Page 41 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“I will ease the ache, but I can do no more.”

She didn’t understand what he was saying, but still she answered with, “Yes.”

Like a brusque wind, he swept her up and sat her on the settee guiding her to her back as he kissed her lips, her jaw, her neck and then the swell of her bosom cresting her gown.

She repeated the word “yes” more than was likely necessary, but it seemed the only word she remembered with the exception of his name.

Another swift movement later, he was crouched below and her gown had been tugged up. She thought she should cover herself, for this was surely not right, but before that consideration had the chance to hold purchase in her hazy mind, he was touching her in the exact spot she’d wanted him to touch.

She wondered if she’d somehow told him for how else would he know, but then she didn’t care for he was kissing her there at the same place he was touching. The two different types of touch caused her to lurch up before pressing closer so he could continue.

She thought she heard a smug chuckle, but didn’t care about that either. Nothing mattered but his touching her and not stopping.

With each caress of his tongue and each press of his finger inside her body, she seemed to float higher and higher. Her fingers were clenched in his hair as she tried desperately to catch her breath and then he pressed his tongue harder against a single spot and everything stilled a moment before it burst.

Wave after wave of pleasure so great it was nearly painful crashed around her as her chest heaved and her vision clouded over.

She felt him say something, but she couldn’t hear past the rush of her pulse in her ears for some time. And then she felt his breath on her throat, as he placed kisses along her jaw and then her lips. He tasted different, and she realized he must taste like her.

She had been teetering on the edge of exhaustion, but these kisses stirred her anew. She’d not known such pleasure existed. And now she didn’t know how she would survive without it.

*

After bringing Harlow to climax once, he should have stopped. Hell, he should have stopped before he’d even kissed her, but as he could not go back now, the only path was forward and he selfishly wanted to watch her when she took her pleasure this time.

The way she’d grasped tightly to his hair spoke of a passionate woman. He could have guessed as much as Harlow was passionate about other things. Most recently her desire to seek revenge on the man who had hurt her.

Reese could only hope this new situation wouldn’t leave her wanting to seek retribution from him as well. He was way beyond the lines of propriety. Being alone together as long as they had was enough to see him married, but this…

He felt the familiar concerns swirling. He should offer for her again, for he’d well and truly ruined her now. It wasn’t a matter of circumstance any longer, but a claiming.

Yet, he knew if he asked she would reject him again. For she wanted to choose the man she spent her life with and she wanted a proposal brought about by desire not obligation.

What he wouldn’t be able to convince her of was that he truly desired her. Not just this physical sense—though he ached to be inside her body and take her completely—but he desired her in other more important ways. Ways he’d not known he could want a woman.

He wanted these evenings spent curled up together in a cozy room reading to each other and talking about any and every topic that flitted through their minds.

But he’d not ask now. He’d wait until the time was right. Until she could not deny his reasons. Until he was certain she would say yes.

For now, however, he would see her sated so she would know he could satisfy her. His kisses had brought her back to the edge.

She was panting and her green eyes seemed ablaze with lust as he teased her slick folds with his fingertips. It was incredibly powerful, knowing he was the only person who had touched her in this way. Unless…

“Have you ever touched yourself in this way?” he asked quietly.

Her eyes drowsy with desire widened and she shook her head. He could have guessed as much. She wouldn’t have known she could, and even then might not have.

Taking her hand in his, he brought her palm to his lips. He kissed softly before teasing his tongue across one of the creases. Then he bit the fleshy part just enough to cause a gasp of surprise.

“I feel like every place on my body is tingling and alive in a way it never has been before.”

“Let me show you,” he said as he guided her hand down under her skirts. He wished he could remove her clothes entirely but he’d not put her in a state of dishabille that would cause his staff to question.

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“When you know you have the power to create these feelings on your own, you’ll not need to be so hasty in selecting a man to give them to you,” he explained.

She nodded.