would barely be a passing consideration. He clenched his fists, furious that he could do nothing to the wretch who’d so carelessly destroyed this woman’s life. A good thrashing was out of the question, since she would not reveal his name. No matter. He’d do some investigation of his own. He might not be able to convince her to marry him, but he would damn well make sure she and her family remained safe.
Despite her refusal of his affections, he couldn’t deny the bone-deep ache he suffered now, with her so close. And, judging by the expression she wore, his nearness deeply affected her as well.
“Very well, no marriage. But will you deny yourself this?” he asked as he slid his hands between her legs once more, gently caressing her inner thighs as he did so.
“Oh!” The breath went out of her once again. “I…uh, I suppose I’ll have to…”
“Truly? I can’t imagine an entire lifetime without a lover’s touch.”
Ash pulled away, thinking he should do the correct thing, help her to straighten her gown and once again assume the role of the proper gentleman.
For the life of him, he couldn’t help but place one final tender kiss above her knee and blow out a final, warm moist breath against her center.
A rush of pleasure shot through him when she responded to his touch with a quiet whimper. Another thought occurred to him.
“I don’t care what secrets you are keeping, sweet Caroline. You are an innocent when it comes to making love…”
—
Caro gasped, astonished at the deep chord Ash had struck within her and the hollow sound of deep regret that followed. She had to admit that the possibility of she herself taking a lover wasn’t something she’d ever considered.
After all, for a man to choose a mistress was widely accepted, sometimes even expected. A woman, on the other hand, was scorned, called a harlot, or worse, her reputation and a chance for a happy life in ruins.
Of course, there were women who took on lovers, but they usually had money and connections already or were courtesans. But a woman of Caro’s age and situation? It was scandal, pure and simple.
Caro knew she’d have to wait until Beatrice was properly married and above reproach before she could consider openly engaging in such wanton behavior.
One moment she was deep in thought, and the next she was caught up in the duke’s final gift. The startling and pleasing sensation of his warm, moist mouth touching her, followed by his blowing a heated breath between her legs, gave her sudden intense pleasure. In that breathless and scorching hot second, her body took control and she barely recognized her own voice.
She gasped, throwing caution to the wind. “Well, perhaps, if we were careful…”
She felt Ash’s smile against the skin of her inner thigh. “Very careful, Miss Hawkins. The utmost careful, in fact.” From there, he continued his journey upward again, nibbling bits here and there.
“No one must ever know,” she said, suddenly breathless and panting.
“I shall never tell…” Without another word he rose from the floor, and she delighted as he climbed up on the settee beside her.
“Oh…” One long sigh escaped her when he settled beside her and took her into his arms, his right hand pulling up the hem of her gown.
Before she knew what was happening, Caro was reaching for his trousers, desperate to tear the fabric from between them and allow him fully against her. Once they were free, he pushed forward, searing flesh against searing flesh, and suddenly Ashton consumed her in ways she hadn’t dreamed possible. He filled her senses with gentle touches, kisses, his warm breath wafting over her, and she shivered in anticipation.
His hands roamed unashamedly all over her body, rubbing her back and buttocks, his mouth suckling her breasts. At the same moment, his groin pushed against her and she felt she was on the verge of something dangerous and unstoppable.
Caro was so consumed by his lovemaking that
Despite her refusal of his affections, he couldn’t deny the bone-deep ache he suffered now, with her so close. And, judging by the expression she wore, his nearness deeply affected her as well.
“Very well, no marriage. But will you deny yourself this?” he asked as he slid his hands between her legs once more, gently caressing her inner thighs as he did so.
“Oh!” The breath went out of her once again. “I…uh, I suppose I’ll have to…”
“Truly? I can’t imagine an entire lifetime without a lover’s touch.”
Ash pulled away, thinking he should do the correct thing, help her to straighten her gown and once again assume the role of the proper gentleman.
For the life of him, he couldn’t help but place one final tender kiss above her knee and blow out a final, warm moist breath against her center.
A rush of pleasure shot through him when she responded to his touch with a quiet whimper. Another thought occurred to him.
“I don’t care what secrets you are keeping, sweet Caroline. You are an innocent when it comes to making love…”
—
Caro gasped, astonished at the deep chord Ash had struck within her and the hollow sound of deep regret that followed. She had to admit that the possibility of she herself taking a lover wasn’t something she’d ever considered.
After all, for a man to choose a mistress was widely accepted, sometimes even expected. A woman, on the other hand, was scorned, called a harlot, or worse, her reputation and a chance for a happy life in ruins.
Of course, there were women who took on lovers, but they usually had money and connections already or were courtesans. But a woman of Caro’s age and situation? It was scandal, pure and simple.
Caro knew she’d have to wait until Beatrice was properly married and above reproach before she could consider openly engaging in such wanton behavior.
One moment she was deep in thought, and the next she was caught up in the duke’s final gift. The startling and pleasing sensation of his warm, moist mouth touching her, followed by his blowing a heated breath between her legs, gave her sudden intense pleasure. In that breathless and scorching hot second, her body took control and she barely recognized her own voice.
She gasped, throwing caution to the wind. “Well, perhaps, if we were careful…”
She felt Ash’s smile against the skin of her inner thigh. “Very careful, Miss Hawkins. The utmost careful, in fact.” From there, he continued his journey upward again, nibbling bits here and there.
“No one must ever know,” she said, suddenly breathless and panting.
“I shall never tell…” Without another word he rose from the floor, and she delighted as he climbed up on the settee beside her.
“Oh…” One long sigh escaped her when he settled beside her and took her into his arms, his right hand pulling up the hem of her gown.
Before she knew what was happening, Caro was reaching for his trousers, desperate to tear the fabric from between them and allow him fully against her. Once they were free, he pushed forward, searing flesh against searing flesh, and suddenly Ashton consumed her in ways she hadn’t dreamed possible. He filled her senses with gentle touches, kisses, his warm breath wafting over her, and she shivered in anticipation.
His hands roamed unashamedly all over her body, rubbing her back and buttocks, his mouth suckling her breasts. At the same moment, his groin pushed against her and she felt she was on the verge of something dangerous and unstoppable.
Caro was so consumed by his lovemaking that
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