Chapter 15

H is brows drew together. "Do you think I'm going to throw you on the bed, lift your skirts, and rut inside you like a beast?"

The picture he painted was so close to what used to happen with Mansfield that she should have been horrified. But thinking of Holbrook hovering over her, touching her first to ensure she was ready for him, seeing to her pleasure, sent a rush of wetness between her legs.

She couldn't help but remember the taunt her husband had always thrown at her. That not only was she barren but she was also dry as a desert.

She hadn't understood his accusation, but now she knew there wasn't anything wrong with her. She hadn't felt physical desire for her husband, and he hadn't concerned himself with her needs. But she did feel desire for Holbrook, and every part of her yearned for him to touch her however he wanted.

"If that is what you wish, my lord."

He released her and took two steps back. It was so sudden she almost stumbled.

"What I wish is to watch you undress."

His words, the heat in his eyes, his sensual demand… Yes . She would give this man everything if he continued to look at her as though she were the most desirable woman in the world.

She turned so her back was to him and looked at him over her shoulder. "I need help with the buttons. If I'd known you'd be ravishing me today, I would have worn something that was easier to remove."

His only reply was a deep, guttural groan that filled her with longing.

His hands made quick work of the small row of buttons at the back of her dress. When he parted the fabric, she didn't have to ask him to help her with her half corset. He undid the laces and then stepped away again to watch.

She stood with her back to him, her dress now gaping, but she was still watching him. She enjoyed the way his eyes were riveted on his handiwork. "You're quite good at that, my lord."

He met her gaze. "I have two rules before we continue. One, there will be no talk of other women when I'm here with you. There are no other women."

She shivered at his words. "And the second rule?"

"I have a name."

That he did. Mansfield had enjoyed her referring to him as her lord. She suspected it had to do with the fact she was the daughter of a duke and he a baron. It made him feel important.

But if there was to be no other women in this bedchamber, there would be no other men as well. From this point forward, she wouldn't think about what had transpired between her and her deceased husband.

"Yes, Holbrook."

He reached for her and spun her around so she faced him. She'd been holding her dress up, but the quick movement caused her to release her grip on the fabric. As though her garments were throwing themselves onto the floor before him, her dress and corset fell.

She was now standing before him in her chemise.

"Lucas. I only became Holbrook a few years ago."

She frowned. "Lucas and Lucy?"

Holbrook chuckled. "Yes, apparently we're a matched set. But no one other than my mother and brothers call me by my given name."

"Lucas." After her initial surprise at the similarity in their names, she decided she liked the way it sounded.

His gaze raked over her figure in a slow, leisurely perusal. She knew what he'd see. Her dusky nipples would be visible through the thin fabric of her white chemise. As would the dark triangle of hair between her thighs.

"All of it." The words were low, barely audible.

His eyes locked on hers, and she hesitated. Was she actually going to do this? She'd only ever been naked in front of her lady's maid when she was taking her bath, and even then Lucy usually moved quickly. She'd never stood bare in front of anyone and allowed them to examine her body.

But Holbrook had been staring at her for some time now, and her chemise was so thin she might as well be wearing nothing. Besides, she didn't want the type of romantic relationship she'd already experienced.

She lifted her hands and toyed with the small ribbon between her breasts that held the chemise in place. Holbrook's eyes were riveted on her hands, and a shiver went through her.

She wanted this as much as he did.

Slowly she pulled on the ribbon and loosened the small bow. The edges of fabric gaped open, showing the tops of her breasts.

With a small wiggle of her shoulders, she allowed the garment to fall to the floor. She was now standing completely naked amid the pile of her clothing.

Holbrook's—no, Lucas's—gaze took a leisurely path down her body again.

Her cheeks heated, and she could feel warmth spread throughout her. "Are you going to just stand there and stare at me?"

"If I had any talent, I would paint you like this. A wicked temptress trying to bring about my downfall."

There was no hint of lightness in his words, and she realized he was speaking the truth.

"I am infinitely thankful that you don't."

Finally he closed the space between them and tugged her against his own fully clothed body. Sensations assailed her. Her heated skin touching the fine wool of his coat, her breasts pressed against the cool silk of his waistcoat. And beneath that, his hard body and arms surrounding her.

Never before had she found herself so desperate for a man's touch.

Her body yearned for the release he'd shown her with just his hands. And it had been far too long since he'd kissed her.

She tilted her chin up, and his mouth came down on hers as though they'd choreographed the movement. He devoured her with his kiss, and she returned it with equal passion.

She let out a small gasp and wrapped her arms around his neck when he tore his mouth away from hers and swept her into his arms. He carried her to the bed and then deposited her on it.

Now it was her turn to watch him disrobe. He shrugged out of his tailcoat and then undid the cravat that hid the column of his throat. Her eyes lingered on the broad width of the shoulders he'd just revealed and then fixed on his fingers as he deftly unbuttoned and removed his waistcoat. Finally he pulled his shirt up over his head.

