Chapter Thirteen #2
“If you take no more advice from me, do this.” His gaze bore into hers. “If you ever are put into a position where you are treated poorly by a man, beaten by a man, held hostage by a man, you fight back. No matter what. Promise me.”
For long moments, she peered into his eyes, wished to drown in those dark depths, then she nodded.
“I promise.” Though there was something cathartic about telling him all of this, she didn’t want to dwell on her past further.
“I don’t want to invoke my first husband’s name during time spent with you,” she said in a choked whisper.
“I understand.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “You deserve more from life, Evvie. I hope you find that.”
Did he mean from him or beyond him? Not knowing, she shoved all thoughts and worries from her mind. “Shall I take you in hand, or would you prefer I take you into my mouth?” she asked as she met his gaze once more.
His eyes darkened; the candle’s flame on the bedside table reflected in those depths. “How bold you’ve grown.” But the corners of his mouth tipped up with the beginnings of a smile that promised wicked, highly enjoyable things.
And she couldn’t wait to experience them.
She wriggled on his lap, being certain to brush against his erection, and he moaned in apparent pleasure.
He should do that more often—smile. It made him devastatingly handsome regardless of the scar on his brow.
Her heart gave a queer little thump. “Are you disappointed?”
“Hell no. The world needs more assertive women, but I am going to teach you exactly why you shouldn’t play with fire.” He bent his head and took one of her nipples into his mouth, teasing it through the fabric of her shift.
It was Evangeline’s turn to gasp as hot yearning circled through her lower belly.
The duke teased the sensitive bud, nipping, sucking, flicking the pebbled tip with his tongue.
She arched her back as a soft moan left her throat.
“Is that supposed to be a punishment?” His hands and mouth on her body were a delicious treat she wanted much more of.
A growl escaped him. “Perhaps a bit of both.” He claimed her lips in a searing kiss that left her reeling. “Gentlemen should never use intercourse against a lover.”
“Yet you did when we first met.” Twice, he’d taken her against her will.
“I’ll wager I could argue there was permission in your eyes.
” That half-grin sent tingles down her spine, made even more poignant as he cupped her breasts, rubbed his thumbs over her nipples and then he buried a hand into her loose tresses.
“So damned tempting.” The duke tugged on the strands, tipped her head back, and then he pressed kisses to the exposed expanse of her throat.
His teeth grazed her skin, and the rough handling sent thrills of need through her body.
“Dear heavens.” She swallowed hard. “I rather like this side of you,” she said with breathless anticipation. “Even if I should not.”
“There is no shame in enjoying every form of carnal games.” He rolled her nipple the same time he licked a path beneath her jawline.
Then he gave her hair another tug and kissed her so hard their teeth knocked together.
He plunged his tongue into her mouth over and over, tangling with hers, intent on bossing her, showing her that he was in command of this coupling.
As he was in everything.
That give and take was most arousing. She thrust and parried, routed him at every turn until their breathing labored.
When she gave his bottom lip a light bite, he growled low in his throat and pinched her nipple.
A squeal escaped her. Desire lanced through her to embed between her thighs.
Her body throbbed with anticipation. Oh, how she wanted him.
He brought excitement and danger with him, and she fed from his energy as her own built and threatened to consume her.
Perhaps I’m naught but a ninny.
“Michael, stop,” she entreated in a whisper. “I’m going to shatter.”
“Then I shouldn’t duck out now.” He released her hair and stared at her with passion-dark eyes. His chest heaved as much as hers. “Though, I’ll warn you, my control is rapidly slipping.”
“Mmm, quite the tease, are you?” Evangeline sat up straighter and tugged the shift up and over her head.
Finally, she was as naked as he. When she tossed it to the floor, she dug her fingers into his shoulders.
“Lose your control, Darkemore, or take it back. The end result is the same.” She kissed him as roughly as he’d done to her.
Some of her bravado wavered in the face of this very real moment where there was a strong connection.
“I want naught but you.” To forget the horrors she’d already survived.
Show me how you might love me if given the chance.
