Chapter 7

Seven

W hen they reached Selena’s bedchamber, she opened the door and stepped inside. Pausing in the entryway, she turned to look at him, her lips curving into a slow, wanton smile. Lifting her hand, she crooked her finger, beckoning him to follow. Kingston hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside and closing the door behind him with deliberate care. The soft click of the lock turning echoed in the quiet room, sealing them in solitude.

“Are you certain?” he asked gently, his voice low. “There’s still time to change your mind.”

Selena tilted her head, studying him with quiet intensity. “If this is not what you want, you are free to leave. I would never want you to feel obligated to stay.”

“Darling,” he murmured as he closed the distance between them, “obligation is the last thing I feel for you right now.” His hand lifted to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing softly across her bottom lip. “There is nowhere else I would rather be than right here, with you.”

“Then you are exactly where you should be,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her desire. Turning her face into his palm, she closed her eyes briefly, savoring his touch. “I want you with me,” she whispered. Selena wanted him with her always. She felt…wicked, and perhaps she was in this moment. “I need you.”

A deep groan escaped his throat as he pulled her into his arms. Their bodies pressed together, still clad in their elaborate costumes and masks. When his lips found hers, heat surged between them. Selena’s arms slid around his neck as she clung to him, reveling in the way his kiss ignited a fire deep within her. Her entire body burned with a longing she had never known before. She pressed herself closer, wanting to feel every inch of him, but then forced herself to pull back. She needed to savor every moment, every touch, and every sensation. Tonight could be all they would ever have, and she intended to make it unforgettable.

“What is it?” he asked, his voice thick with passion.

“I want to see you,” she said, her hands sliding down his back. “All of you.”

He groaned again, his gaze dark and full of promise. “Yes,” he rasped. “And I want to see you, too.”

Turning her back to him, Selena looked over her shoulder with a teasing smile. “Then you have duties to perform, Your Grace.”

He sighed heavily. “Will you ever call me by my name?”

“Perhaps,” she said in a teasing tone, “if you perform your duties to my satisfaction.”

His laugh was low and rich as he stepped behind her. “I shall endeavor to earn that privilege,” he promised. His hands moved to the row of buttons running down her back, his fingers deftly undoing them one by one. The emerald silk of her gown loosened, slipping down her body to pool at her feet in a shimmering puddle. Her maid had carefully secured all those buttons not that long ago. Selena could not have been out of her bedchamber more than an hour. It was a good thing she had told Mary not to return that evening. It turned out that she would not have to find a way out of her gown on her own. Mary would be scandalized to discover what Selena had planned with Kingston.

“Step out of it, love,” he said, his voice husky.

Selena obeyed, stepping out of the fabric while he bent to gather the gown and carefully drape it over a nearby chair. When he turned back, his eyes roamed over her figure, lingering on the delicate stays and shift that clung to her curves. Her silk stockings gleamed in the firelight, and her mask still obscured part of her face, lending an air of mystery to her allure.

“You’re not done, Your Grace,” she said softly, nibbling her bottom lip. “My stays still require your attention.”

“It would be remiss of me to neglect such an important task,” he replied, his voice thick with desire. “Turn around, love. Let me set you free.”

She did as he asked, her breath hitching as his hands found the laces of her stays. With practiced precision, he loosened them, his fingers grazing her skin as he worked. With her stays on the floor, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, the heat of his lips sending shivers down her spine. He trailed kisses along the curve of her neck and across her shoulders, his hands roaming over her body with reverent care.

When he cupped her breasts, his palms warm and firm, Selena moaned softly. The fabric of her shift added a tantalizing friction as he rolled one of her nipples between his fingers. “You’re so lovely,” he murmured, his voice heavy with desire. “I want to kiss you here,” he said, pinching her other nipple gently. “Will you let me?”

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation. “Please.” Selena had no way of knowing what was acceptable or not but that sounded decadent. This night was about taking chances. Ones that she never would have taken before she had started to fall for this man. “Kiss me wherever you wish to.”

His chuckle was dark and full of promise. “Thank you, love,” he said. “Because I want to kiss you everywhere.”

Heat spread through her at his words, tiny sparks dancing across her skin. She turned in his arms, and he slowly slid her shift down her body until it joined her discarded shift. Now she stood before him clad only in her stockings and mask. His eyes darkened as he drank her in, his desire plain. Lowering his head, he captured one of her nipples in his mouth, drawing a gasp of pleasure from her lips.

The sensations he evoked were beyond anything she had ever imagined. Selena grasped his shoulders, anchoring herself as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her. His touch, his kisses—they turned her world into a haze of heat and longing. She surrendered to him completely, letting herself drown in the passion he so skillfully unleashed. Tonight, she would not think of tomorrow or any consequences. Tonight was hers, and she would savor every moment.

