Page 55 of The Haunted Duke

“About pleasure,” he answered, sliding his hands down over her breasts, her waist, and to her parted thighs. He spread them wider as he shuffled back and leaned down.

It was a strange, exhilarating feeling to see a man so powerful and tall bow so low before her, and she wondered why, now more than ever, he was showing her such devotion.

Yet before she could ask, Evander slid down to his chest, shouldered her thighs, and pressed a kiss to the aching spot between her thighs. Helena’s mouth dropped open as she inhaled a shaky breath, unable to believe what he had actually done. Then he moved his lips, parting them just enough so that he could slide his tongue through, and pleasure exploded between her legs.

Helena’s questions caught in her throat as she arched her back and threw her head back into the pillow. Her body was caught in a backward bow when suddenly she felt a sharp slap to her sex, and though it did not hurt, the shock of it had her looking down at him with wide, questioning eyes.

“Eyes open, love,” he all but growled the reminder as his lips hovered above her mons. “I want you to watch me give you pleasure.”

Helena obeyed, locking her gaze onto Evander’s. His blue eyes sparkled with feral hunger, both startling and exciting her at the same time.

Then he began again. Flicking his tongue so very softly against the little bundle of nerves atop her sex, Helena had to fight to keep her eyes open. With each brush of his tongue, her body sank deeper into that well of pleasure, making her limbs feel heavy and useless and powerless to stop him.

There was no struggle when it came to Evander’s touch. With him, she gave herself freely, trustingly, with no fear of pain.

“Evander, I do not think…”

“Helena…” Evander moaned into her sex. “I do not want you to think right now. You are so very good for me. Let me take care of you.”

And she did. Helena gave herself over to the weighty feeling in her limbs, moved past the flush of insecurity of a man being so close to her bare sex, and fully gave in to the skills of Evander’s mouth.

My man, a voice whispered in her head as he drew her pleasure to greater heights. Mine. Mine. Mine.

Helena trembled at the realization, which only heightened her pleasure. Yes, she was Evander’s. But he was also hers.

Helena’s breaths and soft moans grew deeper as Evander’s sinful kisses skillfully ignited her desire, and within moments, she struggled to keep her fluttering lashes from shutting and her trembling thighs from squeezing tighter around Evander’s shoulders. She was nearing that peak she had reached with him the day before, only this time it was much more intense.

“Evander,” she panted, her body undulating of its own volition as he slid a finger into her wet, tight sheath and began to coax her from within.

“Say it again,” he commanded between the flicks of his tongue, his voice sinfully deep and gravelly with need.

“Evander,” she obeyed, her breath drawing in quicker as he drew her closer to climax.

“Tell me you are mine,” he commanded, thrusting his finger faster and making her moan low in her throat.

“I am yours,” she breathed.

No longer able to keep her eyes open, Helena closed them and let her head fall back, now on the verge of ecstasy. She half expected another one of his little slaps, which she now wondered if it would push her over the edge. Instead, Evander’s finger drove deeper, curling inside her in a slow, deliberate stroke that had her back arching clean off the chaise.

“Right there,” she gasped, not even certain what she was asking for until his finger found that spot again and dragged over it, again and again, until her thighs clamped hard around his shoulders and she could not have stopped them if she tried.

He added a second finger, stretching her, working her open with faster thrusts, and all the while his mouth stayed fixed on her sex, licking and suckling intensely until her quivering thighs started to shake. She could feel herself clenching around him, could hear the slick sound of his fingers moving inside her, and the shame she should have felt at such a sound was drowned out entirely by how badly she wanted more of it.

“Evander, I cannot—”

“You can,” he said against her, his fingers never once slowing. “Give it to me, Helena. Let me feel you fall apart on my hand.”

A needy, keening cry escaped her lips as she felt herself teetering on the very brink of it, and then, with one final, curling thrust of his fingers as he suckled her bud between his lips, she fell.

Her climax rushed through her bloodstream with abandon, stealing her breath and ability to move as Evander slowed his ministrations and whispered words of praise. She could only feel her melted body being pulled into strong, protective arms as soft, wet kisses caressed over her neck, her cheeks, and her lips.

Chapter 19

“Are you sure no one saw us?” Helena asked, glancing worriedly over Evander’s shoulder and toward the door of her chambers.

“I swear it,” Evander promised, tugging the lapels of his jacket closer around the front of her ripped gown. “We took the servants’ stairs, which were empty, and Jeremy, I am sure, held the crowd’s attention while we were away. You have nothing to worry about, I promise you.”

Helena nodded, but the way she pressed her lips together and kept darting her eyes over his shoulder to check the door made it clear to Evander that the brief moment of relief he had given her in the library was gone, and her worries had returned with full force.