Page 19 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 19

“ Y our right ring finger is crooked!” Georgiana exclaimed. “Why is that?”

She swayed a bit as she tried to focus her blurry eyes on Robert’s finger.

Robert also looked down at his hands, which she held in hers. “Oh…well, that is an amusing tale. When I was a young lad of five I fell out of a tree. One of our estate cats, Stubbles, had climbed up the big oak tree in our garden and got stuck. I had to climb up to get it and though I got the cat down safely, I slipped from the last branch, fell to the ground, and broke my finger.”

“Oh no.” Her mouth turned down sympathetically, her state of inebriation making her exaggerate the gesture more than usual. “It must have hurt.”

He laughed at the memory, shaking his head. “It was quite painful. The housekeeper had to give me quite a bit of laudanum to calm my screaming.”

She looked up at him with interest. “You screamed? I cannot even imagine it.”

“I screamed and cried for my mother. My father was quite disappointed in my inability to be stoic, I assure you.”

She caressed his finger gently. “Well, I am sure you did the best you could. Was the surgeon not able to straighten it?”

“I was lucky not to lose it.”

She shivered with horror and gripped his hand tightly. “Poor boy,” she cooed sympathetically.

“It was quite a long time ago. I do not feel pain anymore aside from when it is about to rain.”

Her brow furrowed. “But…is that not nearly every day?”

He huffed in amusement. “It does feel that way sometimes, but no.”

Cradling his right hand in her own, she covered it with her left hand and placed it in her lap before looking up to meet his gaze.

“Stubbles was lucky to have such an attentive owner.”

“I expect you know quite a bit about being attentive. Especially with Daisy.”

She shook her head. “Daisy poses no problem so long as she has enough space to pursue her daydreams. She loves to paint, skip in meadows, and bask in the attention of others. If she is not ignored she is fine. It was hard sometimes, growing up, to find the attention she craved. Our parents seemed to understand her need and made that extra effort with her. She was our little princess, always primped and pampered by everyone.”

He put his left hand atop hers, squeezed it, and leaned close to look into her eyes. “And you, my dear? Did anyone pamper you ?”

Her eyes slid away as she recalled her constant struggle to make sure the entire household was fed, and that they had enough firewood to keep warm, even if she had to go out and gather twigs herself.

There was certainly no room for pampering.

“Tell me about your life growing up,” Robert urged.

She shook her head slowly. “I cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because it is a secret. Mama and Papa always said that we could never let anyone know what dire straits we were in, otherwise they would be pariahs.”

“Why?”

She shrugged still not looking at him. “I do not know. That is just what they said.”

“Plenty of noble families have pockets to let or are in dun territory. It is hardly remarkable.”

“Yes, well…for my parents it was.”

“Well, at least it is now all in the past.”

“Indeed.” Georgiana swayed back and forth as she offered an exaggerated nod of her head in agreement.

“So, what of you? How do you wish to be pampered?”

She blinked uncomprehendingly. “How do you mean?”

“What completely luxuriant thing would you like to do?”

She giggled. “Luxuriant?” Her eyes moved lazily from side to side as she thought about it. “Well, I suppose this is rather indulgent of me. Too much wine, delicious food, a fire in the grate, gentle rain outside and a husband with his entire attention focused upon me.”

He leaned closer to whisper in her ear, his breath caressing her skin, “Would you like me to focus on any particular area?”

She turned her head so that they were eye to eye. “Such as?”

“Well…for one thing…” his eyes dropped to her cleavage, “I might show you how it feels for a man to…” his eyes swept over her collarbone and up her neck, where a pulse was keeping time with her racing heart, “massage your shoulders?”

She jerked, startled. “Massage my shoulders?” she repeated with disbelief.

“Yes. It can be a very sensual experience.”

She looked doubtfully at her own shoulders. “It can?”

“Would you like to find out?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“It would be my pleasure, my lady,” Robert said, before getting to his feet and circling behind the couch.

He placed his hands on Georgiana’s shoulders, squeezing gently. She closed her eyes, holding her breath as she enjoyed the sensation of his hands on her body.

Aside from her lady’s maid, no one had ever touched her so intimately before. He began by kneading the knots out of her neck—knots she was not even aware that she had.

She groaned in appreciation, her body relaxing under his ministrations. His hands were gentle but firm, loosening her stiff muscles with skill.

“Is this something else you learned on your travels?”

He chuckled. “Strangely, no. It was my grandmother. Her legs tended to become rather stiff, and she liked it when my small fingers unraveled the knots beneath her skin. Over time I grew quite proficient at it.”

“What a nice boy you were.”

He bent down to whisper in her ear. “I can be a nice boy again… for you.”

