Page 14 of Five Ways to Bed a Duke

Chapter Fourteen

I f Richard was shocked, he didn’t show it. He pulled her harder against his body and groaned against her mouth as he took her lips in a punishing kiss.

“Richard,” Catherine moaned in the brief moment he kissed her neck.

He palmed her buttocks and lifted her against his frame, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around him. He growled approvingly and then captured her lips again, pushing away the papers on his desk to lay her on it.

She buried her fingers in his hair, groaning at how soft it was, and pulled him even closer, as if she wasn’t already pressed so close to him.

“Catherine,” he moaned against her neck as his hands went to the laces at the back of her dress.

She gasped when her dress loosened and he pulled the neckline down to bare her breasts to him. She’d never been so exposed, so she moved to cover herself.

“No,” he warned. “Remove your hands and let me see you.”

She obeyed, leaning back on her hands. His eyes darkened as he took her in, emboldening her to arch her back and pushing her breasts forward.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, stepping closer to her and palming one breast. “It should be a crime to cover such perfection.”

She blushed as his eyes caressed her body, leaving a hot trail everywhere they landed.

“So you do blush as beautifully everywhere.” He chuckled darkly.

He leaned forward, kissing her collarbone, her neck, nipping gently that spot where her neck met her shoulder and then kissing up to her ear, nipping and licking while his hands kneaded her breasts.

A moan escaped her lips, and he put a hand over her mouth. At the crazed look in his eyes, she felt a moist heat pool between her legs, and her body begged for something she didn’t understand.

“You have to be a little more quiet, darling,” he warned. “I don’t want anyone interrupting us before we even get started. Alright?”

She nodded with his hand still over her mouth.

“Good girl,” he purred, patting her head.

He kissed her again, nipping her lip then moving back to her ear and down towards her neck as he gently pushed her down onto the desk.

When his mouth closed over one nipple, she could barely keep herself from flying off the desk. As if he’d been expecting her reaction, his other hand simply held her down by her hips, not easing up as he sucked and nipped and palmed her breast.

She’d never felt such a sharp stab of pleasure in her life, and for a brief moment, she knew that once this door had been opened by Richard, every other man would pale in comparison.

Was this how it was going to be?

“Richard,” she moaned when he continued his ministrations. “Please.”

She didn’t know what she was begging for, but her body was taut with tension, and she knew he was the only one who could give her release.

He kissed his way further down, lifting her dress and then running his hands up her inner thighs. At the shocking sensation, she closed her legs, but he shook his head at her.

“Relax, darling.” He smiled. “I don’t intend to steal your virtue. Thoroughly.”

She wanted to, but her brain could barely process the shivers racking her body as his fingers played a dangerous game on her inner thigh.

When they moved higher to her slit, her hips bucked of their own accord.

“Richard.”

“I’m here, my dear.”

His fingers moved over her womanhood again, and she squirmed at how damp she felt. It was so embarrassing, so she tried shutting her legs again.

His eyes met hers, and seeing the confusion there, he smiled and leaned his forehead against hers.

“You are doing beautifully, darling,” he reassured her. “I know this must be foreign to you, but you are making me rethink my decision not to ruin you.”

“So, it’s good?” Catherine asked, unable to meet his eyes.

She didn’t want to see any hint of disappointment that he might want to cover up with a compliment just so she didn’t stop.

“It’s perfect. You are perfect.”

She reddened again and nodded, opening her legs once more.

Richard smiled at her, nipping her lower lip playfully, but he didn’t dwell on it. His hand moved back over her womanhood as he played with the bundle of nerves that had her clapping a hand over her mouth so she didn’t scream and holding on to the desk for dear life so she didn’t throw herself off.

He slipped a finger inside her, groaning at the snug warmth, and set a steady pace that had her writhing underneath him. Her hand moved from her mouth to his arm as he did deliciously wicked things to her.

He laughed, but the sound was strained. His entire body was taut with tension, but he made no move to do anything more with her.

He kissed her again, moving down her body till he knelt between her legs, seeing her so intimately.

“Richard, you shouldn’t…”

“I believe there are many things we shouldn’t have done that we have now, darling. What’s one more?”

His voice was full of mirth that had her giggling and relaxing too.

“You are a terrible influence,” she scolded playfully.

“Only on people that I like.”

She tried not to dwell on his words, but her heart swelled at the thought that he actually liked her. She wasn’t a fool that she didn’t know whatever this was, was nothing to him, but somewhere inside her, she hoped he’d care for her beyond just using her body.

“But you really shouldn’t see me there,” she protested again, biting her lip.

Richard rolled his eyes and kissed the inside of her knee. “I have wanted—no, craved tasting you since the moment I smelled your desire. It would kill me now if you deny me this pleasure.”

How was a woman to refuse when he pleaded so nicely?

Catherine nodded and bit her lip, tensing up as she braced herself for the unfamiliar sensation.

Shame washed over her as he lowered his face to her womanhood, and she closed her eyes, not wanting to see his reaction.

“It will be much better if you relax, darling girl.” He laughed softly close to her center.

She gasped as his breath fanned her sex. It didn’t feel unpleasant at all.

“I don’t know how,” she admitted. “I haven’t experienced anything like this before.”

He chuckled again and shook his head. “If you had, I’d be worried,” he joked.

“Richard…”

“Let me show you how good this feels.”

That was all the notice he gave her before his tongue slid up her slit, nearly blinding her.

Her hips bucked off the edge of the desk so suddenly that he had to hold her down with one hand. If she wasn’t already blind with pleasure, she was pretty sure his strength would have been the final nail in her coffin.

