Page 84 of Yours Truly, the Duke
Fredericka blinked rapidly, still facing him in the mirror. Had he said what she thought he had? Did he actually think she would let any man kiss her the way she had him simply to make amends? Seconds ticked bybefore she turned to him and said, “How dare you think that? You, sir, are a rake and an ace among men at saying the wrong thing.”
A firm grimace formed on his features. “I thought you’d want to know I kissed you because I desire you more than any other woman. Ever since you arrived I’ve been having one hell of a time keeping my thoughts and my hands off you.”
“You think I don’t know that?” she whispered, exasperated, finding it difficult to keep her voice low. “Our attraction has always been real and intoxicating from the moment we met. How dare you think I thought you would kiss me out of pity.”
“Hold on just a minute.” His eyes and mouth tightened with intensity. “I never said pity. You are misinterpreting what I said the way you always do.”
“That’s because you never say what you mean.”
“I do,” he insisted, in a rough yet gentle voice, firming his stance by jerking his hands to his hips. His eyes widened with annoyance. “I keep asking myself when in hellfire am I going to learn to keep my mouth shut and just—”
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
Fredericka lunged at Wyatt, throwing him off-balance and knocking him backward as her arms circled his neck. His arms closed tightly around her as he sucked in a grunt of surprise and caught his footing. She pressed her lips to his with daring and confidence she’d never known she possessed.
Their kisses and caresses were passionate, urgent, and unforgiving in their wanting. Her fingers tangled in his hair, his shirt, and his trousers. His hands caressed her breasts and buttocks at will, and he pressed her securely against the hard bulge beneath his trousers.
For how long they stood there and kissed she had no idea. Time didn’t matter. Only what they were feeling was important.
With ease and a puzzling grin, he picked her up, swirled her around two, three, four times before landing on the bed with her on her back and him rising above her.
“That made me dizzy,” she whispered in between their kisses, as the bed spun.
He cupped the side of her face with a loving hand and looked into her eyes. “Then we’re on even footing now. I’ve been reeling since we met. I wanted to make sure you felt the same way and are dizzy for me.”
“I am.”
Wyatt brushed her hair across her forehead, removing the combs and throwing them aside. He looked tenderly into her eyes and whispered, “I want you with me, Fredericka. Like this.”
No other words could have pleased her more than “I want you with me.” She didn’t know how much she’d needed to hear them until he spoke them. It was as if a deep, longing emotion inside her had finally been satisfied. She smiled and lifted her lips to his. There was no need for more words. Only mounting feelings, sensations, and more of being enchanted and delighted with each other. The scent, taste, and touch of Wyatt was familiar and welcoming to all her senses. Their embrace was pursuing and savoring as they clung together and encouraged each other to higher depths of pleasure with each breath they took.
Through every caress Fredericka’s body trembled with expectancy and anticipation as Wyatt patiently showed her the intimate ways between a man and woman. He revered her while teaching her how to enjoy every moment they were sharing.
He was confident, commanding, and masterful without force or cajoling. He knew where to touch and how long to stroke to create feelings she could never have imagined existed. Somehow, he knew exactly when to rush ahead and when to slow the building ardor and fervency she was experiencing. With skill and tenderness, they came together as husband and wife. Their bodies joined as intimately and sensuously as possible.
When delights she hadn’t known were gifted to mankind erupted inside them both, the only thing left from either of them was gasping breaths and contented sighs. She was also left with the hope that what had just happened wasn’t a once in a lifetime experience.
Fredericka didn’t know how long it took to realize she didn’t have on any clothes. Wyatt was naked too. In the frenzied leisure of their lovemaking, they had somehow removed all their clothing. She reached across the bed for her gown or shift, something to cover herself, and touched her black velvet cape. That would do nicely, so she dragged it over her body.
The movement must have disturbed Wyatt. He rose up on his elbow and said, “I should have realized you are cold.”
“Just not wanting to feel so bare.”
“You’re lovely without a stitch on,” he said huskily, as he helped fit the velvet over her breasts and around her legs. “Better?”
Fredericka nodded, but her attention was on his broad shoulders, wide chest, and the planes of his lean-muscled hips and legs. “You have bruises.”
“Cricket can be a rough sport.”
“I don’t like that you get hurt,” she said, brushing her fingertips over one of the reddish-brown marks on his upper shoulder.
“They don’t hurt for long.”
“You are a beautiful man, and it’s a joy to look at you.”
Wyatt chuckled as he reached over and kissed her tenderly. “Does this mean you are no longer peeved with me?” he asked, caressing her cheek.
Forcing her gaze away from his body, she looked into his eyes. “I have reason to be,” she admitted honestly, but then smiled. “Of course not. You are very good with the children. Most of the time.”
