Page 27 of A Duke for Hire (The Devil’s Masquerade #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ A t last,” Hugo groaned, pulling her in for a kiss.

Seraphina whimpered as she felt his hand wrap around her throat; a touch she’d very much missed. She leaned her body into her husband’s. Their lips merged sweetly, seductively, as they finally stood together again in Hugo’s quarters. With one hand still wrapped around her throat, he rose the other to her hair, and freed her long brown locks from its pin. Immediately both of his hands pushed into it, taking great grasps as their kiss grew deeper.

With trembling fingers she began to untie his cravat, then unbutton his vest and shirt. Hugo groaned into her mouth as her fingertips met the bare flesh of his torso, and he shrugged his shoulders to help get the fabric down to his elbows. It was only then that he released her hair, and the quickly shed his own clothes.

Not a second passed before he was reaching for her again, turning her in his arms and kissing the back of her neck as he began to untie the stays of her dress and corset.

Although their undressing was hurried, Seraphina noted the more intimate care Hugo was taking compared to the last time he undressed her. There was no tearing of clothes, no bestial growls of need pouring from his chest- not that she’d minded him.

“I’ve missed you,” Seraphina whispered against Hugo’s lips as he picked her up, both of them naked.

“Oh, Seraphina,” he rasped, carrying her to the bed. “I’ve missed you so much.”

She gave him a sultry smile as he laid her head gently among the pillows, and she dug her nails lightly into his shoulder blades.

“Show me,” she breathed.

Anticipation sizzled in her veins as she saw the vivid green in Hugo’s eyes being eaten away by his pupils, and she shivered when that wolfish, handsome smile finally reappeared on his lips.

He gripped a fistful of her hair, forcing her neck to the side as he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“And so I will, my little lamb.” Then nipped ever so playfully at her lobe.

Pleasure rippled through her, ebbing until it met in a culmination at her sex as Hugo began to possessively claim her neck with his mouth and teeth. He didn’t just kiss her. He lapped at her, bit her, marking every inch of flesh as his own. Seraphina whimpered at the onslaught as her body began to undulate beneath him; her spine arching; feet pressing into the soft bed as her hands ran over his back and hair. She wanted him close. She wanted him inside .

Hugo’s moan of pleasure was pure magic as she reached in between them and traced a finger over his already rigid manhood, and even that small touch had her juices trickling between her thighs. She moved to do it again, then whimpered in protest as Hugo gripped both her wrists and pinned them above her head.

“Not yet little lamb,” he teased, his tone purely wicked with mirth. “Not until I have tasted your release on my tongue at least three times.”

“Three?” She exclaimed, but the word melted into a moan as he clamped his mouth over her right breast, and viciously teased her nipple with his tongue.

“Three,” he confirmed, giving her now taut nipple a playful nip.

“And you are going to tell me how to do it.”

Seraphina blushed deeply, the crimson red spreading from her cheeks all the way down to her breasts.

“I- I cannot,” she breathed.

Hugo’s gaze grew hungrier as he watched squirm and blush.

“You can, little lamb.” he rasped, dipping his head to her left breast. “And you will.”

He paused his mouth just a breath before her nipple. Even his soft breath against the sensitive flesh was enough to make it grow taut and throb.

“Now, what do you want me to do?”

Seraphina whimpered, unsure if she had the courage to do what he requested.

“If you cannot think of what you might want from me, then request what you know I want to do to you,” he instructed, his deep voice sending another gush of slickness between her legs.

Boldness ate away at her hesitation, and she gave a seductive smirk of her own.

“I want you to taste my nipple. Swirl your tongue around it until it is a tight bud and you have me trembling. Then I want you to bite. Softly. Briefly. Before you pull it into your mouth completely to suckle.”

Arousal gushed from Hugo’s eyes as Seraphina spoke the words.

“ Ohhh, very good, little lamb,” he praised, flicking the tip of his nose against her nipple, “That is exactly what I wanted.”

Hugo then dipped his head to do as he was told. Seraphina moaned deeply as he followed her instructions to a T. Even then, just from that, she felt her orgasm begin to build.

“Again,” she breathed when he pulled his head up, “But the other side.”

Hugo did as he was commanded, moving his tongue between languid slow strokes and quick, sharp ones depending on which part of her breast was in his mouth.

“Again,” she breathed, her hips beginning to undulate on their own as her pleasure built higher.

“Will you release for me this way, little lamb?” Hugo teased as he moved to do as he was told.

The thought posed an instant curiosity. Could she? Could she actually reach release without him even touching her where she most desired it?

Her question was answered for her after Hugo drew his mouth down on her right nipple for a third time.

