Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

O ctavia sucked in a sharp breath and gasped when Simon drew her into his arms and kissed her neck. Then warm feel of his hot tongue against her skin sent shivers of pleasure down her spine.

“Simon,” she gasped his name so passionately that he growled with pleasure and drew her body closer to his.

The heat from his chiseled muscles seeped into her skin despite the coolness of the water.

Acting on instinct, Octavia wrapped her legs around his waist and allowed him to explore her body as she leaned back in the water. His hands moved up her sides, stopping short of her breasts as she nuzzled her neck.

Moments passed where they kissed, savoring the depths of each other’s mouths before Simon changed the flow.

His hands were on her breasts, hungrily kneading them with his palms while her nipples hardened against the sodden fabric of her chemise.

“Octavia, you don’t know how long I have wanted to do this,” he practically growled against her throat before pushing her back in the water until her body connected with an outcropping of rocks.

The rock in question formed the perfect shape to cradle her body as Simon lifted her up and laid her back down. The water lapped at her legs, creating a gentle sensation of caresses.

I’ve wanted you for the longest time.

She felt the words catching in her throat when the tips of his fingers brushed the curves of her hips.

Taking a moment to stare down at her with a hungry look in his eyes, he reached up and cupped her breasts once again.

Octavia gasped loudly when her fully erect nipples made contact with his hand. She was ready at that moment to give herself to him fully.

Propping herself up on her elbows, she pressed her lips into his, savoring the sweet feel of his tongue parting her lips. Her tongue fought for dominance in the warm depths of his mouth until he growled with pleasure and positioned himself on top of her.

The feel of his hard body pressing into hers made her core quiver with pleasure when he left her lips and kissed a path down her neck. His tongue flicked over her skin, lapping at the droplets of water.

She couldn’t help but squirm with pleasure when Simon slipped the straps of her chemise over her shoulders and pulled them down her body. The cool breeze kissed her nipples, hardening them even further before Simon dipped his head and took the first rosy bud into his mouth. The loud squeal of delight made him look up as he flicked his tongue over her nipple. The cheeky grin of satisfaction curled his lips before returning to her nipple drove Octavia wild with pleasure.

How was it even possible they had gone from bickering to exploring each other’s bodies in the space of one afternoon? Her thoughts quickly banished like mist in the sun when he doubled his efforts on her breast and gently dragged her nipple between his teeth.

He wasn’t just teasing her body; he was making sure to take his time and please her in all the ways that she didn’t even know were possible. Switching nipples, he used his finger and thumb to gently pinch the one he had been sucking while licking the other.

“Simon?” Octavia lifted her head and looked down when his free hand moved up her thigh and gently parted her knees.

She wasn’t sure what to expect beyond the pleasurable sensations on her breasts, yet something about the look in his eyes made her want to find out.

He stopped for the briefest of moments and looked her in the eyes.

“Do you trust me?” He held her gaze and slid his fingers further up her thighs, patiently waiting for her response.

Realizing that she liked what he was doing, she leaned back on the rock and closed her eyes, focusing on the soothing sensations of the water lapping at her body. A sudden sensation of white-hot pleasure rippled through her body when his fingers parted the delicate flesh between her thighs and entered the folds.

He moved slowly at first, giving her time to adjust to the pleasure.

“Oh!” She moaned loudly and bit her lips when he moved his fingers strategically over the small nub at the apex of her core.

“Tell me how that feels,” Simon left her breast and watched her face as he moved his fingers in circles, staring out slow at first but picking up the pace when she moaned.

She gasped for breath with disbelief budding in her chest at how amazing her body was feeling.

She managed to answer. “It… It feels amazing…”

She sought the right words, overcome by the waves of pleasure that were shooting throughout her body.

Does it feel this good for all women?

Her mind suddenly whirled with thoughts of pleasure when Simon returned to her nipples and took turns sucking them into his mouth. Her eyes shot open again when he kissed a path down her chest and abdomen, stopping to remove her chemise and discard it in the water.

Her breathing was heavy and labored when he placed his hands on her knees and parted her thighs, shifting his weight down her body until his head was over her core.

“I think you will like this a whole lot more than my fingers.” He gave her another cheeky grin before kissing the insides of her thighs and lowering his head.

Octavia gasped and reached for his hair, wanting more the second his tongue flicked over her folds. The lapping water helped with motions of pleasure as he moved her body in rhythm with his tongue, savoring every lick as her legs began to tremble. She felt as if she would burst with pleasure when Simon paused and looked into her eyes.

“Nobody can hear us, Octavia; there is no need to hold back…” He sunk his teeth into her inner thigh before returning his attention to her folds.

“Oh, Simon!” She let out a moan of pleasure when he sucked the nub of pleasure into his mouth and swirled his tongue, almost sending her over the edge.

Her screams spurred him on as he doubled his efforts, moving his head from side to side licking up and down in quick succession.

Her moans turned into urgent whimpers when he reached up and gripped each breast in his hands, playing with her nipples while she threw her legs over his shoulders. The new elevated position of his head buried between her thighs created new sensations that had Octavia gasping for air. It wasn’t long until her legs began to tremble, wave after wave of pleasure coursing through her body.

Her legs spasmed out of control when the climax of his licking pushed her over the edge.

“Simon!” she screamed his name so loudly that a nearby flock of birds took flight.

The Duke held her hips in place when her back arched from the orgasm, licking her slowly until she came back down to earth.

