Page 62 of No Duke of Mine

“Explore my body, Maggie,” he whispered. “Lovemaking is an adventure you’ve never experienced before. Nothing you do will be wrong, I assure you.”

Comforted by his words, she moved back a little and set about doing as she pleased. She toyed with the hair on his chest, noticed it continued downward into his breeches, but his sides and back were silky smooth beneath her trembling hands.

She walked around him and couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “You are beautiful.”

“I prefer handsome,” he replied, keeping track of her movements. “You are the beautiful one, my dear. Breathtaking. I was struck by instant desire the moment our eyes met across the crowded taproom.”

When she stopped, Algernon pulled her in for another long, heady kiss.

Maggie began to unbutton her gown.

“May I do the honors?” he asked, and she nodded, giving him permission. “I’ve dreamed of this moment since the day we met again.”

“So have I,” she replied, glad they could talk and distract her from nervousness. It was one thing to know she wanted to be made love to, but quite overwhelming now that it was happening. Algernon had done this before; she had not.

He ran his hands down her back, and up again, and then seemed to be searching. Failing to find them, he suddenly spun her around. “How does this accursed gown unbutton?”

“From the front,” she advised with a soft laugh. “I don’t have a maid to help, so I had to improvise.”

He turned her round again as she showed him the four simple fastenings that kept her breasts decently covered. There were other fastenings beneath, but all that was required was a hard tug at any bow.

He drew back. “Ingenious. I assume this is your design.”

“Yes.”

“Always clever, but you were made for more than needlework,” he reminded her, before kissing her again.

Her gown was slowly stripped away, her shoes and stockings removed, and then Algernon drew back the bedding and helped her sit on top. He framed her face one last time, and then his hands were at his waist, unbuttoning the last fastening on his breeches.

He watched her as he inched the material down a little at a time. Maggie gaped as his erection was revealed, and she could not tear her eyes away even if a library was on fire.

He was unexpectedly large, though she supposed that was a good thing when it came to lovemaking. He kicked away his breeches, standing proudly for her to view. He even twirled around so she could see all of him at once.

Maggie was breathless when he finally stood still.

He climbed onto the bed, lay down, but immediately rolled onto his side, facing her. Maggie fell back onto the pillows and faced him, too.

He kissed her softly and then drew back. “There’s still time to change your mind.”

“Once my mind is set, there’s no turning back for me. Or for you.”

“I know,” he said, and then kissed her again, with more passion than his first or last. Maggie wriggled until their bodies touched, and gasped at the feel of his hot skin sliding against hers.

Algernon radiated heat and excitement, and she couldn’t get enough of touching him. She wrapped her arms about his neck and held on, letting him lead them in this intimate dance.

His hands caressed her in soft, sweeping touches, making her shiver. His lips devoured hers until she could think of nothing but him.

As he rolled her under him and widened her legs, she had but one moment of doubt, as brief as it was belated. She was a virgin, and some said intimacy hurt a great deal the first time.

Suddenly, he moved off her again. “Lovemaking shouldn’t be rushed,” he muttered.

“Was that warning for me or yourself?” she queried, taking a moment to catch her breath, too.

He laughed softly. “Me. All I can think of is making you mine. You are delightfully open to lovemaking, but as a virgin, there could be discomfort if I rush.”

“I do know that,” she told him.

“I’m glad you do.”