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She placed his hand where it’d been a moment ago, right where she ached the most. His eyes lit up with enough raw desire to knock her off her feet.

“I want it as well,” she whispered the words about to seal her fate as a woman and a lady of London’s society.

His fingers seemed to burn her skin through the fabric of her skirts as he dipped his head to kiss her lips.

He took her mouth without hesitation, conquering it with a few lashes of his tongue.

She was losing herself in the ardent kiss when he lifted her by the waist. She grabbed his shoulders for balance and gasped when he laid her on the thick rug next to the four-poster bed.

He loomed over her, stroking her cheek and neck. “I can’t believe you let me kiss you.”

She couldn’t believe how beautiful his hungry gaze on her made her feel. He dragged a hand down her body, pausing over her aching breast to rub her nipple through the fabric of her white shirt.

“Next time, I’ll kiss you here,” he said before kissing her breast.

She already wheezed, her muscles tensing with anticipation and her drawers getting soaked with desire.

He gently spread her legs and nestled between them.

He was so broad that he made her feel even more petite than she was.

When he bunched up her skirt and petticoats, she held her breath, waiting for his reaction.

He drank in the sight of her, awed. He caressed her leg reverently. Even through her silk stockings, his calloused fingers teased her skin.

He pushed the skirt further up and revealed the silk garters at her thighs. Up again, and her drawers were fully exposed. He paused, crouched between her legs, and admired his work.

Her chest rose and fell quickly as he bent her knees and pushed her thighs wider apart.

The fabric of her skirt and petticoats frothed at her waist, leaving her silk drawers fully uncovered.

The slit at their opening parted when he spread her legs.

Cool air hit her tender flesh currently hot and wet.

She should be ashamed of being so exposed to a man, but instead, she ached to feel his lips, fingers, anything on her core.

He took his time though, running his large hands over her calves and thighs, and toying with the garters. He kissed her knee before stroking her thigh again, leaving behind a trail of goosebumps on her skin.

“Your scent is delicious,” he whispered against her inner thigh.

She couldn’t say anything because, if she opened her mouth, only moans would come out. She gasped when he pulled apart the opening of her drawers and stared at her for a long minute. The more he stared, the wetter she became.

Yet he didn’t touch her. He tilted his head and widened his eyes but didn’t kiss or touch her.

She was one breath away from begging him to do something.

Anything. But she didn’t need to wait long.

He stroked her wet folds, causing her to jolt.

Her hips jerked up as he caressed her intimately with gentle fingers.

“You’re so beautiful.” His thumb brushed against her throbbing nub, and she had to bite into her bottom lip not to scream in pleasure.

“Especially now. You’re all flushed and pretty.

Everywhere.” He spread her wetness over her folds and nub, gently touching her entrance.

“I could watch you for hours, study every single inch of your skin.”

He pinched her nub lightly, but the moan escaping her was nothing but wild.

He slid a finger inside her, and no amount of reading scandalous novels, anatomy books, or indecent chats with other women had prepared her for the onslaught of sheer pleasure overwhelming her.

The intrusion was both strange and delicious, powerful and not enough.

The fact he kept watching her and his finger inside her only drove her mad with need.

He stroked her deeply, brushing her little bud of nerves with his thumb.

She was all sensation and pleasure. Never could she have imagined how powerful his touch could be.

“I’m going to kiss you now.”

“Yes, please.” She begged, and she didn’t care.

Her body was on fire, her core was wet, and the throb tormented her. Only he could soothe the ache.

She held her breath as he lowered his head. Closer, closer to where she wanted him. She was going to burst like a star out of sheer anticipation.

The first blow of his warm breath on her heated, tender flesh tore another moan from her. Her hips jolted when he finally kissed her. Oh, the heat. She’d never experienced such intense, all-consuming heat.

His tongue was gentle on her, stroking and lapping at her, but the result was a devastating wave of ecstasy she quickly became addicted to.

She now understood why people sought carnal pleasure with obsession.

The feeling was intoxicating. Although she couldn’t imagine receiving the same pleasure from anyone else but Hector.

He used his fingers, tongue, and lips, tasting her deeply.

She moaned and clawed the rug with her fingernails as he slipped a second finger inside her while using his tongue on her nub.

The strokes of his tongue were both slow and delicate, but now and then, he’d make her feel the pull of his lips by sucking at her.

It was so wrong, but it felt so right. He slid his fingers deeper, touching places inside her she had no idea existed.

As he licked and suckled at her, a restless feeling grew within her, starting from the spot he tormented with his tongue. It spread from her core to her chest and head, making her moan and writhe until delicious spasms took hold of her.

She couldn’t stay quiet any longer and released a liberating scream she muffled with her hand.

He didn’t stop. His merciless tongue and lips kept lapping at her, and his deft fingers slipped deeper, stroking secret spots she wasn’t aware could produce so much pleasure.

Even his teeth grazed her most sensitive skin, scattering shivers throughout her body.

Too much pleasure, yet she wanted more. She pushed her hips towards him, arching her back.

He licked her and moved his fingers until a new wave of energy built up and another release burst out of her.

The second one was more devastating than the first, leaving her boneless and exhausted.

She had to muffle another liberating scream.

Never would she have believed that such pleasure was physically possible.

She was surprised her body didn’t float away with the pleasure.

She lay on the rug, her eyelids so heavy as he lifted his head from her core.