Seraphina’s breath drew shaky as she arched her breast into his mouth, commanding that he not let go, and with a shuddering satisfaction, she felt her entire body erupt from her first release.

“Such a beautiful, sensitive lamb you are,” Hugo praised, his voice throaty as he threw her knees into the air and delved between her legs. “ Such a good little lamb.”

Hugo stroked his long tongue up her glistening sex, moaning as he tasted her. He did so again, taking his time with each long stroke of his tongue, and then drew it to a point so he could flick across her clitoris. Still trying to find her breath, Seraphina let out another whimpering cry at his tongue, and pushed her head back into the pillows as her lashes fluttered wildly.

“What number was that?” He asked devilishly, releasing her wrists so he could wrap his arms around her upper thighs.

Counting, she thought the haze. We are counting?

“One,” she moaned, her tone weak and needy.

“One,” he murmured, into her, the vibration of his voice even causing her pleasure.

“And how would you like to have number two?”

“Like this,” she panted, bucking her hips toward him.

“Mhmm,” he murmured cruelly. “And what is this, Seraphina?”

Hugo was having far too much fun with this, she decided then. The slight condescension in his otherwise sensual tone was making that abundantly clear. But she could not stop him, nor did she want to, she realized. She wanted to do everything he expected of her.

And he expected her to say it.

Seraphina looked down at the devilishly handsome man poised between her legs and whimpered. His eyes were dazed and shining with arousal as a wicked grin curled on his lips. He was waiting for her.

“I want you to lick me,” she rasped, feeling her blush grow hot once more over her cheeks. “I want you to taste me until I spill on your tongue.”

Hugo’s grin grew wider as he lowered his head just until she could see just his eyes above her pelvic bone.

“Good girl,” he purred, and without waiting another second, opened his mouth an began to pleasure her the way she requested.

A shaky breath left Seraphina’s mouth as she felt his tongue again, her head dropping back into the pillows with the relief of it. For this, he did not use the patience just practiced on her breasts, but instead, drank from her as if he’d been dying of thirst.

She fisted her hands into his hair, bucking her hips into his mouth as he expertly twisted and manipulated his tongue into everything she needed. And then, suddenly, a deliciously wicked thought entered her mind. There was something she had wanted last time. Something she had not had the chance to give into. But today she would.

“Stop!” The word came out forced and strained, as if her very vocal cords were trying to disobey the command.

Hugo did so at once, lifting his head with a look of confusion.

“You have changed your mind?” He asked.

“In a way,” Seraphina panted.

“I want you to taste me,” she acknowledged, “But I want to taste you while you are doing it.”

Absolute approval and desire shone through Hugo’s eyes as he looked at her in wonder.

“Do you- will you teach me how?” She asked, trying her best to be bold.

Hugo smirked as he lifted himself up onto his hands and crawled up her body.

“Oh, how I love that curious mind of yours, little lamb,” he praised, then captured her lips in a kiss.

Seraphina gasped as she tasted herself on his lips and tongue, and blushed as she realized how much she enjoyed it.

Hugo then shifted onto his back on the bed, commanding her at the same time to turn around. Before she could ask what to do next he was lifting her onto him, sliding her stomach against his lowering her sex to his mouth.

“Don’t worry about your weight on me,” he commanded when he caught her trying to hover. “I want all of you.”

More pleasure slid through her veins as she felt Hugo’s hands force her completely down atop him; her thighs flush with the pillows and her shins pressed tight to the head board as he began to taste her again. At this angle, his engorged manhood, dark purple and throbbing was right before her face.

Adeline looked at his member in awe for a moment, taking in the pulsing, thick vein that ran up the center, the mushroom head of his tip. Her mouth began to water as she ran a single fingertip up his staff, and watched in fascination as it spasmed and stood completely erect.

Licking her lips, she tentatively stretched her tongue out, and traced the throbbing vein that stretched from root to tip. Immediately Hugo moaned into her at the touch, and as if they had a mind of their own, his hips bucked. She licked him again, feeling a strange sense of power take over her as swirled her tongue over the edges of his mushroomed head.

“It seems you are as sensitive as I am, husband,” she teased as Hugo let out another moan. “I wonder what would happen if I…”

Seraphina parted her lips wide, and slowly sank her mouth down atop him until he was lodged into the back of her throat. A strangled sound of pleasure broke from Hugo’s lips as she settled her throat down on him as far as she could take him, and she let herself begin to explore.

Her arousal heightened with every lick she took, every moment of suction she applied, every tremble through his thighs and every tightened grip on her backside. Soon, she found her rhythm, working her mouth in time with Hugo’s tongue between her own legs, and in a matter of mere moments, Seraphina felt her second release break free.

