“I didn’t mean to stir up old memories,” she said softly, “and I’m sorry I jumped to unfair conclusions. I’m not trying to control or manipulate you. I just want to be... special. I want to be different from all the other women you’ve known.”
“Thatyou definitely are.”
Relieved to hear the note of wry humor in his voice, she tipped her head back and said tremulously, “I’m glad you came here tonight to see me.”
His expression turned grave. “That wasn’t the only reason. We found Webb.”
He sat them both down on the alcove seat and filled her in on the details. At his conclusion, she said admiringly, “How clever of you all. The murderer thought to pull the wool over your eyes, and instead you’re even closer to catching him. The noose is tightening around his neck.”
“Bloodthirsty thing, aren’t you?” he murmured.
“Better his neck than yours.”
“Miss Kent, I do believe you’re flirting with me.”
She was about to reply when voices drifted in from the corridor. Before she could react, Alaric was on his feet, yanking the curtain across the alcove. The dark velvet panels obscured them from the rest of the gallery and just in time. The voices—male and female—grew louder, followed by footsteps into the chamber. A soft click signaled the closing of the door.
Heart racing, Emma looked helplessly at Alaric. Standing by the curtain, his figure tensed, he put a finger to his lips. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps if they just remained silent, the guests would take a quick tour of the gallery and leave without discovering them.
“What luck to find this door unlocked,” came a man’s voice. “Privacy at last.”
His companion giggled. “Privacy for what, my lord?”
The rustling of skirts was followed by a sensual moan. Blood pulsed in Emma’s cheeks.
“That’s what, minx. That’ll teach you to tease a blooded bull, eh?”
“But I thought you liked it when I teased,” was the coy reply.
“Egad, you’re a hot piece,” the man said in strained tones. “Greedy for my cock, are you? Give us a nice stroke then—mmm, tighten your fist. Ah, that’s it...”
Her breaths shallow, Emma glanced at Alaric. Moonlight from the window highlighted the flush on his high cheekbones, the hard, sensual jut of his jaw. His chest rose in surges beneath his waistcoat and lower... Her pulse sped up as she saw the growing bulge between his strong thighs. It made her keenly aware of her own arousal, of the wicked need gathering inside her.
The masculine groans beyond the curtain stirred up the images she’d seen at Andromeda’s. Of women... servicing men. A naughty notion took root: what would it be like to instigate their lovemaking for once? To drive Alaric mad with passion? To give him that same uncontrollable ecstasy that he gave her every time they were together?
Desire heated her blood, the fantasy as irresistible as a siren’s call.
As stealthily as she could, she lowered herself to her knees in front of Alaric. She looked up into his startled gaze and placed her palm over the ridge in his trousers, squeezing gently. His nostrils flared, his pale irises blazing in the moonlight. His hand clamped on hers, and she waited with bated breath. Would he allow her to take the lead? Did he trust her enough?
Slowly, his hand lifted. Went to his waistband. His gaze never leaving hers, he undid the fall.
Her core tightened at the sight of his bold virility. Glazed by silvery light, his cock was big and thick, veins twisting along its tumescent length. Like a heavy branch, it bobbed under its own weight. The fact that this part of him was exposed while the rest of him was so urbanely attired struck her as utterly erotic. Looking into his eyes, she wrapped her fingers around him.
His shaft jerked in her palms as she ran a fist from root to tip, his skin gliding with velvet softness over the poker-stiff core. She drew the skin back and exposed the eye at the bulging crown.
“Take me in your mouth.”
The guttural demand came from the other side of the curtain, yet it sent a sizzling current through the sheltered alcove. Alaric’s jaw visibly clenched, his hands fisting at his sides. His cock thickened even more, its throbbing girth testing the limits of her grip. A pearl of liquid welled up at the slit.
Excitement swirling in her veins, Emma leaned forward and licked it off.
The force of his shudder travelled through her, emboldening her. She mouthed the blunt tip, and not sure what to do next, gave it a cautious suck. His masculine musk spread over her tongue and aroused her even more. She placed kisses along the throbbing length, lost in her desire to know every inch of her duke... and determined to show him pleasure he’d never known before.
***
Surely, a man couldn’t die of pleasure.
Yet as Alaric watched Emma on her knees before him, her lips skimming so sweetly along his rod, he thought it might indeed be possible to expire from sheer want. Even in this she demonstrated her unique ability to push him to the limits of his self-control. It was clear that she had no idea what she was doing, and, paradoxically, her innocence made her explorations all the more potent.
