.
The door opened as they drew close and the footman said nothing, his expression remaining as solemn and respectful as ever as Knox carried her across the foyer and directly up the stairs.
She recalled him saying that his servants were discreet, and no one batted an eyelash.
The maid they passed on the stairs merely kept her focus fixed ahead and did not dare to glance in their direction.
Once they reached the master suite and Knox took her inside and kicked the door shut, further thought of servants left her mind.
However, as Knox set her on her feet and reached for her, she reached out her hand.
Glancing about the room, she said softly, “I am not sure I feel that comfortable engaging in bed sport where you have entertained previous mistresses.”
He slowly shook his head. “I have never once entertained in this room. This was my private sanctuary. No one was ever allowed in here but the maids to clean.” He cupped her cheek in his palm. “You are the first.”
That was all she needed to hear; she threw her arms around his neck.
No further words were needed as she allowed the passion that had been simmering between them since the moment they’d met to burst forth and consume her.
She never imagined she would give herself so fully and effortlessly to a man like Knox, a member of the peerage who would likely toss her aside the next morning, but she knew he was not so callous.
She could trust him explicitly. With all the various people she had met during her time in London, that much she could believe.
He did not lie. He had no need to do so.
Clothes were swiftly removed and tossed aside, leaving a trail of material across the floor as they made their way to the bed dominating the center of the room.
Astara felt no maidenly reservation as he laid her down and began to remove her stockings with his teeth.
She arched her back and gripped the edge of the coverlet, her core pulsing with restless energy.
Once she was fully exposed, Astara gasped when he nuzzled close to the apex of her thighs. Oral pleasure was another hushed whisper she’d heard about at various brothels and she wondered if she would finally understand the concept at long last.
When his tongue flicked across the seam of her sex, she released a gasp of surprise as sparks of ecstasy shot through her. As he continued to tease and torment her, she realized that it was nothing like what she’d heard before. It was so much better to experience firsthand.
Something began to coil inside of her and she knew it was the beginning of the “little death,” the feminine response to such delightful friction. When she allowed the sensation to finally flow, she held her breath as the glorious tide washed over her, pulling her under those amazing waves.
She was still floating on the surface when Knox crawled up her body. His hard manhood nudged at her entrance. “It sounded like you enjoyed that,” he murmured huskily.
“Oh, yes,” she sighed in heavenly contentment. She dared to wrap her legs around his hips. “Now show me what other accomplishments you have.”
He chuckled lightly and then slowly began to slide into her. At first, there was resistance, but Astara told herself to stay relaxed, to not fight the inevitable breech of her maidenhead. She wanted this union, and nothing could keep her from seeing it to its grand conclusion.
When Knox gave a single thrust and seated himself fully, she gasped at the sudden, stinging sensation.
He paused, as if to give her body time to adjust to the intrusion, and then the most wondrous thing happened.
He began to move. At first, she thought he was retreating from her, so she dug her nails into his back and he returned to her.
After that, she realized it was the rhythm of the joining.
She had not realized this is what all her friends had meant when they’d giggled about the man’s “sword” pumping into them. But now she understood it all.
The tide slowly began to wash over her again, gently at first, but then more aggressively as the power built deep inside of her. She moaned, calling out Knox’s name as she drew close to the precipice. She was so close to something even greater than before.
There was a shocking bite to the tip of her breast and her eyes popped open to see Knox’s tongue laving at her nipple, his even white teeth nipping the hardened peak.
It was this erotic sight that sent her tumbling over the edge of sanity and thrust upward into the midst of the heavens.
Her body quivered with a strong force, and it wasn’t long before Knox gave a hoarse shout and stiffened above her, before a rush of warmth filled her to signify his release.
For minutes afterward, she clung to him, not completely sure she could stay grounded if she let go.
He seemed content to stay close to her, and they held each other until the air around them began to remind them of the slight chill in the room.
While there was a fire burning, neither of them was wearing a stitch of clothing, and a slight sheen of perspiration coated their bodies.
With obvious reluctance, Knox left her and the feeling of emptiness that swamped her was not something she had been prepared to face.
However, the sensation didn’t last long as he returned with a strip of linen and held it out to her. “You might need this.”
His consideration warmed her from the inside out.
“Thank you.” She told herself not to be embarrassed, that what they had shared was not unusual for their species, and yet, she could not help but wonder how she measured up to his former lovers.
No doubt she could have been more effective, she could have pleasured him in the way he had her.
A finger went beneath her chin, and her gaze met his. “I do not want to know what you might be thinking, but rid yourself of such unwanted ideas. You were magnificent.”
A smile started to take shape on her face. “Indeed, Your Grace. We seem to make a good team on more than one level.”