He held her gaze, searching intently for something she hoped he found in her, while need, desire, and admiration warred for dominance in his eyes. “Damnation, but you vex me in the best ways,” he murmured and worked a hand between their bodies.
“Perhaps you need the challenge… or the reminder that you aren’t as broken as you believe.” It was daring to utter those words aloud, but she did it anyway.
He grunted. “It’s a devil of thing to be here with you…”
“Oh?” She pressed her hand on top of his and guided him to where she needed him the most. Quickly, he found the swollen button at her center and strummed his fingers over it.
Shuddering sensation engulfed her with every pass, and all she could do was close her eyes.
A moan escaped her, echoing in the room. “Yes…”
“Look at me,” he commanded in a voice graveled with passion. When she popped open her eyes and met his gaze, he continued. “I want to see your face when you spend.”
Already, the pressure coiling inside tremored its imminent break. “Why?” she finally managed to force out, for it required all her concentration not to shatter too soon.
“It’s arousing to watch you overcome by those sensations.” Then he captured her mouth in a kiss that was as tender and gentle as the previous one was rough and forceful. All the while, he kept steady pressure on her nubbin, never ceasing in his quest to send her over.
“Pish posh, Your Grace. You’d be aroused if a woman merely passed through the room.” Evangeline twined her arms about his shoulders and the coarse hair on his chest rasped over her sensitive nipples.
“Only you, Duchess.”
“Ha.” She moaned against his lips. Need quickened through her lower body and she gasped. “Michael, harder. I’m nearly there.”
“Let me help you over that hurdle.” He increased the friction, torturing the bud, circling it with his thumb.
He put his lips to the shell of her ear.
“The sooner you find release the sooner I can claim your delicious body. I want to move in you, hear the sounds of your pleasure until this whole damn room echoes with them.”
The man certainly knew how to charm in a rough, frightening sort of way. “Restrain me.”
“Not tonight. I’d rather try to soothe your jagged edges.” And he continued his quest to see her undone.
“Oh.” What a sweet thing to say. A shiver of need coursed down her spine and she relaxed.
Seconds later, the pressure inside broke.
Pleasure welled through her being. Evangeline cried out, but this wasn’t the intense wave she’d experienced from him before.
Instead, contractions barely fluttered in her core.
She fell softly over the edge, and buried her face into the crook of his shoulder.
When she came back to herself, she pulled away in order to peer into his face.
“That wasn’t well done of you, Darkemore. ”
A deep chuckle reverberated from him. He cupped her breasts, gave them both a light squeeze. “Ah, I didn’t meet your expectations?”
She sent him a smile. “You fell short of the mark I’m afraid. A mark that you’d already set.” It was so easy with him, this bantering. Why couldn’t all their interactions be like this?
“Allow me to rectify the situation.” Michael gripped her hips and slightly lifted her.
The head of his member grazed her opening as he peered into her eyes.
The need there was staggering, but she couldn’t quite interpret the underlying emotions darkening those depths.
Didn’t dare to lest it prove disappointing. “Ready?”
For everything he wished to bestow. “Yes.” She nodded and curled her fingers through the hair at his nape.
He thrust upward. The rigid length of him impaled her so snug and so quickly that she gasped at the exquisite bliss of it. “Perhaps I shall redeem myself with this?”
Did he mean for such a weak release or for everything he was still withholding from her? Evangeline didn’t know, didn’t wish to waste precious time puzzling it out. She gave herself into his care and shuddered when he speared into her again. “This is a brilliant start,” she managed to gasp out.
“Cheeky, clever girl.” The duke tensed beneath her. “Hold on tight. I’m going to relocate us.”
“Why?”
“I want to fuck you fully, deeply, absolutely.” When she held onto his shoulders, he heaved to his feet. In a bid to remain connected with him, Evangeline wrapped her legs about his waist and locked her ankles. “I need greater traction to make that impression you desire.”
She shivered from the implications, but when he turned them around, pressed her back against the nearest wall, he planted one hand on her arse, and a different kind of heat threaded through her.
“Your method of delivery doesn’t matter.
I just want you.” It was the baldest truth she’d ever said to him.
Did that mean she was simply in lust with him, or were stronger feelings at play?