Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

“You look quite spirited this morning,” Wilhelm observed, a radiant smile illuminating his features as Genevieve toyed lazily with his fingers, her touch both lively and endearing.

The radiant morning sun pierced through the lingering storm clouds and cast a warm glow over the verdant countryside. The carriage rolled steadily down the damp road, its wheels leaving faint tracks in the rain-soaked earth as it drove Genevieve and Wilhelm back to Ravenshire.

Genevieve’s light, melodious laugh filled the carriage.

“Perhaps a little,” she admitted, casting him a playful glance through her downturned lashes.

“I wonder why.” Wilhelm winked suggestively as a comfortable silence enveloped them.

Genevieve stole furtive glances at him. Her body was aglow, and her cheeks tingled as she recalled the intimacy of the previous night.

He, in turn, had shed his aloof demeanor. His gaze fixed on her with a tenderness that made her breath catch in her throat.

“The storm seems to have passed,” he said, his emerald-green eyes twinkling in the light.

Genevieve nodded in agreement as she shifted her gaze to the picturesque scenery outside the window. “It seems that it has,” she replied with a measure of contentment that she had not felt in years.

“I trust that you slept well?” Wilhelm inquired, his eyes twinkling.

Genevieve’s cheeks flushed, a wave of heat creeping up her neck as the memory of last night flashed before her eyes. She had not had a single nightmare.

“Very well, thank you,” she murmured and looked away from his intense stare.

Wilhelm chuckled, a low, melodious sound that filled the carriage with a warmth that surpassed the sun’s rays.

“I must admit, Duchess,” he confessed with amusement, “I have never slept so soundly.”

Genevieve’s heart fluttered, her lips curling into a shy smile. “Nor I, Your Grace,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

She watched as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Ravenshire’s grand entrance. She was surprised that the imposing mansion now seemed less like a prison and more like a sanctuary.

Wilhelm stepped out and extended a hand to help her out of the carriage.

As she emerged from the carriage, he held her hand for a long moment and smiled at her tenderly. A tingling warmth spread through her chest and radiated outwards, leaving her breathless.

“Genevieve,” he murmured huskily.

Before she could respond, he brazenly leaned forward and captured her lips in a long, tender kiss. She giggled at the hushed gasps that came from the servants, who waited patiently before the grand front door.

At this rate, they will most certainly have much to talk about.

When he finally pulled away, his gaze searched hers, an unspoken question lingering in his eyes. Genevieve answered him with a meaningful nod.

They entered the grand foyer, which no longer looked as intimidating as it had upon her initial arrival. Wilhelm held her hand and led her towards the staircase.

“Mrs. Hughes,” he greeted the housekeeper, his voice surprisingly warm. “I trust you have ensured that the Duchess’s chambers were prepared for her return?”

Mrs. Hughes curtsied respectfully, her stern expression softening slightly. “I have, Your Grace,” she replied, her voice a touch less severe than usual. “The Duchess’s chambers were prepared as you had instructed.”

Wilhelm nodded and looked at Genevieve tenderly. “Excellent,” he murmured. “Then I shall leave you to settle in, Duchess. Regretfully, I have several matters to which I must attend.”

Genevieve’s heart sank, and a wave of disappointment washed over her. She had hoped to spend more time with him and bask in the warmth of their newfound connection. However, she understood the importance of his duties and was aware of the responsibilities that weighed heavily on his shoulders.

“Of course,” she replied. “I shall see you later, Your Grace.”

His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, “I eagerly await our next encounter, my dear Duchess.”

A shiver ran down her spine, and her heart fluttered with anticipation. She sighed as she watched him disappear down the hallway.

“Anna,” she called, her voice echoing through the vast foyer, “would you assist me with a bath?”

The maid appeared moments later, her face alight with a smile. “Of course, Your Grace,” she replied, her voice filled with unexpected warmth.

Genevieve followed her to the bathing room, where Anna assisted her in removing her clothing and offered her a large, soft towel and a bar of lavender soap.

As Genevieve sank into the steaming bathwater, her thoughts drifted back to the events of the previous night. The storm, her overwhelming fear, and the safety of Wilhelm’s embrace now felt like a surreal and distant dream.

