He smiled at her, enchanted anew. “Let me remedy your boredom, Your Grace.”
He kissed her with openmouthed enthusiasm. She kissed him back with unfettered eagerness. She gave a soft squeak of surprise as he lifted her and carried her to the huge bed where they’d already rattled the gates of heaven.
“You look so smug,” she said with a delicious gurgle of laughter. She linked her hands around his neck and tugged at the hair brushing his collar.
“I’m a hero. My wife told me so.” Gently he laid her across the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. She rose on her elbows and slid back until he caught one slender ankle. “Don’t move.”
“Cam?” she asked uncertainly.
“I want to give you pleasure.”
“You have.”
“There’s more.”
“I doubt I’ll survive more.”
He smiled as he untied the ribbons around her ankle and slid one green silk slipper off. “Be strong.”
She lay back in silent acquiescence. He released her garter and slid her stocking down, then lifted her foot to kiss her instep. The fragrance of her skin filled his senses, a tantalizing hint of what was to come. He hid a sly smile and gave the other foot the same attention. He flicked his tongue across her toes until she shivered.
The glassy look in her eyes betrayed her enjoyment. Anticipation surged like a cavalry charge. He tossed her skirts up, revealing her drawers. With one rip, they were in shreds.
“Cam!” she gasped in shock, jerking up on her elbows.
“I’ll buy you more.” He drew her forward until her hips balanced on the edge of the mattress. Her dark curls glistened and the scent of her arousal rose to tease his nostrils.
“Good thing I married a rich man.” She lay back, tangling her hands in the sheets.
“Very wise, my dear.”
He wasn’t entirely joking. This week, he’d torn three pairs of drawers, ruined two gowns, and left a nightdress in tatters. Their battle for supremacy had been tough on her wardrobe.
Yet tonight he discovered that he’d always sought an equal, not a subordinate.
“What are you doing?” she asked nervously.
He kneeled on the floor between her legs. Her scent was earthy, luscious, familiar. Like her daytime self, but richer, more evocative. “Admiring the duchess.”
He lifted his head from contemplating her secret places. She really was lovely. She was particularly lovely sleek with desire.
“The duchess is blushing.” She reached to shield herself.
He caught her hand and placed a kiss on each fingertip, then set her hand beside her hip. Before she could protest, he bent his head and licked her cleft.
Her flavor flooded his mouth. Salty and female and succulent. Like a delicious exotic fruit.
She shuddered and her thighs spread wider. He loved that she didn’t hide her reaction. He licked her again, lingering at the sensitive flesh above her sex.
She whimpered and wriggled. “That’s indecent.”
He smiled into this hidden place and began to nip and suck and kiss her, taking her so far but stopping short of release. She dug her fingers into his hair, pulling hard.
“You leave me no inch of privacy,” she protested.
He smiled into the soft skin of her thigh. “I’m a very thorough man, darling.”
Her choked laugh ended on a gasp as he nipped her and returned to his exploration.