A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,91

to the inevitable. Here and now, Katherine stood in his bedchamber.

He pulled her tighter into his embrace and ground his thickening member against her body, ready to mark her as his. This all-encompassing need to be close to her—claim her—wove around them, locking out their pasts and everyone that had come before them.

She gasped slightly, needing to breathe. He kissed her tender neck, trailed his lips across her shoulders, and she leaned her head back, closing her eyes. He licked the indentation at the bottom of the neck, then gently nipped her skin before kissing it. “You drive me mad. I would devour you if you let me.”

“Eat your fill,” she whispered.

“I adore it when you talk naughty like that.” He chuckled against her mouth before he deepened the kiss.

The sweet taste of mint in her mouth was more powerful than any aphrodisiac known to man. But he didn’t need anything to increase his desire for Katherine. He burned for her with a want and need that he’d never experienced before.

However, Kat would have to make the choice with how far they would go. He pulled away, then cupped her cheeks with his hands. The trust and desire in her eyes was a heady sight and one he’d never tire of. He was sure of it. “Kat,” he whispered. “My Kat.” He swallowed in an attempt to find some semblance of good judgment rolling around in his brain. “We should talk about this. I want you in my bed, but … is that what you want?”

Her heavy-lidded gaze almost undid him, but they wouldn’t take this any further unless she wanted to. The rest of the world mattered little. It was only them, and whatever she wanted, he’d give her.

“I do,” she answered. “I want to make love to you.” Her pink cheeks deepened to a crimson color that only enhanced her beauty.

He drew a slow, deep breath, then released it. “This hunger between us, this ache is getting stronger.”

She nodded. “It feels right.”

This woman could easily possess his heart and soul.

Earnestly, she stared at him, then squeezed his hand. “I don’t want to risk a child,” she said softly.

He trailed his forefinger down one of her cheeks. “Agreed. I’ll withdraw.”

Katherine pressed her lips against his as she unbuttoned his waistcoat. With each button she released, he groaned in response. This time, she was the one to deepen the kiss as she slid his waistcoat over his shoulders before it fell to the floor. She smoothed her hands across his shoulders, and against his lips, she whispered, “Did you know that the first thing I noticed about you when we met was how wide your shoulders are and how trim your waist is? I can’t believe I’ll be able to explore every inch of you.”

With the back of his finger, he lightly caressed the exposed skin of her décolletage. With a tremulous breath, she moved his hand to the hidden tie of her bodice. Her heated skin made his cock twitch. His eyes never left hers as they untied it together. He loosened the gown, and with a gentle shimmy of her shoulders, the material floated to the ground like leaves falling in surrender to an autumn wind.

Together they discarded her stays. The thin material of her chemise did little to hide her hardened nipples pressed against the cloth. This was a delectable torment, much like sweet treats in a candy shop window. With reverence, he palmed each breast, and she moaned, deep and wild. The sound reverberated through him. She would be glorious in bed. He had little doubt. Her passion ignited his own.

She stood before him and smiled, then reached for his cravat. Together, they untied it, then pulled his shirt free of his waist. With a tug, he had it over his head. Her gaze met his then fell slowly down his chest. She licked her lips, and her breath quickened.

He couldn’t help but straighten to his full height. He wanted her eyes on him, devouring him with each sultry glance.

“How utterly glorious you are. Where shall I touch first? I want to know what you like, where you’re ticklish.” She lightly scored her nails over one of his nipples. “Are yours as sensitive as mine?”

He hissed in response. His blood pounded fire through his body. A wildfire couldn’t compare to the heat this woman managed to elicit from him.

“I take that as a yes.” As her gaze tenderly scouted the planes of his muscles, she gasped