He pulled down her skirt and arranged it around her legs, but if he did a poor job, she wouldn’t know or care.

How could she return to her normal life after this moment?

How could she be a functional human being after being torn apart?

He stretched next to her and brushed her flaming cheek. “I gather you enjoyed it.”

Only a muffled, undefined noise came out of her. She didn’t even know what she meant to say with it. Was it a laugh or a snort?

“Will you let me touch and kiss you again?” His eyebrows pulled together as if he were worried she might say no. Ha! He had no idea.

She swallowed and struggled to emerge from her state of bliss. “Any time you want.”

He smiled so widely a dimple appeared on his cheek.

“But on one condition,” she added, touching his chin.

“Anything.”

“You’ll let me do the same to you.” After today, she was curious to watch him becoming undone by her kisses. Everywhere.

She wanted to explore his body as well, touch his taut muscles, and hear him shout in pleasure. To her surprise, he flushed to the roots of his hair. He’d undressed in front of her and stood in the snow stark naked while being aroused, yet he blushed now.

“Are you embarrassed by my proposition?” she asked, worried she might offend him.

“I’m not sure you will like it.” He licked his lips, capturing a few drops of her wetness.

The tingle started all over again, threatening to consume her.

“That’s not possible.” She caressed his golden hair. “I want to make you feel what I feel.”

“My skin isn’t as soft or pleasant to the touch as yours.”

“Let me decide that.” Now she couldn’t wait to taste him.

She touched his chest and slipped her hand under his waistcoat—he finally wore one. His skin gave off enough heat to warm her hand. He stilled, and his lips parted in what seemed to be shock. She paused.

“Does my touch bother you?” She wasn’t an experienced lover, so the possibility she already did something wrong was real.

“No. Quite the opposite. It’s very intense.”

“I want to touch your skin.” She barely finished saying it before he unbuttoned his waistcoat and shirt, revealing his golden torso.

She disagreed. His skin felt soft and silky under her fingers. She touched his hard pectorals, the defined ridges of his abdominal muscles, and the tendons in his neck.

Each inch of him revealed a little secret about his life on the island, the hardship he’d endured, the long hours in the sun, and the fight for his survival.

He closed his eyes and groaned deep in his throat as she explored him both with a lover’s fascination and an artist’s interest. The hard ridge straining beneath the flap of his breeches caught her eyes, and curiosity won.

She unfastened the opening, pouting when she realised it wasn’t a quick task.

Lord, so many buttons. She’d never paid attention to a man’s breeches.

Her breath hitched when his hard, thick shaft came out.

Goodness. She’d already seen it, but the sight triggered a new flush through her.

He was thick with a glistening drop on the blunt head.

How could it fit inside her? Just the thought shot another wave of pleasure to her core.

“Maddie.” He propped himself up on his elbows, reddening furiously. “I apologise.”

“For what?” It was with effort that she averted her gaze from his inviting length to his face.

“I know it’s...I can’t stop it. When you’re close, I feel my body tensing.” He spoke faster. “If it offends you?—”

“Offend me?”

“I might have forgotten much, but I do remember Robert commenting on the fact a gentleman should hide his physical reaction to a lady. He said it was the most vulgar thing a gentleman could do.”

“Poppycock.” Right. She should have chosen another word. “He was partially right. When in the company of other ladies and gentlemen, you should follow Robert’s advice, but it’s only you and me now, and I want to see you.”

He reddened further. Gosh, he looked adorable. She closed her hand around him in reply.

He jolted and closed his eyes again as a guttural noise came out of his throat.

A curse escaped him, but she wasn’t shocked.

Quite the opposite. She stroked him and caressed his smooth tip with her thumb.

The effect on him shocked her. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides as if in pain, his whole body tensing.

She worked his length gently, memorising the feel of him in her hand, the hard muscles, and the silky skin.

A pearly drop appeared on the tip, and she spread it around, noticing how his shaft twitched and swelled under her hand.

He panted now, utterly beautiful with his flushed cheeks, parted lips.

He was at her mercy, and she shouldn’t find it so heady.

She moved her hand faster, and the rhythm of his breathing matched that of her hand.

Spasms caught him as his muscles tightened and he spilled in her palm.

She watched fascinated as his release came out in thick ribbons and wondered how it’d feel inside her or in her mouth.

How she wished to capture his moment in a painting, his expression of ecstasy.

“I’m sorry.” He sat bolt upright, producing a handkerchief from his pocket. “I’m sorry.” He wiped her hand clean while avoiding her gaze.

“Don’t apologise.”

He shook his head.

“Hector, please look at me.”

He did as he was told while wiping her fingers.

“You don’t have to apologise. It was wonderful. I loved every moment of it.” She caressed his cheek with her free hand. “I liked it. Why are you so bold when it’s you who touches me and so shy when it’s my turn?”

He drew in a shaky breath. “Because I can’t believe you like me as much as I like you.”

His usual honesty caused her heart to clench.

“Let’s dispel any doubts then, once and for all. I like you. I like touching you, and I want more. So much more. I want you, Hector. You. No one else. I want to feel you inside me and give you as much pleasure as possible. Will you share this journey with me? Will you let me be with you?”

He hugged her so quickly and with such strength she was shoved back. His strong arms wrapped around her and held her tightly. She hugged him back and rested her head on his chest.

Yes, she wanted so much more.