Page 37

A licia lay beneath him, his naked chest a glorious sight in the candlelight flickering beside him.

His eyes roamed over her before he leaned down and flipped her onto her stomach.

She let out a low moan as he ripped her dress off her shoulders, and she tried to turn back to scold him.

“My gown!” she cried, even as he tugged it down, revealing her undergarments and petticoats.

“I thought you were a seamstress, wife of mine. I look forward to seeing you create something with this gown another day, but now I have waited long enough.”

He tugged at the laces securing her corset, tearing it apart as she shivered beneath him.

Seth was wasting no time this evening, and in moments she was divested of her petticoats, corset, and drawers and lay naked beneath him. He stared at her, entranced.

“I am going to ruin you tonight, Duchess. I shall make you come apart for me, command you in every way, just as you command my heart.”

Her breathing was stertorous and rapid as he skimmed the back of his fingers over her stomach and up over the swell of her breasts. His dark eyes met hers as he planted a knee on the mattress beside her.

“You know, Duchess, I have been thinking of nothing but this since you first joined me in the gardens in that ridiculous dress.”

Alicia sucked in a breath as his hands rested above her shoulders, his body hovering over her.

“I could think of nothing but your figure that day. I was angry with you for making me lust after you so hard. I went to my chambers and jerked off, picturing you stripping down just like this. I wanted to take you right then and there.”

He lowered his hips, grinding them against her, and she shuddered as she felt the hard evidence of how much he wanted her between her legs.

“What will you allow me to do to you, Duchess?” he mused. “Perhaps when we were together in the theatre, you would have allowed me liberties.”

His hand trailed down her side, leaving tingles in its wake.

“What do you mean?” she breathed.

“What if I had not concealed us?” he asked, his hips rolling against her in a sinful rhythm. “What if I had bent you over the side of our box, exposed you, entered you, making the whole world watch as I claimed you?”

Something about that image made desire ripple through her like a wave, and he chuckled as his hand came to rest on her upper thigh.

“Do you know, Duchess, I think you would have enjoyed that.”

Alicia closed her eyes and let out a long moan as he pushed his finger inside her. His thumb rubbed the sensitive nub at the apex of her sex, and she let out a sharp cry.

He pushed in, circling his finger, his breathing quickening as he watched her.

“Tell me what you want, my love. I will always take care of you from this day onward.”

“I want you,” she whispered as a second finger joined the first.

Alicia trembled as he withdrew his fingers and pushed her legs up, exposing her to him. Then, she watched as he lowered his head between her legs.

“Then have me, Duchess. Body and soul.”

His tongue plunged into her, the wicked glide of it making her back arch off the mattress as she moaned and writhed beneath him, desperate for more.

He lapped at her flesh, groaning as his fingers dug into her thighs, leaving thin red marks in their wake. Alicia pictured finding them in the morning and begging him to leave fresh ones the following night.

I could do this every day. I want to feel him so bad that it hurts.

After what felt like hours, when she was fighting her peak with every swipe of his tongue, he finally drew back.

His glorious chest was already bared, but she lay panting in ecstasy as he began to unbutton his breeches. Smirking wantonly, he tugged off his boots and then pushed his drawers and breeches down to the floor.

Alicia’s eyes widened at the sight of his long, thick length. He stroked it, watching her with undisguised need.

“Are you ready for me?” he asked. She could do nothing but nod. “I would have you beg me, Duchess. All those weeks ago, when you told me you never would, I knew it was folly. You yearn for me, just as I have yearned for you all this time.”

Alicia closed her eyes and cried out as he lowered himself onto her, his length brushing against her, tempting her.

“Beg me,” he commanded.

Alicia writhed, her breasts brushing against his chest as he rubbed himself against her folds.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please. I want you.”

“Where do you want me?” he asked.

Alicia’s cheeks flamed. “Inside me.”

Seth let out a long breath. “With pleasure, Duchess.”

Seth felt as if his whole body was coming apart, flying in every direction, each new path filled with more desire than the last.

Alicia was the most exquisite creature he had ever seen.

And she is all mine.

He could hardly believe the journey they had traveled together, the sharp twists and turns along the way.

Seth knew he would have to process what had happened that evening at some point, but right now he was simply a vessel for his wife’s pleasure. He wanted to hear her come undone for him.

His fingers pushed into her body once more, twisting and slicing until she was moaning with every thrust. He wanted her prepared, ready, and only able to focus on the pleasure.