Kingston slid his hands lower, cupping Selena's bottom as he deepened the kiss. His own arousal burned hot, but he held himself back. She was an innocent, and he wanted to ensure that her first experience was filled with pleasure. She deserved nothing less. He sucked one pert nipple into his mouth, relishing the way she writhed beneath his touch. Her soft moans drove him wild, his body hardening further as her desire grew.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured against her skin before lifting her effortlessly and carrying her to the bed. He had plans—many plans—for her, but first, he had to kiss her in her most sensitive place. would bring forth her first climax with his mouth. “And I’m going to keep my promise to kiss you everywhere.”

“I adore your kisses,” she replied, her voice a husky whisper.

He chuckled, the sound low and heated. Something told him she would enjoy this one the most. “I am going to make you feel good, love.” Kingston slid his hands beneath her thighs and spread her wide for him. She squirmed as he settled between them, her breath hitching, as he prepared to pleasure her.

“What are you?—”

Her question ended in a gasp as he lowered his head, his tongue teasing her most sensitive flesh. When he drew her swollen nub into his mouth and sucked, she cried out, her fingers clutching the bedding.

“Kingston,” she gasped, his name tumbling from her lips like a prayer.

A wicked grin curved his lips. So that was what it took to coax his name from her. He would make it his mission to hear her scream it before the night was through. He worked her skillfully, his mouth and tongue teasing her to the brink. Sliding one finger inside her, he stroked her in rhythm with the flick of his tongue, drawing her closer to the edge. When she shattered beneath him, her body convulsing with pleasure, he didn’t stop until every tremor of her climax had subsided.

When he finally lifted his head, he took in the sight of her—her body flushed, her chest heaving, and her mask still in place. She was a vision of raw sensuality, and he burned for her. He stroked her thigh as he rose to his feet, his gaze locked on hers.

“Take off your clothes,” she said, her tone bold. “You promised I could see you.”

“And you shall,” he assured her, his voice thick with desire.

He started with his cravat, untying it slowly and tossing it onto the bed. The silk landed over her breasts, and he couldn’t help but think of other, more wicked uses for the fabric. His shirt followed, revealing the broad expanse of his chest. As he kicked off his boots and removed his breeches, her gaze followed every movement, her eyes dark with anticipation. Finally, he stood before her completely bare save for the black domino mask that still adorned his face. This was far more wicked than he ever intended.

“Can I touch you?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

His cock twitched at her words, and he drew in a sharp breath to steady himself. “Touch me anywhere you wish,” he said, his voice hoarse. He sucked in a breath and braced himself for what was to come. He feared her touch would undo him.

She beckoned him closer with a single finger, and he obeyed without hesitation. Kingston would always come to her if she asked. She was his weakness. One he never thought he would have, and he could not find a reason to find that unappealing. He stepped closer to her and waited on bated breath for her touch. Her touch was tentative at first, her fingertips grazing his chest and stomach. When her hand finally closed around his arousal, his knees nearly buckled from the sheer pleasure of it.

“Does this hurt?” she asked, concern lacing her tone.

He closed his eyes and let out a ragged breath. “It feels too good,” he managed.

Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Can I kiss you here?” she asked, her gaze dropping lower.

He groaned at the thought, his restraint hanging by a thread. “Not tonight,” he said, his voice strained. “If you did, it would end this far too soon. I want to be inside you, Selena. I need to be.”

She seemed to understand, her hand drifting lower to cup him gently. He inhaled sharply, his body tightening in response. “Selena,” he rasped, “I’ll lose all control if you keep this up.”

“Then take me,” she said, her voice filled with confidence. “I want you.”

Not nearly as much as he wanted her. He joined her on the bed, pulling her against him as his lips found hers once more. As the kiss deepened, he settled between her thighs, her warmth drawing him in. Positioning himself at her entrance, he pushed forward slowly, inch by inch, until he was fully seated within her. He stilled, giving her time to adjust, though it took every ounce of his control not to move.

She gasped and shouted his name, her body tightening around him, and he kissed her softly, reassuring her with gentle touches. When she began to move beneath him, he took it as a sign to continue. His thrusts were slow and measured at first, each one designed to bring her pleasure. As her moans grew louder, he quickened his pace, his movements becoming more urgent.

Selena clung to him, her body arching into his as she reached her peak once more. The sight of her surrender, the sound of her cries, pushed him over the edge. His release came in a rush, his body shuddering as he spilled into her. He held her tightly, his breath ragged, as the enormity of what they had just shared washed over him.

In that moment, Kingston knew he could never let her go. With Selena, he had found something he hadn’t known he was searching for—something he could no longer imagine living without.