As her orgasm flooded from her she clamped her mouth around him tighter as if for support. The muscles in Hugo’s legs tightened beneath her intently as he let a deep groan of pleasure, so much so that the veins along popped out as well.

Breathless from heady combination of her release and newfound power, Seraphina drew his manhood from her mouth and turned to face him.

“You like this?” She asked.

“You have no idea,” Hugo panted. “But you better stop now if you want us to make it to the ending.”

Before she could answer, flipped their bodies, and moved around to face her as her the back of her head hit the mattress.

“Number?” He commanded.

A sultry smile touched her lips as she reached up and snaked her arms around his neck.

“Two.”

“One more, little lamb,” he coaxed, lowering his hand between her thighs, “What shall it be?”

But Seraphina was too aroused, too needy have her inside of him again to conjure a third option.

“Let it be when you are inside me,” she pled, bucking her hips so her sex would slide against his own.

Hugo’s lips parted as a look of apparent need crossed his face.

“Please, husband,” she moaned, pulling him down for a kiss. “Let the third be when you are inside me. I want to feel us erupt together like last time.”

Hugo groaned as she kissed him deeply, and let his hips settle further down atop her until the tip of his cock was nestled at her dewy, parted petals.

“Please,” she begged again, her voice barely a whisper, and, as if he could not wait anymore either, slid his full length inside her with one powerful thrust.

“How can I say no when you beg me like that?” Hugo rasped, his hips moving in languid movement as they finally locked into one another.

Pleasure roiled through him in heavy ways as her tight, slick walls suckled him; her very body begging him to be inside.

“I’ve missed you,” Seraphina breathed, her lashes fluttering as she arched her back and spread her legs further for him.

And he had missed her. God, he had missed her so much. Never before had a woman instilled so much desire within him. When Seraphina was like this she was no mere woman, but a goddess of love and desire to which he held no power over.

Hugo rose up to his knees, taking her legs to his shoulders, and with a powerful thrust, drove into her deeper.

Seraphina screamed his name as she arched further into him.

“Take me,” she breathed, “Take all of me Hugo, please.”

And he would. He would never grow jealous, never try to push her away again, because after this there was no doubt that she was completely and fully his. And he was hers. There would be no other woman for him ever again, not after what he’d found with Seraphina.

“You’re taking me so well, little lamb,” he praised, reveling in the way she accepted his powerful thrusts. “Let’s see what else you can do.”

Seraphina whimpered in protest as he drew himself away from her, but it transformed into a moan as he laid atop her and kissed her deeply. Arms around her back, he rolled her with him until it was he that laid upon the bed and it was Seraphina that was atop.

Her eyes grew wide as he broke the kiss and pulled her into a sitting position.

“What are you doing?” She whispered.

“You’ve become so good at riding horses astride,” he praised, raising her hips so he could sink her down atop him. “I want to see how well you ride me.”

A strangled, heady moan poured from Seraphina’s lips as he slower lowered her sex down atop his, and a heady pleasure pulsed through him as he watched her eyes grow wide and dazed.

“Come little lamb,” he coaxed, beginning to move her hips for her. “Show me how well you ride.”

Seraphina blushed, but a look of determination passed through her dazzling blue eyes, and she allowed him to lead her hips in the proper direction.

“Hugo,” she whimpered, her body beginning to sway and tremble at the sensation of the new position.

“That’s it, love. Show me how wild you are,” he coaxed, letting go of her hips.

It only took a few awkward movements before Seraphina found her pace, and within minutes, she was sitting atop him with confidence, almost look proud as she gyrated herself atop him.

“Faster, little lamb,” Hugo panted, “You can do better than that.”

As if taking the challenge personally Seraphina seemed to let go of what little reserve she had left, and leaned fully into her desire. Hugo watched, transfixed and overwhelmed with pleasure as Seraphina took charge of her body and his, and began to undulate at a dizzying speed.

“Hugo,” she pleaded, breathless and red as she drew herself closer to her third orgasm.

“That’s it, little lamb, just like that,” he coaxed, feeling his own release grown near.

“Use me to make yourself release. Drive me into you,” he panted.

Seraphina’s body suddenly went rigid as her spine undulated and her head snapped back, and a deep pleasure cry erupted loudly from lips. Her release descended on him like a waterfall as her walls clamped down on him tightly, milking away any self-control he had left.

Hugo let out a deep moan of pleasure as his own release became uncontrolled, and with a final thrust, he lifted his hips as he forced hers down with his hands, and melded them together as they crashed together in an earth shattering crescendo.

