Page 44 of When the Duke Met His Match

Excitement shimmied up Odette’s back, and she felt pleased by his silent encouragement. Not wanting to make him wait, she quickened her pace just enough to have him panting with his head tilted back, leaning his arm against the bed.

The sight of him made her squirm, impatient to feel more of him and become fully acquainted with the enthusiastic length in her hand, enraged with want.

A deep, guttural sound came from his throat then, and his eyes squeezed tightly shut.

“I do hope you intend to finish what you started,” he sighed, letting his fingers graze an exposed portion of her leg from where her dress rode up.

Odette chewed the inside of her lip to keep from melting completely at the mercy of his silk-like voice, tainted with desire. “I never abandon my commitments.”

A dark chuckle came from him, letting her feel the vibration through her lips with another trail of delicate kisses.

“All the better for me, I suppose.”

Before she could continue her careful work, his lips were on hers, sending her mind reeling. Breathing deeply, she tried to collect herself while her skin burned under the frantic touch of Theophilus’ palms.

The kiss made her dizzy from its intensity, reigniting that raw lust that made the room feel more suffocating than ever. Even in just a plain dress, it felt like there was too much material against her skin.

His hands pulled at the clasp in the back of her dress and the simple lacing. The front loosened and dropped, allowing him to cup her breasts completely and draw lewd moans from her lips.

While Odette wanted to soak in the feeling, her impatience got the better of her, and she worked the buttons of his waistcoat undone until he was free of it. The remainder of his garments were removed with desperate hands, freeing his solid physique from its confines.

She didn’t have the time to ogle over his muscled body, not while he had both hands crawling beneath her skirts, hiking them up high enough to expose her undergarments. With a gasp, she was pushed onto her back with his strong hands gripping her hips.

Heat scattered across her face, but the longing within her belly burned even brighter.

Saved by his lips against hers, she didn’t need to dwell on how warm she had become from his hands that held her to the bed, unwavering in their conviction.

Odette squirmed as he grazed her aching flower, quickly removing the material between them. Her head tipped back, and she arched into him.

He drank up her moans, offering her a taste of how easily he could send shivers down her spine and give her the relief she desperately craved.

Panting against his lips, she could hardly think as he drew his hips back, then leaned into her, sparking pleasure throughout her body.

Cheeks aglow, she felt as he brought her to life little by little, opening the deep sensuality she had never explored before him. Encouraged by it, she spread her thighs for him as a silent offering.

Theophilus pressed a soft kiss to her mouth before he continued them down her neck as she had for him, allowing her to soak in the electrifying sensation. With a hand pressed against her hip, he lined himself with her and inched his way closer.

She swallowed hard at the intrusion, bracing herself for what was to come. But the gentle caress of his lips against her skin soothed her enough to relax beneath him, letting her hands crawl up his back to ground herself.

Suddenly aware of the purest form of love and devotion imaginable, she couldn’t fight the whimper that tumbled from her lips.

He swallowed his groans, but Odette could see how tense his body was. His hips moved slowly, and she gradually grew accustomed to his size before it felt like a wave of pleasure cascaded over her.

The nagging want in her belly persisted, and she took matters into her own hands. Theophilus failed to choke back a moan as she moved her hips with his. His fingers tightened around her hip as he regained his composure.

Giving in, he picked up his pace, much to her delight.

A wanton smile spread across her lips, pleased by how affected he seemed to be by the sensation of her warmth around him. It brought a sense of strength over her, and she tried not to let her gentle amusement show.

A whine tore from her throat at his depth. He was seemingly just as eager to reach that precipice. Her eyes squeezed shut at the curl of his hips into her, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity.

Her fingers dug into his skin while he commanded control, delivering every sinful stroke of bliss that had her back arching away from the mattress and begging for more. Stars shot across her vision, pushing her closer to the edge.

Theophilus was unwavering in his pace with a haze over his eyes, jaw slack while he thrust. He groaned and dropped his forehead to connect with hers, focusing on deepening his strokes.

Invisible sparks came to life over the surface of her skin, and Odette thought she could feel every minuscule sensation at that moment. Her senses heightened, feeling the tightening of that familiar coil in her belly, and she maintained her hold on him for dear life.

Before a loud cry could leave her, he placed a hand over her mouth and bucked forward, meeting her pleading gaze.