Doing as he commanded, Charlotte looked into his eyes before her gaze fell over his chiseled chest. Her fingers moved on their own accord as she drew a path through the sculpted valleys. This gesture seemed to please him as Jameson leaned down, his body pressing into hers as he kissed her deeply, jousting his tongue with hers as he searched the warm depths of her mouth.
A low growl of pleasure escaped his throat as she bit down on his lower lip, carefully dragging her teeth over the tender flesh and urging him on. Dipping his head, Jameson kissed a path over her throat and chest, stopping at her breasts to sample the rosy buds with his tongue.
The warm sensations of tingling pleasure elicited a soft moan of pleasure from her lips, causing the marquess to smile against her breast before sucking her nipple into his mouth. It wasn’t long before he made his way down her body, kissing a path of hot kisses down her abdomen and all the way to her hips before stopping between her thighs.
Charlotte panicked slightly as she wondered what he was doing, but the gentle flicks of his tongue quickly pushed her fear aside. Pleasure coursed through her body in waves, his hot tongue creating a rhythm that stilled her breath within her. The pleasure built into an apex just as she felt her legs begin to tremble.
Disappointment suddenly washed over her body like a tidal wave as Jameson lifted his head, smirking at her with a wolfish grin before planting a kiss on her inner thigh.
“Not yet, My Lady,” he whispered, reaching up to squeeze her breast in the palm of his hand before straightening and positioning his body above her again with her thighs on either side of his body.
Her breathing deepened as he held her gaze, looking into her soul as the intimate moment stretched out between them.
“This will only hurt for a moment, but I’ll be gentle …” Jameson’s voice trailed off as he stroked her breast, leaning in closer as his flesh melted into hers.
A sharp pain entered her body, making Charlotte wince, but true to his word, Jameson began to move in gentle motions, quickly replacing the pain with an unbridled pleasure she hadn’t been expecting at all. The sensations were better than what he’d been doing with his tongue. It almost felt as if their bodies were one as her hips began to move in rhythm to his thrusts.
Moans escaped her throat, filling the air with heat as his skin moved against hers, urging them both towards the point of near collapse. Reaching up, Jameson placed a hand over her mouth, gently stifling her moans as he moved faster, thrusting his hips with a hungry urgency that made Charlotte feel as if she would explode on waves of pleasure as her legs wrapped around his waist, drawing him closer to her body with a trembling need.
Heat filled her body as the marquess silently cried out, his face contorting with pleasure as her own feelings of pleasure suddenly burst, exploding in a delectable wave of ecstasy. Her body writhed beneath his as wave after wave of intensity flowed through her being.
Collapsing on top of her, Jameson panted for air, his breaths coming in sharp intervals as his arms snaked around her body, pulling her close to his chest as he rolled over and held her tight. Her head rested against his chest as she struggled to regain control of her breathing, her eyes unable to open as she lingered on the new and different sensations.
“I’ve wanted to do that to you from the moment I spotted you in that garden.” The marquess’s voice was deep and content as he nuzzled her neck, burying his face in her hair.
Words escaped her mind as Charlotte lay in his arms, allowing herself to drift away against his chest, his strong, muscular arms providing a haven she hadn’t experienced in years.
Sleep caught on quickly, but not before a final thought drifted into her mind.
Things can never be the same again.
Chapter 18
Charlotte’s heart thrummed in her chest, sweat beading her palms as her fingers poised over the keys of the pianoforte. The guests all waited with bated breaths for the performance to start. The marquess held her gaze with a passionate look in his eyes.
It had been three days since their secret assignation. Jameson had snuck back to his room in the middle of the night, leaving Charlotte awake alone in her bed, longing for his touch on her skin. She wondered what would happen now that they had given their bodies to one another.
A nod from the marquess let her know that he was ready to start as a low murmur rustled through the crowd. Her fingers began to do an impressive waltz over the keys as ladies gasped in surprise, nodding their approval to one another as the song they had practiced began.
The marquess’s voice filled the air with a deep timbre that caused a fine wave of bumps to spread over her skin. The sound of her playing mingled with his voice was hauntingly beautiful as Charlotte stole a glance in his direction, momentarily keeping her gaze from the keys.
The passionate look she saw in his eyes reflected the warmth and knotted emotions she felt in her chest.
I wonder if he feels the same as I do.
The moment was broken all too soon as a raucous round of applause broke out, ending the song with excited cheers.
Winking at her, the marquess strode over to her side, placing his hand on her shoulder amidst the applause as he took a bow. Heat filled her cheeks as the pressure of his hand on her shoulder brought to mind the night they had shared.
“That was wonderful!” the duchess gushed enthusiastically as she came forward, the first to congratulate her son and Charlotte on their performance.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Charlotte’s stomach knotted as she stood and accepted the praise. Their performance had been far more passionate and involved than what she had envisioned. The connection she felt between them made her wonder if anyone had guessed how close they had grown.
“It was more than wonderful; it was positively breathtaking. I can see that the two of you will be in high demand at every ball and soiree for the foreseeable future.” Lady Thornton came forward and hooked her arm into Charlotte’s with a teasing smile.
Charlotte’s gaze fell to Lady Isabelle and Lord Ashburton as they stood huddled together in a corner, whispering in each other’s ears as a light blush spread over her friend’s cheeks. The two seemed utterly enamoured with each other, oblivious to the rest of the world and everything that was going on. She couldn’t help wondering if they had stolen a kiss or if their flirtations had ventured as far as she and the marquess’s had.
“Lady Charlotte?” Jameson’s voice called her attention back to the current conversation as he lifted an eyebrow in question.
