Page 17 of A Duchess to Reclaim (The Devil’s Masquerade #2)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“T hank you.”

Amelia breathed the words, her entire body relaxing beneath him as he gave in to her plea. His heart cleaved in two at her gratitude, but he swallowed the pain and poured himself fully into the moment. The world around them dissolved like sugar in warm water; leaving nothing but him and her.

His kisses grew long and languid as he made love to her mouth. He no longer demanded, he coaxed. He was going to draw out every ounce of pleasure she had within her.

Dominic kissed her until nothing but weak, mewling sounds poured from her throat, and only then did he kiss a path down her neck. This time he didn’t focus his mouth on just her nipples and cleavage; but everywhere. He made a blueprint with his mouth, memorizing every dip and curve of her body and noting every shiver of pleasure.

When he dipped his head between her legs once more, his fingers and tongue drew forth her orgasm like a bear used its tongue to coax honey out of a comb; gliding into every sacred space and collecting the precious dew from within.

This time Amelia’s release body did not burst forth like a flash flood breaking through a dam, but instead she overflowed like a pool that had gathered too much rain. Her body writhed and trembled with a different form of slow sensuality as her release created a large puddle on his bed.

He whispered words of praise and awe as he then kissed over her soaked petals and trembling inner thighs, wanting her to know just how pleased he was with the mess she’d made for him.

Dominic’s cock was throbbing and aching with need by the time he slid his chest up her body, but even still, he refused to move fast. Pleasure surged through him as he saw the tears that had slipped down cheeks from the force of her orgasm, and he could not help but gather each and every one of the salty drops with his tongue.

“Arms around me, little vixen,” he gently commanded, nestling himself between her thighs. “I want you to hold onto me and not let go.”

Excitement and gratitude shone in her eyes as she obeyed with not just her arms around his neck, but her legs around his waist.

“You are so beautiful,” he praised, brushing her curls tenderly from the side of her face as he angled the tip of his cock against her slick center.

He kissed her again, swallowing her whimper of need, then pressed his forehead against hers.

“Breathe in for me,” he whispered, and as she did so, he surged his hips forward.

Amelia let out a pain-filled whimper was her exhale burst from her at the invasion. Pleasure so intense it darkened his vision and sent white hot stars shooting behind his eyes gathered in his loins as he felt her hot wetness tightly choke his cock, and he had to pause for a moment to gather his control.

“Dominic,” she breathed, panic lacing her voice as she shut her eyes to the virginal pain.

“I’m here,” he whispered reverently, placing soft kisses over her lashes. “Open your eyes, sweetheart. Let me see you.”

Amelia’s lashes fluttered open, a tear sliding down her temple as she drew in another shaky breath. He tilted his hips back, pulling out of her slightly, and then slowly surged forward again. Again she gasped, her entire body shivering around him.

“Breathe,” he coaxed, undulating his hips slowly, stretching her further. “And relax. I’ve got you.”

Amelia pulled in another shuddering breath, and he felt her entire sink into the bed.

* * *

It hurt as she knew it would. That first thrust that would take away her maidenhood. But Dominic’s deep, gentle voice coaxing her through the first few moments had that pain ebbing away within a few seconds. In its place gathered a pleasure she’d often read about but until that moment could never truly fathom. He was a part of her, like this. Placing a mark within her that would never be worn away.

Slowly she began to undulate beneath him, feeling her body come back together one deep thrust at a time.

“Amelia.”

Her name ripped from his lips like a prayer as they began to move together. More tears of ecstasy slipped from her eyes as she drew him closer. She couldn’t touch him enough. Couldn’t be wrapped around him enough to sate that need inside of her.

“More,” she pleaded, burrowing her fingers into his thick hair, and a deep moan poured from Dominic’s chest in response.

“Anything,” he whispered, hiking her legs higher on his waist, “Anything you want.”

Just the simple act of him tilting her hips gave him deeper access, and they both gasped at the new blooming pleasure. Her hand traveled from his hair to his back, where she raked her nails down his spine and toward his chiseled backside. When she tightened her fingernails there Dominic gave another powerful thrust and he once more said her name in a trembling, need-filled voice.

She had wanted this, had all but begged for it. But now that she felt this insurmountable pleasure rising within her, she began to feel her heart break even more. How was she going to live without him this close?

She shook her head, not wanting to think of the unavoidable loss, and leaned up to kiss him. Dominic responded immediately, opening his mouth and letting her tongue go wherever she wished it as his thrusts grew faster and more powerful.

“Dominic,” she gasped, breaking away from his kiss when the pleasure became too much. She tossed her head back into the pillows, her toes curling as that great wave steadily rose.

“Wait,” he commanded, moving faster, “Wait for me, my vixen. We go together.”

Amelia whimpered then bit her bottom lip, trying desperately to control the rising intensity with an ever-weakening grip. Then, just when she was about to lose it all she felt Dominic’s manhood harden and swell even more, and the word now ripped from his lips.

She let out a gasp, followed quickly by a deep moan as she let go. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed into her womb as she felt her release and his at the same time. They pulsed together as he pressed his forehead against hers, her womanhood squeezing and suckling him tight as he spilled his seed within her.

Their breathing heavy, bodies slick with sweat, they remained locked together and trembling for several long moments. In the still silence she felt and heard her own heartbeat, followed by a thrum of a deeper bass. It was then she realized it was Dominic’s, beating in time with her own.

* * *

The sun was coming up. Breaking away the dark gray clouds with shards of purple and yellow. And yet they didn’t move. Dominic wondered if either of them had blinked or even breathed after they finally stopped making love.

