Chapter 30 #2
Victor smiled faintly and guided her toward the bed. “Come here, my love.”
The endearment nearly melted her on the spot. She sat carefully upon the mattress while he moved behind her. His hands slid slowly to her shoulders, and the moment his fingers began softly touching her skin, Charlotte let out a soft moan before she could stop herself.
Victor chuckled low in his throat. “That pleased you rather quickly.”
“You have unfairly talented hands,” she murmured.
“I shall take that as praise.”
His hands moved down the sides of her body, and his thumbs worked carefully along her rosy peaks through her chemise.
Heat immediately spread through her body beneath his touch.
Charlotte closed her eyes as he continued touching her with slow, firm pressure that made her head feel deliciously light.
“Should I continue, Duchess?” he asked softly near her ear.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Very.”
Victor hummed in satisfaction. “Good.”
Charlotte leaned back against him slightly without thinking. His chest was warm and solid behind her. Every touch felt impossibly intimate now that all the uncertainty between them had finally vanished.
She smiled faintly as his hands glided lower and then back upward again. Her entire body tingled beneath his attention. Charlotte had never imagined tenderness could feel this intoxicating.
Victor leaned down and brushed a kiss against the side of her neck. “You smell lovely.”
Her stomach fluttered wildly. “You say dangerous things so casually.”
“I am your husband. I believe I have earned the privilege.”
Charlotte turned her head slightly toward him. “You are still a rogue.”
Victor laughed softly before turning her carefully toward him. His hands cupped her face as he kissed her slowly. The kiss deepened gradually until Charlotte melted fully against him again.
Then his tongue brushed lightly against hers.
He moved his hand down and cupped her sweet center between her thighs.
A startled sound escaped her throat as heat rushed through her entire body. Victor kissed her deeper, slower this time, teasing her mouth until she clutched helplessly at his shoulders. His finger moved in a slow circle over her tingling rosebud. She opened her thighs wider.
Charlotte felt almost dizzy from the sensation of him.
“Charlotte,” he murmured against her lips.
She could barely think straight enough to answer. “Yes?”
“You are trembling again.”
“You are touching me senseless,” she moaned.
“That was rather the goal,” he growled against her ear.
He picked her up at her waist and laid her on the bed. With an eager hunger, he pulled off her chemise.
“I shall have you now,” he groaned as he took off his own clothing until they were both naked on the bed.
He placed himself between her thighs and kissed her again. His thick staff moved against her thigh, slow and intoxicating. Charlotte felt sensation pulse through her body in waves as he entered her.
The pulse seemed to gather low in her stomach before spreading everywhere at once until her skin felt feverish.
Her fingers moved instinctively across his back; she could feel the hard strength of him beneath her palms. Charlotte pushed her fingers lightly into the muscles there, fascinated by the sheer solidity of him.
Victor groaned softly into her mouth as his hard member slid in and out of her.
The sound sent another sharp pulse of heat through her. “Oh Victor,” she moaned.
“You enjoy tormenting me,” he muttered.
“I do not know what I am doing.”
“That somehow makes it worse.”
Charlotte laughed weakly as he kissed along her neck. Her body felt impossibly sensitive now, every brush of his lips sending little shivers racing through her. One hand held up his heavy body while the other teased her breast and brushed her rosy peak.
She had never imagined desire could consume a person so completely.
Candlelight flickered across his handsome face and dark hair, and her heart gave an almost painful squeeze of affection.
He truly loves me.
The thought still felt miraculous.
Victor’s hand slid slowly along her thigh as she wrapped her leg around him, pushing him deeper inside of her. Charlotte inhaled sharply as warmth bloomed through her body again. His touch was confident yet careful, as though he wished to savor every reaction she gave him.
“You are flushed,” he murmured.
“You are responsible for it, Your Grace,” She said.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer eagerly. The heat between them seemed to build with every rocking movement of his hips until she felt entirely consumed by him.
Victor’s hand stroked slowly along her thigh again. Charlotte gasped softly into his mouth as sensation pulsed through her body. It was enough to make her feel nearly delirious with wanting him.
“Victor,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Yes, love?”
“You are driving me mad. I am going to release.”
His grin turned wickedly pleased. “Good. You are never more beautiful than when you do.”
He rolled with her slightly across the bed until she found herself half atop him. Charlotte smiled as his arms tightened around her waist securely. The movement felt playful and intimate all at once as he guided her body up and down his long member.
“Oh, oh my,” she moaned.
“That’s it, do not stop, Duchess,” he said.
Charlotte bounced faster and faster until they both released, and this time Victor released inside of her.
They collapsed together side by side for a moment. Charlotte felt the throbbing joy move through her body. Her breath was uneven as she pressed a hand on his strong chest.
Victor brushed stray curls back from her face gently. “There she is.”
“Who?”
“My wife.” His gaze softened unbearably. “Happy.”
Charlotte’s chest tightened again.
“I am happy,” she admitted quietly.
“So am I.”
The words seemed to settle warmly between them. For so long both of them had fought against this connection with stubborn determination. Now Charlotte could scarcely understand how either of them had survived pretending not to care.
Victor kissed her forehead softly. Then her nose. Then finally her lips again.
“You know,” Charlotte murmured against his mouth, “for a man who once claimed marriage would ruin him, you seem rather content.”
“I was clearly an idiot.”
“That much is true.”
He narrowed his eyes playfully. “Careful, Duchess.”
Charlotte smiled against his lips. “Or what?”
“Or I shall continue tumbling with you until morning.”
Her cheeks warmed immediately.
Victor laughed softly at her expression before pulling her close once more. Charlotte rested against him happily, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. His fingers stroked lazily along her back while candlelight danced softly around the room.
For the first time since meeting him, there was no fear between them.
No pretending. No distance. Only warmth and laughter and aching love.
And as Victor kissed her once more beneath the soft glow of candlelight, Charlotte realized…
I have never felt so loved and safe in my entire life. Instead of taking care of everyone, someone is now taking care of me and I him…forever.