He leaned in and kissed the junction of her neck and shoulder, a soft, wet, butterfly kiss that made her skin tingle and shiver.

“Oh, but I think you are a bad boy, making me feel things I should not,” she whispered back.

She could feel him smile against her skin. “Who says you should not?”

She inhaled a long shuddering breath, goosebumps appearing on her exposed shoulders. “I do not know. Society?”

He flung a hand dramatically in the air. “Society be damned. Feel everything that you want to feel.”

He returned his hands to her shoulders, massaging diligently.

“What if…” she hesitated.

“Tell me.”

“What if I want to feel your lips on mine?”

He froze, his hands warm on her shoulders. “Do you?”

“Y-yes,” she whispered.

He slowly removed his hands from her shoulders and circled the couch to sit next to her.

He stared into her eyes intently. “Are you certain?”

She nodded mutely, her lips pressed together.

“All right.” He cupped her face in his hands, looking deep into her eyes. “We will start slowly. Do not be afraid.”

She nodded again, her heart speeding up in anticipation. He drew closer at a glacial pace, his eyes never leaving hers, attentive to every emotion present in them.

Georgiana’s bosom heaved, and goosebumps rose along her arms. Her face flushed and her mouth opened slightly as he drew near. Her vision dimmed as his lips finally touched hers.

His warm mouth pressed gently against her lips and lingered there. He flicked his tongue across her bottom lip, then nipped it gently with his teeth. He tilted his head, pulled her lip into his mouth, and gently sucked on it to lessen the sting. Georgiana moaned softly as a current of electricity ran down her spine and into her groin.

She opened her mouth to let him in. She shook as his kiss grew deeper and more penetrating and she became bolder, touching his tongue with her own, exploring his beautiful, warm mouth, and tasting the remnants of red wine and hot toddy.

Robert held her face firmly in his strong hands and rubbed his thumbs across her soft cheeks. Georgiana raised her hands and ran her fingers greedily through his thick, dark hair, and pulled him into her, crushing her lips against his inviting mouth.

As their ragged breaths mingled, she was filled with a raging desire to consume him.

Robert gently pulled away to look into her eyes. “Is this all right?”

She nodded mutely and pulled him back to her with zeal. Robert chuckled at her fervor and crushed his lips on hers.

Georgiana pulled his upper lip into her mouth and traced her tongue across it, relishing the shiver that coursed through her, and the fire of need that burned between her thighs.

She was shocked at the depth of her desires and eager to exploit them… She now knew what she wanted, and would make Robert know as well.

Georgiana draped her leg across his thighs and pulled him into her. He gasped into her mouth in surprise, moved his hands down her body to grasp her buttocks, and lifted her onto his lap.

His muscular arms encircled her waist, and his hands roamed across her ribs, back, and hips before returning to gently squeeze her firm rear. She groaned with pleasure and ran her lips from the crook of his neck, up his throat, and to his earlobe. Georgiana blew into its canal, nibbled on his tender earlobe, and traced her tongue along its edges, smiling when he grunted with enjoyment.

She held his face and kissed him fiercely, her heart pounding and her skin hot and damp with desire.

She pressed her hardened nipples into his broad chest to control the tingling and yearning in her breasts. She ached for Robert to touch them.

She pulled away from him, moaning in frustration, wanting something she could not name.

“Hush…it is all right, I will take care of you,” he whispered as he dropped kisses down her neck, his hands lowering to her bosom.

She arched her back, wordlessly encouraging him to do more. Her embroidered corset added friction to his gentle strokes, but she wanted it off. She longed to feel his large, powerful hands directly on her breasts.

She squirmed and whimpered, hoping he would unlace her.

He groaned and buried his face in the hollow of her neck.

“You will be the death of me,” he murmured.

“Good, because you are killing me ,” she gasped breathlessly with a pout, holding his head in her hands and leaning her own against his forehead.

His hands moved to her thighs, but her skirts interfered with Georgiana’s ability to feel him. He rubbed up and down very slowly, raising her skirt higher each time.

She squirmed in frustration, urging him to go faster, but he continued to take his time, his teeth nipping at the racing pulse in her throat.

She could feel her slick wetness increasing as his tumescent shaft pressed against her secret place. She gripped his broad shoulders, raised her head and moaned with need.

“Please,” she pleaded.

“Shh,” he said as he finally pushed her skirt out of the way and his warm hands circled her eager thighs. “God…”

His mouth feverishly possessed hers as his hands rubbed her legs and his thumbs circled on the heated flesh of her inner thighs.

She could feel herself dripping and her groin contracting as she sought to fill the empty space within her.

“Robert,” she whispered as she shook, feeling faint with need.