Page 35 of Rescued By the Icy Duke

“You’re trembling,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble. He toyed with the lace of her stays, untying it with agonizing slowness. “Are you afraid?”

Ester swallowed hard, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she shook her head. “No…” she whispered, but the word caught in her throat. It wasn’t fear that coursed through her—it was something far more dangerous. A need she had never allowed herself to fully feel until now. “I just… I’ve never…”

“I know,” he whispered, his breath warm against her cheek as his lips grazed her skin. His fingers worked the stays free, inch by inch, the fabric loosening around her until the pressure that had bound her was gone. His hand lingered at her waist, steadying her as he slid the stays from her body.

Then, Julian's hands moved to her chemise, the only barrier left between them. His touch was deliberate, yet unhurried, his fingers tracing the outline of her waist through the thin linen. His thumb rose to draw a slow circle at the base of her throat. There was something in his eyes, something possessive, something that made her feel wanted in a way she had never experienced before. Yet it calmed when he saw her tremble against him.

“But only ifyouwant this,” he whispered.

Ester could not find her words. A slight nod of her head. She hoped it was enough to instill her conviction. Her hands instinctively rose to cover herself, her palms resting over her breasts as the heat of his words sent a flush racing through her. The chemise slipped from her shoulders, falling in soft waves down her arms, but she held it close, clinging to the last vestige of modesty she had left. Her heart pounded in her chest, tornbetween the desire that thrummed through her veins and the nervousness that tightened her throat.

Julian’s hands stilled over hers, his touch firm but gentle. “Don’t hide from me,” he murmured, his voice a tender command. His fingers slid over hers, coaxing her hands away with careful patience.

She let him guide her. Her arms fell to her sides as the chemise slipped lower, exposing her breasts to the cool morning air. Her nipples peaked, more from the intensity of his gaze than the chill, and she shivered. She could feel the weight of his eyes on her, caressing down the soft curves of her bare breasts, lingering at the subtle rise and fall of her breath.

“You are perfect,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, as if the words themselves were pulled from the depths of him. His hands moved to her waist, fingers trailing lower, finding the remaining fabric of her chemise. He paused there, his breath catching. For a moment, the world seemed to still.

His fingers tightened, and with a slow, deliberate motion, he drew the chemise down, wriggling it over her hips, past the softness of her thighs, until it pooled at her feet. She stood before him, fully naked, except for a pair of white, silk stockings.

Her first instinct was to cover herself again—her arms twitching as though to shield the parts of her that felt most vulnerable—but something he said stopped her.

“You are safe, Ester.”

His hands slid up her sides, possessively tracing the curve of her waist, her ribs, until his thumbs grazed her breasts again. Her heart pounded at the protectiveness in his voice, but instead of retreating, it fueled her desire, made her ache for him in ways she hadn’t realized before. She wantedto be his. She wanted him to claim her, to take her completely.

“I… I want you,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Julian’s eyes softened for a heartbeat. Then, his hands tightened on her hips as he pulled her flush against him, his body hard and unyielding against her softness. “Then you’ll have me.” His lips crashed on hers in a kiss that was no longer gentle but possessive, filled with the same hunger that burned in her own veins. His mouth moved down her neck, leaving a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone.

“Julian…” she moaned, her hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting more,needingmore.

Julian’s lips trailed fire down the curve of Ester’s neck, his hands firm yet tender as they traced the soft contours of her waist. Every touch sent a shiver through her, her skin prickling with the heat of his caresses.

But then, something inside her shifted—a sudden, daring need to touch him the way he touched her, to explore his body with the same reverence and desire he gave to hers.

With trembling fingers, she reached for the lapels of his shirt, and pushed it from his broad shoulders, her palms exploring thetaut skin of his chest as she stripped him of it. His trousers came next, and her nails trailed lower, fumbling with their fastenings. She had never disrobed a man before, but she wanted this—wanted to see him, touch him, feel him beneath her hands the way he had with her. Finally, she managed to undo the buttons, the fabric gliding down his hips, leaving him bare to her gaze. The gradual reveal of his engorged manhood set all her senses alight.

Julian’s hands found her waist again, pulling her against him, and their bodies collided in a desperate, heated kiss. His mouth was fierce, devouring hers, and she moaned into him, her hands roaming his body, feeling the hard, warm strength of him pressing into her.

“You are not broken, Ester,” he growled, deep against her ear. “And I’m going to show you just how much you’re wanted.”

His words sent a shiver through her, not of fear but of something far more dangerous—an overwhelming need to be claimed by him, to feel his hunger for her, to know she was wanted. Julian’s hands slid up her sides, cupping her breasts once more, his thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples. Then, he lowered his head and took one hungrily into his mouth. His tongue flicked over the sensitive peak, and she gasped, her body trembling as waves of pleasure surged through her.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered in between breaths. “I need you to feel that… to know how much I desire you.”

Ester’s hands gripped his shoulders, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps as his mouth moved to her other breast, sucking gently. With one hand, he kneaded her flesh, with the other, he spread her legs wider to pull her flush against him, his fingers brushing the apex of her thighs. She could feel a wetness pooling there. She was melting under his touch, her body on fire, every nerve alive.

She wanted this—wanted him to claim her, to take her completely. And as his mouth returned to hers, his kiss searing and possessive, she knew she was lost to him, utterly and completely.

Suddenly, Julian circled an arm around her waist, lifting her with ease as he pressed her spine against the wall. The solid pressure of him against her was intoxicating, the hardness of his body pressed into her delicateness sending jolts of pleasure through her core. His lips found her throat, kissing and biting gently as he positioned himself at her entrance, the heat of him making her gasp.

“Are you sure,” he murmured, his voice rough with desire as his fingers continued to trace slow, deliberate patterns along her most sensitive spot.

Ester nodded, biting her lip. “I’m sure.” Her arms tightened around his shoulders. “I want you… I need you.”

Julian kissed her softly, one final time. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—he began to push into her, his hand on her hip steadying her as he filled her inch by inch. The sensation wasoverwhelming, the stretch making her gasp, her body clinging to him as he gave her time to adjust.

She whimpered, her nails digging harder into his shoulders as the unfamiliar pressure sent waves of equal discomfort, equal pleasure through her. Julian stilled immediately, his lips brushing her ear. “Are you alright?” he whispered, his voice gentle, full of concern. “Tell me if it hurts too much. We can stop.”