Henry unbuttoned the intricate buttons of her day dress while his lips caressed the sensitive skin at her neck. The dress easily slipped down her body, leaving her in her stays and shift.
“I won’t ever leave you again.” The words were fierce, and she felt the sincerity of them in her bones.
“I know.” And she did know.
She understood that he wouldn’t leave her again.
“I’m sorry for leaving you so carelessly. You mean everything to me.” Slowly his mouth captured hers. She savored him. Their breaths came out in pants as their tongues glided against each other.
Julia moaned in need as his hands roamed her body, kneading and massaging wherever they touched. His hungry fingers made quick work of loosening her stays. Their passionate kiss caused her core to throb with want. Her stays fell to the ground, joining her discarded dress, leaving her in nothing but her shift.
Boldly, she stepped away from him, breaking their kiss, a teasing smile on her lips. He watched her greedily while she pulled the thin material of her shift down her body. She stood two arm’s length away. Her nipples tightened from the chill in the room. She was emboldened by her emotional freedom. Finally, she could be with him because she knew that he had also been in pain all those years ago.
Julia moved backwards until her legs hit the edge of the bed. Her gaze locked with him as she sat down and crossed her ankles. She leaned back, relaxing slightly. He stared at her, his eyes dark and needy.
In the past, he had always looked at her with adoration, but this was new. This excited her.
“Come here, Lord Heartford,” she requested sweetly, beckoning him to her with her index finger.
He removed first his gloves and then his cravat, throwing the offending cloth across the room. Julia giggled. She felt happy, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. It had been so long since she felt that utter release. There was no pain, no anger, just them.
She sighed, feeling the chains that had built over the years shatter, and she wanted to shout her excitement to all of London. Julia was gloriously free.
Henry removed his tailcoat, adding it to the pile of clothes on the floor of the neatly furnished guest room. A smile played on the edge of her lips, enjoying how they did not care for propriety when they were alone like this.
He walked toward her while removing both his waistcoat and his shirt. She took in his long, muscular body, every ripple and groove begging to be touched by her fingertips. The small trail of blond hair leading down to his manhood was still covered. She longed to run her fingers through the fine hairs down to what lay beneath. She remembered how he had filled her completely.
She wanted to feel him again, everywhere.
Blinking up at the man who now stood over her, she tentatively reached out to touch the taut skin of his abdomen, entranced by the slopes and fine golden hair. Her nails scraped a path down his skin, causing him to hiss. Looking up at him playfully, she bit the corner of her lip. Her fingers continued down until they reached the edge of his breeches.
His breathing increased with each button she undid, revealing a thick patch of blonde hair. His reaction sent shivers through her body and wetness slicked the inside of her thighs.
Her hands trembled as she pulled down the flap, reached in, and pulled out his manhood.
Her mind suddenly remembered a long-ago conversation with her aunt and Mother Di.
She wanted to try something different, something new, like the new beginning they now had.
Stroking the silky flesh, she marveled at the feel of him in her hands. She wanted more than a simple taste. From the moment she had learned of the intimate act, she had wanted to perform it on him.
“What do you plan to do with that, Lady Julia?” Henry’s voice sounded tortured with a hint of playfulness.
She looked up at him through her lashes. His mouth was parted, his eyes hooded with desire, his body rigid and fighting for control.
“What do you want me to do with it?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Kiss it,” he whispered, the wickedness of the words sliding across her naked skin.
She leaned in closer, eyes locked with his. She placed a sweet kiss to the swollen head, causing him to release a slow unsteady breath. The sound caused need to pulsate in her core. She wanted everything with this man.
Emboldened by his reaction to her attempt at seduction, she wrapped her mouth around his silky flesh.
“Sweetheart.” Henry let out a low growl and buried his fingers in her hair.
Gently, he held the back of her head, guiding her movements. Julia allowed him to control her, loving how careful he was. It made her feel adored and protected in a strange way. Looking up at him, she saw that he was lost in his own pleasure, his mouth agape, his eyes wide and transfixed on her.
She reveled in the control, her free hand resting on his hip. She opened her mouth wider to take in more of him, remembering an inappropriate lesson she had coaxed out of her cousin after too much wine.
