She could feel it coming, the breaking point. She reached out for the duke, only for him to pin her hands above her head with one of his, while the one within her slowed to a stop.
“W-Why?” Nora sobbed, frustrated as the end slipped out of reach.
“I quite like the look of you like this. Desperate, flushed, aching just for me. The only thing that would make this even better would be if you begged me to give you what you want.” She heard Godric remark, sounding as though this was nothing more than a leisurely activity to pass the time.
Nora could feel her insides ache with the need for a release, and she could not help the pathetic whine that broke past her lips.
“Please,” she begged, her hips still shaking in search of something to grind against. “Please, Godric. Please, please – give me what I need.”
His lips found hers again and his kiss was enough to sate her momentarily as he whispered,
“Gladly.”
His fingers were in her again, exploring her walls eagerly and tugging her close to a release once more. Just as the breaking point in, he thrust his fingers in and out roughly, using his thumb to work her slippery nub and Nora could swear she saw stars.
Her body jerked off the blankets as she gasped, every muscle and fiber within her careening with the explosive nature of her pleasure. A hand had slipped free of his hold, and she used it to bring herself closer to him, feeling even more consumed the heat within her.
He let go of the hand that had been restricted and cradled her in his arms, gently stroking her hair as he took off her blindfold, pressing chaste kisses to her lips. Her heart danced strangely within her chest as he held her close, his scent flooding her head until she could think of nothing else but him.
And for a moment, spurred by greed, she wished the moment would last forever.
“You need to return home, lest your father grows concerned.” Godric said suddenly.
Nora knew better than to argue, but she was not ready to leave his arms yet.
“He would need to be present for that to happen. He prefers to spend his days and nights gambling away the family fortune and that does not leave him with much time on his hands to do much else. Asking him to care for the only child he still has living in his home would be too much.” She grumbled petulantly.
“Still,” Godric pressed. “You have been gone for quite a while. You do not want any more rumors to arise. Go home and rest.”
Reluctantly, she pulled away from him, taking her ribbon when he handed it over. As she tied her hair away haphazardly, she rose to her feet and tried not to look him in the eye, unable to ignore the way her heart seemed to be falling apart.
“Goodbye,” he said softly, but that only made things worse.
Quickly, she adjusted her clothes and scurried out of the room, not bothering to respond to any of the staff who greeted her as she ran out of the estate.
She did not stop until she was back in her father’s room once more, safe behind the locked door of her room. Only then did when she was on her bed, her hand over her wildly beating heart did she allow herself to confront the feelings swirling within her.
She thought about Godric, how she had gone from barely tolerating him to missing him when they were apart. She longed for him every moment, yearned for his touch, his voice, his kiss.
And all the men paled in comparison to his confidence and self-assured nature.
“Oh no,” Nora sighed, tears filling her eyes. “I think… I think I’ve fallen for the duke.”
The realization hit her quite hard because she could not believe what had happened. Even more so, she could not point out when this change had occurred. She could not understand how either, and it confused her greatly.
How was she to deal with this? What was she to do?
The idea of pretending not to understand the yearning within her heart felt like a death sentence, as did the thought of ignoring these feelings and going forth to wed someone else. She just could not imagine letting another man hold her like Godric had.
For some reason, she knew no one would compare to him. None would ever make her feel the way he had.
And no matter how much she tried to put the matter out of her mind, she could not seem to completely ignore the situation.
Sleep eluded her because her thoughts were filled with Godric. She needed to talk to him, to tell him how she felt. Laying in the dark of her room, she felt smothered by all that she had realized and she knew no good would come from letting herself worry about it alone.
Resolutely, she climbed out of bed and donned a dressing gown.
“I must speak with him,” she muttered as she fumbled around in the dark for her shoes. “It does not matter ow dangerous and scandalous it might be. I need to tell him how I feel.”
