Page 35

Valerie had been in a position like this many times in her life, some rude bastard snaking his hands under her skirt while thrusting his cock against her, like that was some magical way to spur her into wanting it. Those types of men always grunted like pigs, rushing her while trying to combat her into some saliva-filled kiss.

Geryon, on the other hand, was only touching her with his hands, being slow and careful.

His fingers began a lazy circle over her clit while his lips traced a path up her neck and over her jaw, making his destination obvious. If he pressed his lips to hers again, would she want to taste sweetness like she did before?

She found herself turning her face towards him to find out for certain, or if it had been her imagination.

His fingers worked their way down the lips of her folds to greet her pooling entrance. She dug her nails into his shoulders and started pushing away.

“No,” she told him when he began to press one of his fingers inside.

I cannot give in. This is too dangerous.

She turned her face away from his mouth before she could discover what it tasted like.

He paused, his eyes on her lips lifting to meet hers.

The tip of the finger that entered her core now just rested there. Valerie tried to stop her entrance from contracting around it. It was as though her channel wanted to pull it inside despite herself.

“No?”

She remained silent, unsure of the kind of words that would fall from her lips if she spoke. Then the wonderful pressure of his fingertip disappeared, and his hand came out from underneath her skirts.

“You are pulling away?”

“You told me no. Therefore, no it shall be.” Yet, he leaned forward to swipe his tongue from the centre of her throat to her ear, leaving a wet stroke behind it. “But this is not over,” he said around a kiss to her skin.

For the first time, she felt something hard, long, and, to her amazement, impossibly thick run over her hip when he slipped his pelvis against hers. He was punctuating his obvious arousal before he gave her a huff of disappointment. He turned from her.

He’d ignored all her attempts to protest, and she thought he would continue to do so. Valerie thought he would take her by force and against her wishes. The fact that he stopped, that she was now watching the back of him descending the stairs to leave her in peace, surprised her.I expected him to be crude.It showed her he at least respected her enough to not force the issue.

Is ‘no’ simply all I have to say to stop him?Was it truly that simple?

To her displeasure, she felt herself softening towards him.Men can often be vile to women; he has shown me he is not.

The prospect of this happening again wasn’t as worrying as it was before. She would be able to have control, and she knew that was what he ultimately wanted.

Unfortunately, the ache between her thighs was currently real and very dissatisfying.I am deeply aroused.It actually grew in strength when he left.

“No matter,” she whispered quietly, before she turned to ascend the stairs. She made her way to one of her personal soldiers under her spell. “Were we heard?”

“No, my lady. We heard nothing.”

Good. They’d been quiet enough that anyone walking past the bottom of the stairs may not have heard either.

Victoria was asleep on one of the settees in the seating area in front of her room. She’d fallen asleep upright, her elbow resting on the arm of the chair, her cheek in her open palm.

“Lady Victoria, I have returned.”

The woman immediately shot up and got to her feet. “My apologies for this indiscretion, Lady Cecily.”

“I said you may do as you please while you wait for me, and the hour is late.” Victoria bowed her head in thanks. “Please, help me out of this dress and then you may retire to your own apartment to rest.”

They entered Valerie’s room, and she began to undo the ties at the back of her dress. She thought about what had just happened and the man behind it.

“You seem rosier in the cheeks than usual, Cecily. Are you not feeling well?” The question made Valerie push the handsome guard from her mind.

Valerie gave a sigh. “I am hot. Mayhap I had too much wine.”