“Three,” Seraphina panted as she collapsed on his chest.

Chuckling, Hugo drew his arms around her shoulders, and held her close at they caught their breath

“What happened at your mother’s house?”

Seraphina stirred in Hugo’s arms. She had been on the brink of sleep atop his chest, swayed into relaxation by his heartbeat and the way his fingertips trailed over her scalp.

“Hmmm?”

Hugo pulled her up and nestled her at his side so they could look at one another. She smiled when she saw the exhausted pleasure still lingering in his eyes. It had been a full day, and neither of them had yet to leave bed.

“Your mother’s house,” Hugo said, searching her face calmly. “When I came looking for you Leah told me that you had visited her and she had thrown a vase at you.”

Seraphina rolled her eyes, already over her mother’s dramatics, and shook her head.

“Do not worry. It was a horrid throw and I walked away from it. No bruises, as you saw when you so roughly inspected me at Aunt Rita’s house.”

Hugo grimaced.

“Yes, I was a little rough, wasn’t I? I apologize. I was just worried.”

“I forgive you,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss the tip of his nose.

He chuckled as he laced a hand around her throat, and brought her lips to his for a kiss.

“That is not what I mean though,” he went on. “I mean why did your mother throw a vase at you.”

Seraphina frowned. They’d just had the most perfect reunion and did not want to talk of her mother. However, they had both promised honesty, and she supposed that it was her turn.

“When she had come to Theo’s she was most kind and tender. I thought she genuinely cared for me. So, when she requested I come visit her on my own, I agreed,” she began to explain.

“It was not so when you arrived?”

Seraphina shook her head.

“No. She just wanted to know if I still had access to your money and to Merrivale. My father has given up his sponsorship of her. For good, I think. And within a month or two, she’ll have no money, nowhere to go, and soon the ton she tried so hard make me apart of will descend upon her like vultures. She told me it was my duty to take care of her and insisted I give her access to your accounts and a place to stay here. When I refused, she grew rather upset. Hence the throwing of the vase.”

Anger passed through Hugo’s eyes as he no doubt envisioned the moment in question, and he frowned deeply.

“That will not happen again.” He stated.

Seraphina nodded and snuggled into him.

“No, it certainly will not,” she sighed.

“However, I will give her a small allowance. And I own a small matron’s cottage on the edge of Merrivale on the east side. She may occupy it if she wishes,” Hugo told her.

Seraphina’s head snapped up, her brow drawn down in confusion.

“You will?” She asked. “Why?”

“Because I am not the monster she thinks I am,” he replied, then a look of guilt passed briefly over his face, “I am not the monster I almost became, either. I want to prove this not just to her, but to myself.”

Seraphina’s heart swelled as a combination of emotions rippled through her.

Not knowing what to say, she said nothing, but only laid back down in his arms and kissed the center of his chest.

“If that is what you wish,” she sighed, “Then I will not protest.”

“There will be conditions,” he informed her, sliding down a little so they could look at one another.

“Such as?”

“She may only join us in our home when invited by you. There will be no random visits, no guilt-ridden messages delivered to you to beseech you for company. And when we have children, it will be your choice as to whether she may be in their lives or not.”

Seraphina smiled as she felt a rush of euphoria shoot through her.

“When we have children?” She echoed.

Pure affection flowed from Hugo’s eyes as he cupped her cheek.

“If you want them, I shall want them with you, Seraphina. Though I must admit, I do want you to myself for a small while.”

Seraphina’s smile widened at the thought, and she rolled onto her back so she could caress her stomach. Their marriage was just to be about protection and friendship, but she adored how it had blossomed into so much more.

A loud bang followed by a chorus of feminine voices erupted from below then, disrupting their intimate moment.

“What was that?” Hugo mused, and Seraphina laughed.

“I would know those voices anywhere,” she replied, slipping from his arms to find a robe. “It’s Theo, Amelia, Rose, and Ophelia. No doubt here to make sure I am all right.”

“And are you?” Hugo asked, moving his naked body to sit at the end of the bed.

He reached his arms out to her, and she moved into them as she fastened her belt around her robe.

“Are you all right?”

Seraphina drew his shoulders toward, loving the way his face fit so perfectly at her breasts.

“I am more than all right now,” she promised, stroking her fingertips through his hair. “They, however, will need some convincing.”

“Hugo?!” Tristan’s familiar voice yelled out next.

“It seems your friends are worried too,” she giggled as Hugo groaned into her chest.

“It seems so,” he sighed, nuzzling her breasts one more time before allowing her to pull away.

“I suppose we both have a lot of explaining to do.”