However, the memory of his touch, the warmth of his lips, the tenderness in his eyes, and the feel of his magical tongue as it traveled over her body remained deeply and vividly etched in her mind.

The day passed in a blur of anticipation. Genevieve counted the minutes and hours that heralded Wilhelm’s return. She wandered the halls of Ravenshire for the entire afternoon while her heart yearned for his presence.

She opened the library doors, selected a novel at random, and settled into an overstuffed wingback chair. She opened the small book and began to leaf through its pages, but the words refused to hold her attention. Frustrated, she snapped the book shut, dropped it onto the table with a thud, stood up, and left the library.

She wandered past Wilhelm’s study, but the door was closed. Sighing to herself, she climbed up the stairs, entered her room, and restlessly shuffled through the dresses in her wardrobe, but none of them felt right.

She called upon Anna to fetch her needlework, but her fingers fumbled when she tried to thread the needle. She threw her hands up in aggravation and tossed the unfinished work onto her side table.

Genevieve paced the room as her eyes bounced between the door and the clock. She restlessly drummed her fingers on the table and tapped her foot on the floor in agitation.

As the last light of day faded into night, she glanced at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time. The house was eerily quiet, and he had not come to her as he had promised.

Genevieve called for Anna, who assisted her in undressing and putting on her nightgown. With a deep sigh, she crawled under the bedcovers. Despite the darkness and the bed’s soft linens, she knew she would not be able to sleep a wink. Her fingers curled into the fabric of the sheets, her heart aching with disappointment and fading hope.

She abruptly rose from her bed. Her bare feet sank into the plush carpet as she walked towards the door that connected her chambers to Wilhelm’s, her silken gown softly brushing her legs with each step.

Pausing before the imposing oak door, her hand hovered uncertainly over the handle.

What am I doing? Wilhelm is obviously occupied. He promised to see me once he was done.

But the memory of his touch, the warmth of his gaze, and the tenderness of his voice urged her forward.

With a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked softly on the door, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited his response.

Before her doubts could consume her, Wilhelm pulled the door open and stood before her in the dimly lit room.

“Genevieve,” he greeted softly, his voice a low, appreciative purr as he looked her up and down with naked desire.

He wore nothing more than a pair of trousers. His dark hair was tousled, and his bare chest glistened in the pale moonlight that streamed through the window. A faint smile played on his lips as his eyes lingered on the silken robe that clung to her curves.

Genevieve’s cheeks flushed, and her heart fluttered as she lowered her eyes and bit her bottom lip, unable to tear her gaze away from his bare chest.

“I… I could not sleep,” she stammered.

Wilhelm’s smile widened in amusement. “Neither could I,” he confessed and stepped aside to let her in his chambers.

Genevieve’s eyes roamed up and down his torso as yearning stirred within her loins, and she fought the impulse to touch him.

Wilhelm stepped closer to her, his gaze softening. “I apologize, my dear,” he murmured, his voice thick with regret. “I was deeply immersed in my work and did not pay attention to how much time had passed. Mrs. Hughes mentioned that you had retired for the evening, and I did not wish to disturb⁠—”

Before he could finish his sentence, her lips crashed against his. The fingers of her left hand ran through his thick hair as her right hand traced the contours of his sculpted chest.

Wilhelm’s lips moved against hers with growing intensity. She melted into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her close to him.

His hands began to roam over her body. His fingers traced the curve of her neck and slowly moved across her shoulders, down her arms, and up to the underside of her breasts.

His arms wrapped around her as he delicately explored her back with his fingertips, then moved to the soft swell of her hips and the gentle curve of her thighs.

Genevieve moaned softly as her body leaned into each caress. Her senses were overwhelmed by the intoxicating scent of his skin and the taste of his lips.

He lifted her gown and stroked the front of her thighs, his thumbs moving precariously close to the junction at the top of her legs. With a possessive motion, he effortlessly lifted her, wrapped her legs around his waist, and carried her towards his bed.

He continued to kiss her as he lowered her gently onto the soft mattress.

Genevieve briefly pulled away to catch her breath, her eyes half-lidded as his gaze burned into her.

