until they were full and heavy. His lips and teeth teased her nipples and then he sucked on them, causing her nether region to pulse violently.
His mouth trailed down her body, past her belly and beyond. She stiffened but began to relax as his hands soothed and stroked her. Then he parted her folds and, without warning, plunged his tongue inside her. Dalinda nearly levitated from the bed. Her breathing grew harsh, her fingers twisted in his hair as his tongue and teeth worked miracles on her. A tremendous wave broke, shattering her, as she bucked and cried, her head whipping from side to side.
Rhys kissed his way back up her body until he reached her lips. It was quite erotic tasting herself on him. As they kissed, his fingers parted her again and began stroking her. One finger pushed inside and found a sweet nub within her, circling it, causing her breath to come rapidly. Just before she peaked and crashed again, he exchanged his finger with his member, pushing it inside her, filling and stretching her.
Then the dance of love began, the meeting of bodies with each sweet thrust. He buried his face against her throat, nipping and kissing as he pumped into her. She felt her body responding, rising again to those dizzying heights. As she started to cry out, his mouth covered hers and sheer pleasure flooded her.
Rhys withdrew from her and suddenly warmth touched her belly. She realized he had spilled his seed outside her, as he had promised.
He kissed her tenderly and rose from the bed. She heard water splashed in the basin and he returned with a cloth, wiping the white smear from her and dropping the cloth to the floor. He stretched out beside her and pulled her into his arms, her head upon his chest, her ear against his beating heart, their limbs entwined.
“You are magnificent, Dalinda,” he murmured.
“And you are a Greek god come to life,” she replied. “I have never gone to such heights. I did not know they existed.”
He stroked her back, his hand moving slowly up and down.
“Go to sleep,” he urged.
Dalinda wanted to stay awake and enjoy his presence but the intensity of their lovemaking was now taking a toll upon her. She yawned wearily and closed her eyes. Rhys continued to run his hand up and down her back and the rhythm pushed her into sleep.
Chapter Ten
Rhys smoothed Dalinda’s hair as she slept in his arms. He hadn’t closed his eyes, not wanting to miss a single moment with this wonderful woman. He’d even awakened her in the middle of the night and made love to her again before she dropped off to sleep once more.
Tonight would probably be the highlight of his life. When the dawn came, he would go back to being the groom-turned-earl and return to his country estate, which seemed to lack in every way. Dalinda would still be a duchess, albeit a dowager one. She would go on to wed a man of her same social status.
And hopefully, every now and then, she might give a thought to him and this one night they had shared.
He sensed dawn coming. He had never been one to sleep much and that had stayed with him during his army years. Even now, away from the war, Rhys only slept a few hours each night. It probably added to the air of weariness which seemed to constantly blanket him. He felt guilty for having left his men behind on the Peninsula. He worried that he wouldn’t be enough of a good earl to help his people.
But for one magical night, he had forgotten all his troubles. In the arms of this remarkable woman.
He smiled, thinking of a few of the stories Dez had shared about his twin. How Dalinda had put a toad in their governess’ shoe. How she would climb a tree and dive from its branches into a lake they used to swim in. When she hadn’t liked where a gardener had planted a rosebush, she had gone and dug it up in the middle of the night, Dez standing by in support as he held a lantern. Dalinda had moved the rosebush to where she thought it ought to go—and the gardener had only nodded at her in approval instead of chastising her.
A faint streak of light came from the window. Rhys knew his time with the duchess had drawn to a close. His fingers stroked the silky skin of her