He stood there, still wearing his trousers but bared to the waist.

Her mouth was dry as she took in his muscles. She'd known he was more muscular than her husband, but his clothing had hidden just how much.

She stretched her arm out to touch the only piece of bare skin within reach from her prone position on the bed. His abdomen.

He hissed out a breath as she ran her fingers over his skin. "You're so hard."

He closed his eyes tightly for a moment as though he were in pain. "You have no idea."

Her gaze moved down, and she saw the clear evidence of his arousal. But instead of freeing himself, he settled onto the bed next to her.

"I think you're wearing far too much clothing for what we need to do next."

One corner of his mouth quirked up. "I need to keep them on, temptress, if I'm to keep from ravaging you."

She frowned. "I hope you haven't changed your mind. I think I'd like to be ravaged."

He ran a large hand along her arm. "I want to explore you first. To taste you."

Shivers bloomed along her skin, and she didn't have to wait long to learn what he meant. He kissed the side of her throat and then trailed a path downward.

She was shocked when the swipe of his tongue along her collarbone caused a shiver to go through her. She'd never known she could be so sensitive there. Of course he didn't stop, and before long he was nuzzling her breasts.

She ached with need but couldn't name what it was she wanted. Fortunately she didn't have to worry because Holbrook drew one nipple into his mouth and sucked. The pull of his mouth had her arching up into him. It also caused the ache between her legs to intensify.

She'd never imagined it would be possible for her to feel so wanton. So greedy for a man's touch.

After giving her other breast equal attention, He lifted his head and met her gaze. His eyes were dark with longing. "I'm going to taste all of you."

Her brows drew together. Wasn't he already doing that? But then he started dropping a line of kisses down to her belly, and she felt a hint of alarm as a truly wicked thought occurred to her.

No, surely he wasn't going to do that . Charlotte had told her that some men liked to pleasure a woman with their mouths, but she'd thought her friend was teasing her. She hadn't asked if her brother had ever done that to Charlotte because she really didn't want to know. There were some images she didn't need in her head.

Holbrook would never… He parted her legs and stared at her there , where no one had ever looked. Not even her husband.

Holbrook had already touched her there and brought her pleasure, but the fact that he was now looking at her wet folds was almost too much to bear.

She tried to push him away, but he didn't budge. "What are you doing?"

He met her gaze. "Do you trust me?"

She'd already told him that she did, but this was intimacy beyond anything she could have imagined. She was nervous but couldn't deny that a part of her yearned to experience everything he could show her.

She nodded and held her breath.

Only to feel it rushing out of her when he kissed her high on her inner thigh. And then he kissed her there .

She knew the pleasure he could give her with his fingers, but the heat of his mouth, the sounds he was making, as though he was enjoying doing this to her… Her mind blanked, and the entirety of the world existed only in the two of them in this bed. She could think of nothing except the feel of his mouth on her, doing wickedly delicious things she'd never imagined possible.

When he slipped two fingers inside her, her body tightened and then shuddered with release. She cried out, her hands fisting the bedding.

When she opened her eyes, he was on his knees over her, staring at her. "You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen."

She shook her head, knowing that wasn't true. There were plenty of women more beautiful than her.

He rose from the bed, and she watched as his hands moved to his trousers, tracked the way his long, lean fingers worked at the fall. She'd already found release, but it seemed her body yearned for more.

He pushed his trousers down with impatience, and his manhood sprang free, long and hard.

She was unable to hold back a moan. His fingers within her had felt incredible filling her up, but she was afraid his length would tear her apart.

He was longer and thicker than she'd expected. "I don't know?—"

He settled over her, his hard body covering her completely. But he held enough of his weight on his forearms that she wouldn't find it difficult to breathe.

She was very aware of the way his cock settled there, between her legs, and any reservation she might have had fled. In that moment she only knew that she needed Holbrook inside her right now.

"Please don't make me stop," he ground out.

The fact that he was still giving her the choice about whether to continue shattered the last of her doubts about this man.

She cupped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes. "Don't stop."

She made room for him between her thighs, and he pushed inside her with a groan. For a moment she feared he wouldn't fit, but her body opened, allowing him to sink into her all the way.

She was filled with awe. "You feel amazing."

"Not half as amazing as you, my love."

He began to move. Impossibly, her body seemed to grow even wetter with each thrust. She was already close to the edge, and it didn't take long for another orgasm to wash over her.

She'd never found release during lovemaking. She'd been half-afraid it wouldn't happen with Holbrook now. Joy swamped through her as she clung to him, her legs and arms wrapping around him as she waited for him to find his own release.

She'd expected him to finish quickly, but he didn't. He kept going, thrusting into her with relentless strokes that seemed to demand everything from her.

Somehow her body tightened around him again, and she cried out his name. Only then, after her third release that day, did he push fully inside her and find his own pleasure.