Page 20 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)
CHAPTER 20
G eorgiana’s mind spun; her body teeming with sensations she had never imagined could exist.
Every touch of Robert’s hands on her thighs sent sparks through her, igniting a heat so fierce it felt as if her very skin might melt beneath his fingertips.
She could not think—could hardly breathe—as her body moved of its own accord, craving more of him.
She was panting as though she had run a race, her blood boiling at the sensation of his arousal at the apex of her thighs.
The ache in her center was unbearable, a need so foreign and overwhelming that it bordered on frightening.
And yet, she did not want him to stop. She could not bear for him to stop.
Her hands tangled in his dark hair, tugging with abandon, and she felt the soft groan that rumbled in his chest.
“God, Georgiana,” he breathed, and his words only made her more desperate, her lips pressing to his in a messy, frantic kiss.
She bit his bottom lip, eliciting another low growl from him, and her hips moved instinctively, grinding against him.
The hardness of him beneath her was almost too much to bear, and she moaned softly, her cheeks flushing with the desire that had finally broken free.
I want more. Need more.
Her eyes squeezed shut, and she felt his hands glide away from her thighs, his fingers leaving a trail of heat in their wake.
“Wha—” she whimpered at the loss, only to feel him fumble with the laces of her corset.
Her heart pounded and her hands flew to assist him, trembling as she pulled blindly at the stubborn knots. Her corset finally loosened and slid down. As the cool air brushed across her skin, Georgiana became acutely aware of how exposed she was.
She gulped as Robert’s gaze burned into her. She did not have to see him to feel the weight of his desire, but when her eyes fluttered open, the hunger in his expression sent a shiver down her spine.
Her lips curved into a shaky smile.
“Why have you stopped?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their panting breaths.
He hesitated, his hands trembling slightly as he rested them on her waist.
“You are still a maiden,” he said hoarsely as if reminding himself as much as her.
“And?” she asked, her voice surprisingly steady, though she could feel her pulse pounding in her throat. “Do you think I do not know what I want?”
His eyes darkened, and she felt the tension coiling in his body. “You do not understand what you are asking for, wife.”
“Then show me,” she said daringly, though her cheeks burned with embarrassment at her own boldness.
“Georgiana…” He grabbed her hips, and she knew he intended to remove her from his lap, so she resisted, clinging onto his neck with determination.
“No, I want to stay here.” She began to lick his ear. Robert’s hips jerked as he groaned in response.
“God help me,” he moaned. “Where did you learn how to do that?”
She huffed in amusement as a powerful surge of excitement coursed through her. Watching this formidable duke shift and sigh with pleasure under her ministration only stoked the fire inside her.
“I am not one of God’s strongest soldiers,” he murmured and swung Georgiana onto her back so that she was beneath him.
He dove down before Georgiana could even blink, crushing his lips onto hers and plunging his tongue into her mouth with an intensity that took her breath away.
Her nails dug into his shoulder blades as she pulled him closer, moaning encouragement into his mouth. He nudged her legs apart with his knee and pressed his rigid member between her waiting thighs.
“Oh,” she groaned, her eyelids fluttering at the delicious friction, “More,” she breathed pleadingly, her hips bucking instinctively.
She had been dreaming, aching, burning for this. How could she have lived without it for so long?
Robert buried his face in her neck, his lips tracing the sensitive skin there before his teeth grazed her collarbone.
She gasped, her back arching as her hands moved to grip his shoulders. She felt his hands slide lower, and when his fingers brushed against the slick heat of her most intimate place, she let out a cry she barely recognized as her own.
Her body jerked at the sensation; a rush of pleasure so sharp it bordered on pain.
“Robert…” she breathed, her voice trembling.
His name fell from her lips again as his fingers began to move, tracing the outer folds of her opening, exploring her, teasing her.
Georgiana shook as the pressure inside of her bloomed into an overwhelming wave of erotic decadence. She clung to him, her nails digging into his back as her body writhed beneath him.
Her breath hitched and she cried out as Robert found her pearl and rolled it between his thumb and finger. Her hips bucked uncontrollably, chasing the rhythm of his fingers, and her head fell back as the world around her narrowed.
Robert’s fingers moved with maddening precision, his touch both gentle and insistent, circling and pressing on that exquisitely sensitive bud until her entire being seemed to center there.
“Robert, I—I…” she gasped, unable to articulate the sensation.
Her breath came in shallow, desperate gasps, her chest heaving as her hips bucked uncontrollably against his hand.
“Yes, darling. That is it. Come undone for me,” he whispered.
A raw, primal cry tore from her throat as she reached the pinnacle of her pleasure. Waves of rapture washed over her as her loins tremored violently and her back arched with surges of pleasure and release.
She felt as though she were floating, weightless, every nerve alight with bliss, and clung to Robert as though he were the only thing anchoring her to the earth.
She was unsure how long it lasted—seconds, minutes, an eternity—but when the waves finally subsided, she lay boneless and trembling as a satiated moan escaped her lips.
Her entire body felt liquid, her limbs heavy and languid, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as the aftershocks rippled through her.
Georgiana opened her eyes to find Robert staring down at her, his own breath uneven and his gaze still filled with hunger, as though what he had just done to her had only been the tip of the iceberg.
And that was thrilling.
