Page 61 of The Duke's Second Bride

As her hands scrabbled at his shirt, he felt his own urge to undress her increase, one hand beginning to trace along the neckline of her dress, and she arched her chest into that hand, as though encouraging it.

Just then, a particularly loud peal of laughter rang out from the ballroom.

They broke apart. Ava’s feet touched the ground once more.

They stared at each other. Both of them were panting, and he watched with hunger and admiration the rise and fall of her breasts, pressed up by her corset. Her hair was slightly askew. He imagined his own clothes looked something of a mess.

They both began trying to smooth themselves out.

As their breathing evened out, Christian said, “We’re leaving.” His voice sounded as raw as he felt.

He was delighted to see the spark that lit up Ava’s eyes at the words and the smile that played around the corners of her mouth.

“Now.”

CHAPTER 22

“Come with me, wife,” Ava barely had a moment as he took her hand in his.

When they reached the estate, they barely greeted the staff and just barely made it into Christian’s chambers before slamming the door behind them.

He pressed her up against the door, lifting her once again, but this time she had no fear that anyone could walk in on them. They had complete privacy now.

Ava felt the fires of lust churning within her in a way she had never experienced before. Certainly, she had never experienced it with William.

And even with Christian, her desire had always been tempered, however minorly, by her utter conviction that he did not, could not, would not ever want her back.

Now that she knew otherwise, it was as though her desire had been released from imprisonment.

He kissed her and kissed her and kissed her, and she met his every kiss with equal passion, clinging to him the way he clung to her. His moans were low, rumbling, and vibrating through his body to hers.

The feeling of his body pressed to hers, even through fabric, was a wicked delight she could not believe was real.

When he pulled away, she bit back a whine, which only faded when it became clear his hands were moving to undo her dress.

“I love to hear you whimper for me,” he rasped.

She moved to help him, and together the two of them were able to make quick work of her gown. It pooled around her feet like liquid gold in the candlelight, leaving her only in her underthings.

He spun her around gently to get at the laces of her stays. She let out a sigh of relief once they were off. That done, he picked her up, as easily as if she had weighed no more than a feather.

He carried her towards the bed, depositing her on it gently, before crawling up to hover over her. He pressed his mouth against hers in a bruising, intense kiss.

One of his hands traced up her thigh. She gasped as his hand reached the apex of her thighs.

Having been married once prior, Ava was no blushing virgin. But William had been brusque and selfish in the bedroom. He never seemed to give much thought to her desire. He barely looked at her.

Christian, on the other hand, seemed unable and unwilling to tear his eyes from her. As his hand dipped beneath her shift, stroking against her center, he seemed to drink in every shift in her expression, no matter how minute her reaction was.

“Is this all right?” he asked lowly.

Ava nodded. He pressed forward further.

“I have wanted this for so long,” he said.

He found a particularly sensitive spot and began rubbing in small circles. Ava gasped, her hips shifting without her meaning to.

“As have I,” she confessed.