One hand dug into his hair, holding him in place, and she tugged gently, loving how he shuddered against her.

“Richard,” she moaned, clapping a hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out loudly.

He groaned against her as his tongue did wicked things to her, and it was only a short moment before she experienced a sensation akin to ecstasy.

Her body and mind felt weightless, as if she was drifting into nothing even though her legs quivered. She wondered briefly how she was going to walk back home without anyone noticing something wrong with her gait.

Perhaps they’d stop and ask if she were alright and she would say she was, yet she would know what caused her to walk so. If she weren’t so tired, she would have laughed at the naughtiness of her thoughts.

She sagged on the desk as she tried to collect herself and remember where and who she was.

Richard kissed her inner thigh once more before rising to his feet and pulling down her dress.

Now that her eyes were open, she could see the bulge in his trousers, and she bit her lip.

He must be in pain.

But that must mean he was attracted to her too.

She met his eyes, which were completely dark now, and blushed as he winked at her.

“Is that…” She swallowed. “Are you… in pain?”

“In pain?” He looked confused.

She pointed at the bulge and turned away.

He laughed again and pulled her against him. “I am in pain most definitely, but it is not a bad kind of pain,” he explained.

“Can I do anything to help?” she asked seriously.

He shook his head and stepped away from her.

“You are so innocent,” he said softly. “You shouldn’t ask a man some kind of questions, or it will make him want to do wicked things to you.”

“Oh.”

He eyed her again and came close, kissing her deeply. It was unlike his usual lustful kisses, and she wondered what it meant. He pulled away from her with a sigh.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured. “I am jealous of the man who will get to see you like this every day.” He squeezed her breast and then pulled back from her. “Come, let me help you with your dress.”

Her mind was full of thoughts because his words had killed the image she’d started to entertain in her mind that perhaps he was starting to like her.

“Do you never plan to be married?” she asked with her back to him.

His hands stilled as he tried to lace her dress, but then he cleared his throat and resumed his work.

“I do not,” he answered gruffly.

“Why?”

He sighed and dropped his hands. “Can we not talk about this?”

“Why not?” she asked stubbornly.

She already knew the outcome of their conversation, but she wanted to know more. It seemed she lived for the torture of hearing truths she didn’t want to hear.

“Because I never intend to marry anyone,” he spat angrily, not meeting her eyes. “For the sake of our friendship, I’ll ask you not to push this conversation.”

Catherine fell silent, but she knew that it was time to leave. She had long overstayed her welcome, and this would definitely be the last time she let herself toe this line of ruination with him again.

“Alright, I won’t,” she relented. “I will take my leave now. But, Richard… we can’t… I can’t go on like this. It’s too much…”

Her voice broke despite herself, but then she cleared he throat.

“Cathy…” He sighed, pulling her into his arms.

He kissed her long and deep, and she kissed him back, savoring the final kiss they’d ever share. If anything, she’d at least have the memories to sustain her.

“I understand,” he murmured against her lips.

Their foreheads were touching, and she could feel the tears well up in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall.

“Thank you,” she said at last. “Your lessons have been more than helpful.”

“I should be thanking you too for helping with Emmy and for being a good student.” He laughed. “I do hope I’ll be getting an invitation to your wedding?”

“Of course, you will.”

“Then I wish you all the happiness in the world. God knows you deserve it.” He smiled. “May you marry the man who gives you all the stability and peace you desire.”

“Thank you, Richard,” she answered, even though her heart broke a little more.

She wondered how she could ever be happy knowing that she’d never experience such pleasure at his hands again. She couldn’t deny any longer that she had well and truly fallen for him, and he hadn’t caught her but let her heart fall to the ground.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself, though,” she admitted. “You have come to haunt my days and thoughts, and it will be hard forgetting everything that has happened between us.”

“Cathy, you will be just fine.” He sighed. “I will have a hard time forgetting you, too. You are the most remarkable woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. It will be hard, but this… feeling, whatever it may be, will pass. It will have to. It will be unfair of me to keep such memories when you will soon marry someone else.”

“But I don’t have to. We could?—”

“No, Cathy.” He shook his head. “I can’t do this to you. I can’t bring you into my world of uncertainty. You want love. You’re a loving woman. So open and giving. I am nothing but a selfish man who will use you for your body and ruin you. You deserve someone better, someone who can give you the future you want. The dream home in the country with your babies. I am not capable of giving you that.”

“You are capable of whatever you set your mind to, Richard.” She sighed. “You just have to believe it.”

Her words seemed to have struck a chord inside him, but she didn’t push it.

“Goodbye, Richard,” she said at last, stepping away from him. “Do tell Emmy I can no longer come to your house.”

“She has nothing to do with?—”

“I know.” She nodded. “But it will be easier for me to set aside these feelings if I don’t see you as often.”

“I will inform her.” He nodded, looking forlorn. “I will send for my carriage to take you home—and please don’t refuse. Let me do you this last favor.”

She nodded and said nothing, walking to the door and ignoring the questioning stares of the staff.

When the coach arrived, she let him help her into her coat and stepped out without looking back at him. It was only when the carriage rounded the corner that she let her tears fall.

She had always known it was pointless giving her heart away, and to do so as early as she had was a foolhardy thing, but she’d done it anyway, forgetting that Richard was first and foremost a rake despite his nice words and offer of help.

He hadn’t even forced her into anything but made use of her lack of clear boundaries so she couldn’t even hate him if she wanted to.

She sniffed, wiping her eyes with her hands. She would fix herself up and not let this small incident distract her from her lifelong dream.

She would pick the most carefree suitor and settle into a life where she could reside in solitude as long as she wanted.