She reached up and brushed her fingers against his cheek. He leaned into her touch for a brief moment before pulling away.
“You are dangerous, Georgiana,” he murmured, his voice rough, though his lips curved into the faintest of smiles.
She blinked up at him, her heart still racing.
“I am not the dangerous one,” she whispered back.
He chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to her cheek before rolling onto his side, his body still trembling with restraint.
The room was silent but for the sound of their breaths. Georgiana smiled as she felt the warmth emanate from his body, grounding her as her mind slowly returned to the present.
Nothing would ever be the same between them again.
The fire in the grate burned merrily and sent embers up the chimney. Georgiana listened to the clip-clop of horses’ hooves and the squeaky wheels of passing carriages and heard the soft murmurs of voices as the servants shut down the house for the night.
Georgiana sighed deeply, and Robert propped himself up on one elbow so she could breathe. They stared into each other’s eyes.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded mutely, her eyes wide on her face. He sat up and shimmied over to the other end of the couch so she could also sit up. Georgiana blushed deeply, grabbed her corset, and covered her breasts while she simultaneously tried to pull down her skirts.
“Do not be embarrassed,” he said softly.
“I am not sure that is the word I would use,” she replied as her lashes lowered to cover her eyes.
“What word would you use?”
She took a deep breath before lifting her gaze to look him in the eyes. “That was… incredible. I hardly know how to react.”
Robert rose to his feet, crossed to the bar, grabbed a glass, and poured her a drink. He brought it to her and placed it in her hand.
“Drink,” he said.
She obediently did as he asked, and he nodded, watching her keenly. “Good girl.”
He took the glass and put it down on the table, before returning to his seat.
He pointed at her corset. “Would you like me to help you with that?”
She nodded shyly and he stood up again, circling the couch so that he could lace her up. While they were in the process of tying it up, there was a knock on the door.
Before either of them could say anything, the door opened, and Daisy walked in.
She turned to close the door behind her, not looking at them as she spoke. “Good evening. I have returned from Lady Ariana’s. Sinclair told me you are having a nightcap, so I thought I would join you.”
She turned around and stopped short, her gaze sweeping over Georgiana’s red face, to Robert behind her tying her laces. Her gaze drifted over to the couch pillows which had fallen on the floor, and her jaw dropped open.
“What…?”
Robert got to his feet. “A drink you said? Let me pour you one. Please take a seat on the armchair.”
He pointed very specifically to the chair across from them.
Daisy walked awkwardly towards it and sat down. Robert poured her a full glass of brandy.
“Er, h-how was dinner?” Georgiana asked in a hoarse voice and quickly cleared her throat.
“It was wonderful. Lady Stark is very pleased that Ariana will have a companion next year when we come out. You know how shy Ariana is; she did not want her daughter to be alone. Such a wonderful mother,” she sighed wistfully.
Robert took his seat. “Yes, coming out you said. Are you excited for that?”
She shrugged. “I suppose I am. I had hoped that Thomas… but never mind. I am sure my husband is out there waiting for me.”
Robert put his hand on the back of the couch. “I am sure he is.”
Georgiana cleared her throat. “It is late. We should go to bed.”
Daisy blinked at her. “Should we? Or would you like me to go to bed?”
Georgiana spluttered and coughed, and Robert bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling.
Georgiana stood and held her hand out to her sister. “Both of us. Come now, let us go.”
Daisy stood up with a grin and took Georgiana’s hand. “All right then. Goodnight, Your Grace,” she said with a coquettish curtsy to Robert.
“Good night.”
Robert was disappointed to see them go but could understand why Georgiana did not want to extend the evening. He could only guess how unsteady she must be feeling. She probably did not want anyone’s eyes on her as she processed what had taken place between them.
Robert could only hope it would not send her fleeing to the hills.
He stood up and dragged himself from the room and up the stairs to his chambers, wishing the footmen a good night and reminding them to douse all the candles before they retired for the evening.
He collapsed on his bed and stared up at the ceiling.
“I need a bath,” he said, regretting that he had not asked one of the footmen to bring up some hot water.
“Do you, Your Grace? I shall have water brought right away.”
He jumped slightly, turning his head to see Stanley sitting on a stool in the corner.
“Have you been there all this time?”
“Of course. I was waiting to help you out of your garments.”
“Yes well…thank you. I will need a bath this evening. Or maybe just a carafe of hot water and a cloth to wipe myself down.”
“I can help you with that.”
“Thank you, but no. I can do it myself.”
Stanley nodded. “Very well.”
Stanley stood up and walked towards the fire, stoking it before disappearing behind the screen that separated the bed from the water closet. He came back with a small iron cauldron filled with water and hung it over the fire. He then arranged a basin, a jug of cold water, and the various items Robert might need for his ablutions.
“Will there be anything else, Your Grace.”
“Not for tonight. Thank you, Stanley. You may go.”
He executed a bow. “Good night then, Your Grace.”
“Good night.”
Robert stripped off his clothes and tossed them onto the bed.
He saw a jug of drinking water and a glass on his bedside table and suddenly felt thirsty. He poured himself a full glass and drank it all before crossing over to the sideboard, where he washed the stickiness from his thighs and the sweat from his chest while reliving the passionate session he had just enjoyed with Georgiana.
It was all he could do to stop himself from becoming aroused again.
I am in big trouble.