He breathed deeply, trying to get a hold of his attraction now and make his length soften. It would not though and continued to stand to attention.
“I… I should go.” She moved to stand, with her face blushing as red as her hair.
I have embarrassed her now.
“Wait, no.” He stood hurriedly, adjusting his trousers in the hope of masking his length a little. “You need this room more than I do. You stay here, and I shall go to my chamber.”
“You would do that?” She stared at him, her brows knitting together.
“I would not have you afraid to sleep.” He shook his head and walked past her. He longed to reach out and touch her, but the awkwardness that hung in the air between them now defied him.
Cursing at his own weakness to her, he left the room, not bothering to pick up the book from the floor where it had been dropped when he ran into her. He hastened through the castle, heading to the east wing and his own chamber within it. The moment he was inside, he lit a candle to keep him company and sat on the bed.
He hung his head back on the pillows, his mind filling with the pictures of having Evelyn above and beneath him as she writhed with her pleasure. For a woman who claimed to need lessons in seducing, she had done it brilliantly. Less than a full day in her company and he had pleasured her on his library floor, longing to see her face and body contorted in ways he had never seen in any other woman.
Just remembering the way that her back had arched with her pleasure, the lace nightgown completely stuck to her body with their joint sweat was enough to make his length hard once again. Knowing he could not get rid of it any other way, he reached down and released himself, having to finish himself off.
With his eyes closed, he pictured he was back in that library with her. He saw himself spreading her legs wide and instead of entering her with his fingers, slipping into her with his member. He saw her face, with her lips parted in pleasure, that red hair wild and her cheeks pinkening. He focused too on her breasts that strained against the lace nightgown, begging to be released as he rocked into her, driving their bodies toward an oblivion of pleasure.
When his body finished, emptying himself onto the sheets, he sat up, frustrated that he hadn’t managed to sate his thirst for her. If anything, he just wanted her all the more.
“Well done, Rafe,” he muttered angrily to himself and thumped the pillow beside him. “My first week of turning over a new leaf and I have a woman in my house, one I have pleasured, and one I want to pleasure again.”
He tossed aside the sheets and flung himself over on the bedcovers, so frustrated that he made a resolution in his mind.
Come morning, he’d have to get Evelyn out of the house as soon as possible before he could be weak around her again. He worried now if he met her at the breakfast table, how he could possibly control himself when he saw her there. Would he kiss her again? Would he reach for her gown wanting more of what they had tasted this night?
There is no way I can find out. When the sun rises, she will have to leave. From now on, it’s best I keep Miss Evelyn Voss out of my life.
He closed his eyes and for the first time, he didn’t dream of snow or death. He dreamt of the library and Evelyn instead.
CHAPTERNINE
“Oh God.” Evelyn sat up on the chaise longue in the library, feeling refreshed after a deep night’s sleep. The candles had burned themselves out around her and sunlight streamed into the room.
She was covered, not only in her own dressing gown, but also in the Duke of Ravensworth’s dressing gown that he had left in this room the night before. She pushed the heavy cloth off her body, feeling the weight of it drift over her skin. It reminded her of the press of the duke’s body to her own the night before.
What have I done?
The shame swept in. It was a hard feeling to understand when it was mixed so much with the thrill as well. Her eyes darted to the hearth rug where she had writhed in pleasure at the duke’s attentions, wanting more and more of his touches. She’d been loving every moment of them, intoxicated and baffled by what pleasure truly was. It had been more encompassing than she ever could have possibly imagined.
I had not wanted it to stop…
When the duke had pulled away, her good sense had come back to her, and she realized what she had done. She had risked her virtue with a known rake, and the worst thing was, it had felt wonderful. Nothing had felt wrong about it. Nothing at all!
Hurrying off the chaise longue, she pulled the dressing gown around her body and darted toward the fireplace, avoiding stepping on the rug for it reminded her so much of what she had done with the duke. Just thinking about the way that she had rocked her hips against his own, out of instinct, made her face blush red now.
What must he think of me? He kissed me first, yet I hardly stopped it, did I?
Her gaze landed on the clock and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Two o’clock?” She had slept through the morning and into the afternoon. By now, her family would undoubtedly know she was missing. Her disappearance would be talked of, perhaps cause fear, though she thought more likely her uncle and aunt would fear some scandal.
I have to get home.
Evelyn reached for the doorway, leaving the duke’s dressing gown behind her, though she glanced back at it more than once, thinking of how she had cuddled under that material in the night, wrapping herself in the warmth and the scent that lingered. It was earthy, full of must, and with a hint of bergamot.
“Stop it,” she mumbled to herself and pushed the door open a crack, peering out.