“Look at me, Alicia,” he murmured, and those glorious blue eyes found his. “You will tell me if it hurts, and I will stop.”

She nodded, a small frown marring her beautiful face as he took himself in hand and nudged her entrance. Remaining still, he could feel the dark heat waiting for him as their gazes locked and held.

“You are perfect in every way. And you will never be a convenience to me. You are essential—necessity itself. I will spend every day reminding you of that.”

With a soft push of his hips, he closed his eyes as dark, wet heat surrounded him.

Alicia’s fingers gripped his arm, and he slowly entered her body, inch by inch, watching her face for any hint of discomfort.

She was breathing heavily, her beautiful breasts rising and falling as he pushed further inside her. Her fingers, which at first had been digging into his flesh, were now clawing at him, pulling him closer.

His arm hurt like the blazes, but he did not care. This moment was so wonderful that he could hardly believe it was happening.

As he pushed the final inch, he snapped his hips forward, finally fully seated inside her.

Alicia gasped, letting out a soft sigh as he withdrew, pushing back in slowly at first and then starting to thrust in earnest as he found his rhythm.

Her fingers clutched at the sheets beneath her, and Seth lowered himself over her, capturing her lips, entwining their tongues until they were both moaning against one another.

His hands came up to push into her hair, and hers did the same as they writhed together, their lovemaking and soft sighs the only sounds in the room for a long time.

Seth’s body was on fire with a flame he had never known before. Alicia brought him more pleasure, love, and acceptance than anyone else in his life, and he did not know what he had done to deserve her.

Minutes later, as he began to reach his peak, he could tell she was close to her climax. Her thighs fell wide beneath him, and he pulled back, resting his hands on either side of her hips as he began to slam into her over and over.

“Ah, there!” she screamed.

Seth let out a bellow as he felt his own release barrel through him, exploding inside her as her body came undone for him.

They remained there, frozen in hot bliss for a few precious seconds, before he collapsed onto her, his weight pressing her down into the mattress.

She sighed contentedly, her hands running over his back as he threaded his fingers through her hair one last time with a gentle, sensual kiss.

“Are you all right? I did not hurt you, did I?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I am quite well.”

Seth huffed a laugh, and they remained entwined for a few more minutes.

Finally, he pulled out of her and went to the washstand.

Returning with a warm cloth, he cleaned her as her eyes followed his movements. After seeing to himself too, he returned to the washstand and dropped the cloth in the basin, relishing the thought of the long night ahead.

When he turned back, however, he found Alicia on her feet, reaching for her gown and examining it with a frown as she attempted to dress herself again.

Seth’s stomach lurched. “What are you doing?” he asked, the question coming out harsher than he had intended.

Alicia looked up in surprise. “I… I am returning to my room,” she said.

Her expression was one of such confusion that his anger faded.

He stalked toward her, and she squealed in surprise as he lifted her and carried her to the bed, depositing her unceremoniously on the mattress.

“You are not going anywhere, Duchess. Is that clear?”

There was a hint of amusement in her eyes now, and she giggled as he pulled back the covers and threw them over her as he got in beside her.

“Your arm is bleeding again,” she noted, twisting around to examine it.

“To hell with my arm. It is your fault the wound has opened again, and it shall open more than once over the night, I can assure you. You are not leaving this bed.”

Alicia pushed him onto his back, shocking him by climbing on top of him and straddling his torso.

Seth felt an intense rush of desire at the position, particularly when she gave him a commanding glare.

“I will see to your arm,” she said sternly and set about redressing the wound whilst stark naked.

Seth bit his tongue to keep from flipping her onto her back and taking her all over again.

She would not be deterred, however, and it seemed to take an age before she was satisfied.

With the constant press of her body on top of him, he was hard again by the end of her ministrations, the evidence of his desire poking her back as she smirked down at him knowingly.

“I thought you would be uncomfortable or in pain,” she said playfully.

Seth gripped her hips and pushed her slightly down his body. “I am in pain, Duchess.”

She looked concerned. “Truly?”

“Yes,” he said, taking her hand and pushing it between his thighs. “I have an ache.”

Alicia laughed, and the joy in the sound made him smile.

“Are you sure you do not wish to have your bed to yourself, Your Grace?”

She gasped as he grabbed her hand again.

“I am quite certain,” he murmured. “I am sleeping beside the woman I love tonight.”

Her expression softened, and she stroked his face.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, and Seth captured her lips in a soft kiss.