“Did you just...strikeme?” he gasped.
She grinned. “Did you enjoy it? I can do it again. Harder, if you like.”
His bollocks tightened as though they would very much like him to try that one day.
But at this moment, he could think of nothing but Unity. He was finally seated fully within her. She pulled away and then sank back down, slowly, then faster.
As she rode him, she fell forward until her breasts brushed against his cheek, his jaw, his eager mouth. He loved her feel, her taste. She placed his hands on her hips and at last he could grip her tight, feeling the rhythm as her soft curves bounced against him, driving him mad with pleasure.
“Touch me.”
Her words were barely a whisper against his hair, but he heard them in his bones. She was close. He could bring her over the edge.
He slid his palm over the softness of her belly, lowering his thumb until it reached the sensitive nub just above where their bodies intertwined. He circled, teased, pinched, stroked, until her muscles tightened and her body shuddered against him, squeezing his shaft with her spasms.
When her orgasm abated, he barely had time to lift her hips from him before spilling his own seed hot across her thigh. Breathing heavily, his heart still galloping, he fumbled for his cravat to clean her skin and then pulled her against his chest, enveloping her in his strong embrace.
Somewhat strong. He was so sated, he could barely move. Or perhaps it was that he did notwishto move. Now that he finally had Unity naked and satisfied in his arms, he never wanted to let her go.
Chapter 21
Unity had never felt safer and more comfortable than snuggled into the Duke of Lambley’s warm, naked embrace.
Part of her still could not believe the man who maintained ruthless control over himself and his surroundings had let her take charge during their lovemaking. From the bewildered expression on his handsome face when they’d begun, it was not something he had ever considered, much less attempted. But he’d done it.
For her.
He was trying to show her that he saw her, that he heard her, that they were equals.
No, that wasn’t it either. He had not demanded to take equal control. He had not demanded anything at all. What he was trying to show was that her needs camefirst.
She could have cried from the novelty of it. She hadn’t even grasped the enormity as it was happening. And that was it. It was already over.
Any minute now, he would remember his party downstairs, hand Unity her clothes, and walk off to resume his regular life. This moment would not repeat. This embrace would not continue. These arms that were...
Peeling away from her already.
“Unity,” he said softly.
She drew herself up stiffly. Their time together had been magical. She would never leave this bed, if it were up to her. But things were no longer up to Unity. The game was over.
It was time to go home.
She slid off of the bed and knelt to rescue her chemise and borrowed gown. It was the last time she’d borrow props from the theatre as well. She wouldn’t be back here again. Had no interest in watching Julian escort some other masked vixen up the marble stairs and into the play rooms.
“Unity,” he said again. “Look at me.”
She pulled on her chemise to give herself time to compose her expression, then turned to him with a mask of peace upon her features.
He had risen up on his elbows, but otherwise had made no effort to cover his gorgeously naked body. How many times had he looked just like this, to someone else? A week from today, would he even remember her name?
“I realize what this is,” she said, before he could be the one to tell her. “You don’t need me anymore. It’s all right. I knew it before we started.”
“No.” He swung into a sitting position at the edge of the bed, his knees close enough to brush the loose folds of her chemise. “It is you who no longer needs me.”
She blinked. “What?”
He visibly took a deep breath. “I investigated you.”
