Page 38 of Her Rogue of a Duke

“Please,” she whimpered, her tone laden with need. “No more teasing…”

Her plea was a siren’s call. “But you, my dear, are so delectable, I can scarcely resist.”

She bit her lower lip and mewled like a wild cat, “You are a beast of a man.”

Chuckling, he nodded. “It is what you awaken in me.”

He moved back up her body, capturing her lips in another searing kiss. Francesca began to scratch at his coat, tearing it from his shoulders. He helped her, shrugging out of the garment and throwing it to the floor. They made quick work of his shirt next, leaving him bare-chested over her. The sensation of their skin pressed together sent waves of fiery desire coursing through his veins.

He was at his limit. He could not hold himself back from her any longer.

Hastily, he undid his trousers, pushing them down just enough to free himself and his hardened length. Resting his forearms on either side of her head, he looked deeply into Francesca’s eyes. Her gaze, clouded with lust, met his with an intensity that matched his own

“Are you certain of this?” he asked gently, his forehead resting against hers. “I don’t want you to have any regrets…”

She reached up, cradling his face in her hands. “I will not regret it. I promise. This is what I want, Joshua. I want this more than I have wanted anything in a long time. Please… my future is uncertain, but what I do know is if I marry, it will not be for love. I want this moment to be with someone I truly desire.”

Joshua furrowed his brows, her words troubling him. Why was she so determined to marry—and resigned to a loveless marriage? What secrets was she still holding back from him?

Before he could consider the matter further, though, she caught his lips in another kiss, and reality around him melted away. He did not want to think about anything else but her. He would worry about the rest of it, including her secrets, later.

As they continued to kiss, their movements slower and more languid than before, Joshua carefully aligned his manhood with her entrance. Gently, he began to ease into her, attuned to her every reaction. Francesca's body tensed, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. She gazed up at him with wide eyes.

“I will be gentle,” he assured her softly, his voice a soothing balm. “If it is too much, just tell me. I will stop immediately.”

She nodded, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Joshua proceeded with deliberate care, entering her gradually, his eyes never leaving her face, searching for any sign of discomfort. She winced slightly and gritted her teeth, but she did not tell him tostop. He peppered her face with gentle kisses, whispering words of comfort, trying to ease her tension.

“Breathe for me,” he coaxed in a whisper. “Take a deep breath. Keep your eyes on mine.”

She held his gaze and did as he told her, taking in deep, even breaths and releasing them. As she did so, the tension slowly eased from her body. It became easier to slide forward, and when he was seated to the hilt, he paused to give her time to adjust to him inside her.

“Are you well?” he whispered gently.

“Yes,” she breathed, her voice a soft exhale. “Yes, I am all right. It is… different than I expected.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Different how? What were you expecting?”

“I… I am not sure,” she stammered. “I was not expecting to feel so… full.”

“Have you imagined this happening before?”

She swallowed and nodded coyly.

“And did you imagine it with me?”

Another nod, more hesitant this time.

Joshua released a low growl. “Do you have any idea how thrilled that makes me?”

Her eyes widened slightly. “It does?”

“Yes,” he told her firmly. “Knowing you have fantasized about me... it is almost too much. It makes me want to lose all restraint.”

“Then… don’t hold back,” she whispered, a daring glint in her eyes.

Joshua paused, studying her intently. “You do not know what you are asking for.”

“I do,” she insisted, her gaze steady and unwavering. “I want you to give me everything that you have, Joshua. I do not want you to hold back with me in any way.”