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His fingers pushed into her body once more, twisting and slicing until she was moaning with every thrust. He wanted her prepared, ready, and only able to focus on the pleasure.

“Look at me, Alicia,” he murmured, and those glorious blue eyes found his. “You will tell me if it hurts, and I will stop.”

She nodded, a small frown marring her beautiful face as he took himself in hand and nudged her entrance. Remaining still, he could feel the dark heat waiting for him as their gazes locked and held.

“You are perfect in every way. And you will never be a convenience to me. You are essential—necessity itself. I will spend every day reminding you of that.”

With a soft push of his hips, he closed his eyes as dark, wet heat surrounded him.

Alicia’s fingers gripped his arm, and he slowly entered her body, inch by inch, watching her face for any hint of discomfort.

She was breathing heavily, her beautiful breasts rising and falling as he pushed further inside her. Her fingers, which at first had been digging into his flesh, were now clawing at him, pulling him closer.

His arm hurt like the blazes, but he did not care. This moment was so wonderful that he could hardly believe it was happening.

As he pushed the final inch, he snapped his hips forward, finally fully seated inside her.

Alicia gasped, letting out a soft sigh as he withdrew, pushing back in slowly at first and then starting to thrust in earnest as he found his rhythm.

Her fingers clutched at the sheets beneath her, and Seth lowered himself over her, capturing her lips, entwining their tongues until they were both moaning against one another.

His hands came up to push into her hair, and hers did the same as they writhed together, their lovemaking and soft sighs the only sounds in the room for a long time.

Seth’s body was on fire with a flame he had never known before. Alicia brought him more pleasure, love, and acceptance than anyone else in his life, and he did not know what he had done to deserve her.

Minutes later, as he began to reach his peak, he could tell she was close to her climax. Her thighs fell wide beneath him, andhe pulled back, resting his hands on either side of her hips as he began to slam into her over and over.

“Ah, there!” she screamed.

Seth let out a bellow as he felt his own release barrel through him, exploding inside her as her body came undone for him.

They remained there, frozen in hot bliss for a few precious seconds, before he collapsed onto her, his weight pressing her down into the mattress.

She sighed contentedly, her hands running over his back as he threaded his fingers through her hair one last time with a gentle, sensual kiss.

“Are you all right? I did not hurt you, did I?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I am quite well.”

Seth huffed a laugh, and they remained entwined for a few more minutes.

Finally, he pulled out of her and went to the washstand.

Returning with a warm cloth, he cleaned her as her eyes followed his movements. After seeing to himself too, he returned to the washstand and dropped the cloth in the basin, relishing the thought of the long night ahead.

When he turned back, however, he found Alicia on her feet, reaching for her gown and examining it with a frown as she attempted to dress herself again.

Seth’s stomach lurched. “What are you doing?” he asked, the question coming out harsher than he had intended.

Alicia looked up in surprise. “I… I am returning to my room,” she said.

Her expression was one of such confusion that his anger faded.

He stalked toward her, and she squealed in surprise as he lifted her and carried her to the bed, depositing her unceremoniously on the mattress.

“You are not going anywhere, Duchess. Is that clear?”

There was a hint of amusement in her eyes now, and she giggled as he pulled back the covers and threw them over her as he got in beside her.