She lay there panting with her back on the rock until Simon pulled her into his arms and sank her into the water.

“Was that the first time that that has ever happened to you?” He kissed her neck softly before running his hands up her thighs.

It took her a moment to gather her thoughts before she shook her head.

“I didn’t know that anything like that was possible. I knew that men and women came together once they were married… I just didn’t realize that it was like that…”

She felt the heat rising to her cheeks when she realized that Simon had just touched her body in a very intimate manner.

His smile was soft and understanding when he pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. The water lapped over their shoulders, pulling them back to the middle of the pool.

“I’m glad that I could make you feel new things.”

He dipped his hand under the water and touched her again, making her gasp when gently rubbed over her folds. The flesh between her thighs was still tender enough to make her shiver with pleasure.

“Is it like that for men as well?” She acted instinctively and kissed his neck, dragging her teeth over his skin until he moaned.

“Well, we also like to be touched, and we can be just as loud if things are done the right way.” He shot her a wolfish grin before pulling her into his arms and kissing her lips.

“Will you show me?” She managed to pull back for a moment before thrusting her tongue back into his mouth.

Simon growled so hungrily that Octavia felt as if she would reach her climax all over again.

“I didn’t think that you were such a little minx.” Simon reached for her hand and guided her beneath the water until the tips of her fingers brushed that bulge that had once been concealed by his breaches.

Simon pulled her back toward the rock and leaned against the hard surface.

“Do what feels natural.” His voice was low and commanding, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.

Taking a deep breath, she flexed her fingers and wrapped them around his erection, feeling the pulsating muscle in her palm.

Simon groaned so loudly that she almost thought that she’d done something wrong. Yet the look of utter bliss on his face as his features contorted let her know that she was on the right track.

Flexing her fingers a few more times, she began to move back and forth, mimicking the rhythm he had used on her with his tongue.

“Octavia…” he whispered her name passionately, leaning against the rock until his face was pointed toward the sky.

Feeling as if she understood what pleased him, she shifted to his side and whispered in his ear as her hand worked back and forth beneath the water.

“I want you to feel just as good as I did.” She flicked her tongue over his lobe before doubling her pace.

It didn’t take long for Simon moans to turn into panting. The motion of his hips as he thrust into her hand was almost animalistic as Octavia watched his face tighten and contort with pleasure. It was over almost as quickly as it started when the Duke cried out and moved her hand to the side.

“Did I do it right?” She bit her lip, wondering if she had pleased him.

Simon took a moment to open his eyes before sinking back into the water and kissing her lips.

“That was more than fine; it felt just as good as your screams.” His tongue entered her mouth as he took her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

She sighed contently when he drew back and led her over to the edge of the water.

“As fun as this was, we had better get back.” He gripped her hand and helped her out of the water before leading her over to her clothes.

It took them both a few moments to locate all of their garments before dressing in the damp and somewhat sodden items.

“Oh dear.” Octavia suddenly looked up and gasped when she realized something very important.

“What is it?” Simon came forward and pulled her shirt over his head.

“It’s the horses, they aren’t here anymore.” She pointed out the obvious when he turned to look at the trees.

The peals of laughter that filled the air caught her off guard as Octavia finished fastening the ribbons of her dress. Had their moment in the water made him lose his mind? She looked around again to see if she had missed anything at all.

“I don’t understand, Your Grace?” She cocked her head to the side when he finally finished laughing.

Shaking his head, Simon smirked. “I think it may have been your screams that drove them away. The scene must have been a bit too much for them to handle.”

He winked at her and allowed his lips to curl back into a satisfied grin. He seemed more open with her now, less private, and more willing to be himself.

Feeling herself blush, she made a face at him and pursed her lips, unsure of how to interpret his laughter. The atmosphere between them had shifted so quickly from one moment to the next that she wasn’t even sure of how to address him.

“I’m just teasing. Horses have wandered off on the estate before, and it isn’t unusual for them to make their way back to the stables. We had better start moving if we want to make it back to the house before nightfall.” He looked over his shoulder at the sun that was hanging low in the sky.

“I guess we had better get back before Mrs. Farley sends a search party after us.” She attempted to make polite conversation despite all of the questions that were swimming at the back of her mind.

Simon didn’t say anything else before making his way back up the path and entering the thicket of trees. The silence that greeted them was almost deafening as she was left with her own thoughts.

Was he looking at her differently now? Or was this simply a dalliance for him that met a need?

They walked on in silence for a time while Octavia wondered how things would be between them now.

It couldn’t go back to how it had been, not now that they had been together in such an intimate manner.

I wonder if we will do that again.

She continued to blush when her thoughts wandered to images of the Duke in her chambers.

The experience was certainly one that she wanted and even needed to happen again. Yet she couldn’t help but feel a strange pang of fear in her chest. What did this mean for their marriage? And what did it mean if she fell in love with him? Would they still be able to coexist in the same house without bickering?

The future seemed quite uncertain to her as they made their way back through the trees.

Simon looked a few times, making sure that she was following close behind. He didn’t say anything to her, yet his behavior and even the way he carried himself seemed to have changed. He seemed more content with her presence rather than irritable. She also no longer saw him as the cold and unfeeling monster that had referred to her as a saccharine virgin.

She kept her eyes fixed on his back as wave after wave of tangled emotions pulsed through her mind.

Everything has changed.

The thought scared her more than she wanted to admit.