Their first time had been a revelation, but it had awoken even more desire for another, and he had spent the better part of the darkened morning hours buried deep inside of her; listening and feeding off of her sounds of ecstasy.

Now they laid together on their sides facing another, Amelia’s head resting on his arm with her leg thrown over hip. Their eyes hadn’t left another; even as the night faded away into morning. He was exhausted, and he could tell by the small, dark circles under Amelia’s honey brown eyes and her blurry gaze that she was too. But he couldn’t sleep, and it was obvious that neither could she.

They hadn’t spoken yet. About what they’d just shared or what he was about to do; but in that silence he still heard everything. His doubts. Her own. The questions of their future. And there was a mourning of sorts; one he continuously pushed away for if he lingered on it too long; it would swallow him whole.

She knew him. Truly knew him. Like no other woman did or ever would. And she accepted him and his incapabilities when it came to certain forms of human emotion.

Amelia drew in a deep breath, her head lolling slightly. It was just enough motion to allow a wild curl to tumble over her eyes. He reached up immediately, brushing it away with his fingertips. The moment he touched her flesh pleasure sparked through him, and he drew his thumb over her cheek, her lips, then opened his palm and flexed his fingers around her throat.

She gasped lightly at his touch; instantly awakening the arousal they had only recently been able to put to sleep.

Stay. A voice whispered in his mind.

Hurt laced through his heart at the thought, and he forced himself to withdraw his touch.

“You should get some sleep,” he whispered.

He tried to keep his hand at his side but within seconds he was touching her again, running gentle fingertips over her arm, down her hip.

“So should you,” she murmured, her tone sleepy.

She then reached out to touch his face, tracing her thumb delicately over the hollows under his eyes that matched hers, then cupped her palm to his jaw. Unable to help himself, he turned into her touch and placed a kiss in her palm.

“Our work here is done,” he told her, bringing his hand up to cover hers. “You don’t need to stay in London any longer. Take the girls and go back to Ellsworth. It’s yours. As are my accounts. Build one hundred aviaries if you wish. Buy the girls anything their hearts desire. Spoil them rotten. Spoil yourself.”

Pain flashed in Amelia’s eyes at his words, but she nodded.

“What shall you do?” She asked. “Are you going abroad again?”

Dominic shook his head.

“I will remain here. Along with handling other business, I will make sure your father doesn’t try any more extreme measures to make a profit.”

Felton Hollowcroft was satisfied with the deal Dominic had struck now, but men like him were never truly able to grasp the concept of building wealth. The next time he ran out of money, Dominic wanted to be able to make sure that he wouldn’t go after Amelia or his other daughters again.

“I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done, Dominic. Not just for me, but for my sisters,” Amelia said. “You’ve changed our lives.”

The heartache laced beneath her calm tone undid him, and he swallowed the lump of emotion gathering in his throat.

“I have never met someone more worthy of my help than you,” he replied, tracing his fingers over hers, down her arm, and up to her face. “You deserve far more than I can give.”

“You’ve given me everything you can,” she whispered, and then her breath broke into a sob as her eyes misted.

Dominic pulled her closer, tucking her head into his chest as her hot tears splashed over him. He closed his eyes tightly as he grit his teeth; wishing he was a better man. Wishing he was someone he could never be. Even in Amelia’s heartache she was not asking him to stay or change, and that created a feeling of self-hatred Dominic had never encountered before.

He needed to leave; needed to stop dragging out the inevitable and let her begin her new life. The original life he’d promised her. One of peace and freedom away from the society he was shackled to by birthright and responsibility. It took everything within him to pull his arms away from her, to push his body away from the bed and stand on his own two feet.

He did it though, and as he got dressed, Amelia sat up, wiped at her tears, and forced her beautiful face into a mask of calm reflection.

“You really should get some sleep,” he couldn’t resist saying. The urge to care for her was too great not to.

But Amelia shook her head as she drew her sheet-covered knees up to her chest.

“The girls will be awake soon and I need to return to my rooms before they come looking for me. They’ll be excited to know that we are leaving London but will no doubt want to go shopping for a few more things before we depart,” she replied, her voice strained.

“When will you go?” He asked, pulling a clean pair of trousers on.

“Before the sun sets this evening,” she replied, then gave a nod seemingly more to himself than him. “I think that would be best.”

He nodded in return, making a mental note to stay out the rest of the day. He didn’t want to make things any harder by popping back in and out as they were preparing to leave. A single, firm goodbye was going to be best.

As he finished dressing, his mind went back to what Hugo had told him the night before. His friend had given him solid advice, and for anyone else it might have worked- but he wasn’t just anyone else. He was a strange, albeit successful pragmatic man who knew how to use people. There truly wasn’t a good bone in Dominic’s body, and he knew it.

“Make sure to have Theo and the others out to Ellsworth often,” he told her, tying his cravat. “There will be servants and plenty of guards to keep you safe, but your friends should be there too if their families can spare them. I’ll speak to Tristan and Hugo to ensure at least Theo and Seraphina make frequent visits.”

Amelia only nodded. He was now fully dressed, jacket in hand, and nothing left to do but walk out the door. And yet as he tried to will his body toward it, he couldn’t yet face away from Amelia.

“If you need anything, Amelia,” he said, his tone soft as he scrunched his jacket tightly in his fingers. “Write to me. Whatever you need, I will happily provide.”

Something flashed in Amelia’s honey eyes. Words he didn’t need to hear to understand.

Except you.

She gave him another silent nod.

Realizing that he wasn’t going to get to hear voice at least one more time, Dominic nodded in turn, and left. There was no begging. No screaming, no accusations of unfairness as he walked away in silence. There was nothing but the space he created.