Page 51 of Married to the Icy Duke (Duke Wars #3)

She tilted her head, just a little. Taking the hint, Isaac kissed her, and the wanting swelled in her chest. He leaned his weight against her, partially supporting himself on one elbow.

His hand slid up her thighs once more, stroking her in a confident manner.

Her pleasure peaked, slowly but surely, climbing towards that thrilling climax.

His fingers slipped inside her, more easily now, touching something which made Charlotte gasp aloud, eyes flying open.

She couldn’t even remember closing them.

And then he moved back. She blinked, lifting her head.

“Isaac? What are you doing?”

A teasing smirk was the only reply he gave her.

Sitting back on his heels, he deftly unbuttoned his waistcoat, tearing it off and tossing it away.

The shirt came next, slipping easily over his toned upper body, gleaming in the candlelight.

Eyes widening, Charlotte propped herself up on one elbow to look at him.

“Good heavens,” she managed.

He grinned, tilting his head. “Now, let me see you, wife.”

At first, Charlotte did not know what he meant.

Then he leaned forward, placing his hands on her ribcage and sliding them upwards, following the curve of her breasts.

The heat and weight of his hands sent tingles over her skin, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

He met her eye, and she gave a tight nod.

She was obliged to sit up to allow him to reach around her and unlace the gown.

His fingers moved deftly, untying knots steadily, and she felt the tight material loosen around the bodice, until it was loose enough to slide off her shoulders.

The corset came next, undone and pulled away by Isaac’s experienced hands.

Cold air rushed in once the gown was pushed down to clump around her waist, leaving only her chemise.

The garment was loose, sliding down her shoulders and dipping to reveal her cleavage. Pausing to glance briefly at her face, Isaac wrapped his fingers around the thin sleeves and pushed them slowly down her shoulders.

Inch by inch, Charlotte’s bare skin was revealed, and she exhaled slowly. His gaze traveled downwards, taking in her breasts, full and taut in the cool air, and she saw hunger flare in his eyes. Waiting for him to glance up and meet her eyes once more, Charlotte smiled, tilting her chin.

“Perfect, my darling,” Isaac whispered and leaned forward to kiss her.

Wrapping her arms around him, Charlotte pushed their bodies together, reveling in the delicious friction of skin on skin. She fell backwards onto the blankets, pulling him along with her, and flattened her palms over the planes of his back, feeling the muscles shift under her touch.

His hands traveled too, spanning her ribs, tracing out a line between her breasts from the hollow of her throat to her navel, and of course, everything in between. Desire thumped in every beat of her heart, until she thought she might truly die if he did not give her more that very instant.

As if reading her mind, Isaac moved carefully, slipping himself inside her with slow and even movements. It was a strange sensation, leaving Charlotte feeling rather full and ever so slightly uncomfortable. Then he began to move, painfully slowly, and the discomfort vanished almost at once.

It was entirely different from the feel of Isaac’s fingers or of his mouth moving against her.

Breath hitching, Charlotte wound her arms around his shoulder, steadying herself.

The sensations built more quickly this time, and Isaac’s movements began to speed up.

His breath had become labored and shuddered in his throat.

“You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he gasped, his voice hoarse.

Charlotte would have responded, except that her words caught in her throat and refused to be spoken. Her climax rushed upon her, so suddenly and powerfully that it took her by surprise. She cried aloud, fingers tightening on Isaac’s shoulder and at the nape of his neck.

He growled, low in his throat, and sped up his movements rather irregularly, his breathing wavering and stuttering. He gave a gasp, eyes squeezing closed, and finally stilled.

Charlotte had not expected him to collapse upon her, although he did support himself upon his elbows so as not to crush her. Grinning giddily, she wound her arms around him, pulling him close.

“Are you well, my love?” Isaac whispered in her ear. “I must warn you that is the thing that might well start a baby.”

Charlotte smiled, closing her eyes. “I find that I don’t mind so much. If we never have a child, I shall be as happy as I ever could be with you and Tommy. Still, it would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

He pulled back, pausing to press a quick kiss to her lips, and rolled onto his side. “It would be heaven, my love.”

They stayed side by side, shoulder to shoulder, and let the moment stretch out between them.

Charlotte let out a contented sigh, staring up at the underside of the canopy above her head.

“To think that we could have been doing that all this time,” she murmured.

He chuckled, low and throaty. “I can assure you we will be able to make up for lost time. I have missed out on a few very important steps, however. I ought to have undressed you properly, should I not?”

“You have already seen me unclothed. The washroom, remember?”

“My darling, I will never forget. I thought I would go mad. Nevertheless, we have done things the wrong way round, to be sure.”

Charlotte shifted her position, tucking a hand behind her head. Isaac took the other one, lacing their fingers together.

“I don’t mind,” she responded stoutly. “I never do things properly, anyway.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “Well, we are the Duke and Duchess of Devils. We cannot do things properly. It would be ridiculous.”

She gave a gurgle of laughter. “Oh, that silly nickname. I love it and hate it at the same time. I mean what I say, by the way, about wanting admittance to your club.”

“Very well. I shall pull some strings.”

“Not just for me. For any woman who wants to join.”

“Tristan will mock me, I think,” Isaac sighed, grinning. “Being ruled by my wife.”

She rolled her eyes. “Nobody could rule you, Isaac. I imagine that even an emperor would struggle. And since when did you allow yourself to be dictated to by Tristan ?”

He grinned, that wolfish grin that her insides still wobble with desire.

“You are quite right. You are the one that I love, after all.”

She rolled over onto her side, kissing him. She did not have breath for a long or deep kiss, but in a few minutes, who could say? They had hours before supper. That was plenty of time. Plenty .

“And I love you too, Isaac,” she whispered, reaching out to touch his eyepatch. He did not resist when she lifted it, revealing the scarred flesh and missing eye underneath. “I love you more than I could have imagined. Heavens, look at me—married to a Devil, and happier than ever!”

“Well, you are a special woman, make no mistake,” Isaac responded, his voice gravelly. “Because the Devil loves you, too.”