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His other arm pressed against her breasts, her erect nipples poking against his skin with his every thrust. She moved and writhed, her little whimpers never ceasing to leave her lips.

He withdrew and thrust into her again, the sounds of their bodies joining adding to all the erotic sensations: sound, smell, touch. And then another feeling built up in his lower belly, gathering the heat, ready to spread.

He pressed his lips against her neck and grazed her skin with his teeth.

“Yes,” she encouraged and he bit down harder.

She moaned in pleasure and pressed her bottom firmer against his pelvis.

“Helen,” he croaked, his hand kneading her breasts. “You’re driving me wild.”

And she was. He was turning into a beast who cared for naught but to please the woman in his arms and to claim a piece of her for himself.

This was not part of the plan. The plan was to phase out his meetings with her. It was to stop their sensual lessons. It was to forget about her existence.

When he’d exited his secret study and noticed her admiring the fountain, his resolve had completely broken. He’d wanted to say, we need to see each other less, but what came out was let me kiss one part of you.

And he still wanted to kiss her. Desperately. He wanted to claim her mouth just like he claimed her body. And he wanted everyone to know that she was his.

It was an irrational feeling and one that had to go away. But as long as he held her in his arms, her scent wafting around him, her taste on his lips, his cock inside her, he couldn’t imagine ever letting go of her.

“Please,” she begged again, and he couldn’t resist giving them their bliss any longer.

He drove hard and fast into her, while his finger played with her pleasure center. She threw back her head and cried out in pleasure, as her body tensed and pulsed from the inside. Her inner muscles drew him in like a current, milking him, demanding his release.

Ian withdrew at the last moment and spilled his seed over his hand.

He stood a few long moments, just breathing in and out, tempering his rioting heart. Then he pulled out a handkerchief and cleaned himself up.

When he turned toward Helen, she had already righted her clothing and was smoothing her skirts. “I need to use the necessary,” she said, her cheeks burning red.

Ian smiled. He pressed his palm against her cheek and the next thing he knew, her lips were on his.

He hadn’t moved to kiss her, had he?

Had she?

Either way, her hot breath brushed his cheek just before her warm lips enveloped his.

* * *

“I’m sorry,” Helen said, as she pulled away, her eyes wide, her heart drumming rapidly in horror.

Ian shook his head. “This was your rule. I never said you couldn’t kiss me.”

She just watched him unblinking, frozen in horror. She’d kissed him. She’d kissed him on the lips, although she’d promised herself she wouldn’t.

And even though that moment brought the freezing terror from inside her, kissing him wasn’t the greatest of her sins.

She’d wanted passion, and she’d gotten it in spades. But with every touch, every kiss, every salacious act, she had chipped away at the memory of her late husband, replacing it with the new memories of Ian. And the kiss was the final straw.

Ian took her hand gently, and Helen forced herself not to twist her hand away. “Come. Let’s get you cleaned up. And then I shall escort you home.”

Helen nodded absently and let herself be led away. They passed the glass corridor in silence and entered his home. He brought her into a dark room and lit the candle. “The necessary is through those doors. There’s a pitcher of water and some towels. Take your time. I shall be waiting for you outside when you’re done.”

Helen mechanically took the candle and walked through the doors. She leaned against the wall and stood there, regulating her breaths for a long moment. Then she took the towel into her hands and wet it with the water from the pitcher. She raised her skirts and proceeded to clean herself. Her chest was rising and falling, her breaths leaving her body on loud gulps, as she took care of herself and righted her clothing.

Only when she washed her face did she realize that she’d been crying.