“You are exquisite, Genevieve,” he murmured huskily against her lips.

Genevieve’s cheeks flushed at his sincerity. She wanted him desperately, and she clutched his shoulders as she pulled him to her and begged silently for more.

Wilhelm’s lips found hers once again and kissed her passionately, his tongue exploring the sweet depths of her mouth. As the weight of his body pressed her down into the mattress, she surrendered herself to his touch, her euphoria building with each caress.

She moaned softly, tightened her legs around his waist, and pulled him to her.

Wilhelm’s hands roamed over her body, his touch both tender and commanding. In a moment that seemed to last forever, he slowly raised her silky robe over her thighs, waist, stomach, and breasts and tossed it on the floor.

Genevieve lay completely naked before him. His gaze swept over her, and his eyes brimmed with a hunger that made her slick with desire.

“God. You are delicious. I cannot wait to devour you,” he said.

She trembled uncontrollably as he leaned over her and trailed a flurry of kisses down her neck, shoulders, and breasts. His nimble tongue flicked against and circled her erect nipples.

His hands moved lower as his fingertips explored the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Genevieve’s breath hitched, and her body arched with hunger.

He searched her eyes as she sharply exhaled. She raised her hands in an effort to touch him and run her fingers along the expanse of his broad, muscular shoulders, but before she could do so, he seized both of her wrists in his left hand and pinned them above her head.

His eyes bored into hers. “Do not move your hands,” he commanded.

She tried to speak, but the words would not come. She could only respond with breathless gasps as the ache between her legs grew. She nodded as his hands pinned her wrists to the mattress.

“Good girl,” he murmured as his lips met her neck.

His tongue traced the line of her collarbone as he slowly and deliberately moved his right hand from her breast to her abdomen.

For a brief second, he ran his fingertips across her stomach, then he moved his hand between her thighs.

Genevieve groaned as she felt his fingers gently trace the outer edges of her opening, and her desire grew.

“You are so wet,” he breathed as his fingers gently slid into her cavern.

She gasped and arched her back as her walls clamped down on his fingers. She felt his lips curl into a smile against her neck. He slowly began to move his fingers in and out of her, each motion deliberate and controlled.

“Wilhelm,” she managed to moan between her heavy pants as the movement of his fingers quickened.

He paused and withdrew his fingers. “What, my love?”

“I…” she moaned, her hips instinctively pressing against his hand. “More. Please.”

His eyes darkened. “Heavens, you are so pretty when you beg.”

He slid his fingers back into her cavern and pulled down his trousers without breaking eye contact.

Genevieve’s eyes widened as his pulsing member sprang free. She mewled with desire and silently begged him to put every inch of it inside her.

He removed his fingers and stroked the tip of his veined erection against the folds of her sex before he slowly entered her.

“Oh, Wilhelm,” she moaned as his entire length filled her.

He paused as the tip of his shaft met her maidenhood. “This will hurt a bit,” he warned. “But not for long, I promise.”

With a careful push, he broke through her barrier. Genevieve cried out and froze as the pain shot through her groin, then relaxed as it dissipated. She took a deep breath and gave Wilhelm a small nod to continue.

He moved his hips with ever-increasing speed, each thrust pushing Genevieve into a higher state of euphoria. Her canal gripped his member as each plunge pushed her closer to her release.

The pressure built within her, and she lifted her hips to push him more deeply inside her. He grunted in her ear as she dug her nails into his back.

“Faster,” she begged through gritted teeth.

He quickened his pace as she feverishly bucked and keened beneath him and pulled his thrusting hips against hers.

Genevieve felt the world fall away from her as she reached the pinnacle of her climax. “Wilhelm!” she screamed as her sweat-soaked body shuddered and her insides quaked.

Her canal spasmed around Wilhelm’s engorged rod, and with a howl, he spilled his seed inside her in long, deep pulses.

As her tremors ceased, Genevieve cupped Wilhelm’s sweaty face in her hands. She tilted his head so he would look at her and tenderly ran one thumb across his lower lip.

He smiled back at her with an intensity that could banish all storms, scatter the darkest clouds, and quell the wildest tempests.

At that moment, Genevieve knew she belonged only to him.