He did not pull away. Instead, he let out a slow breath, his body relaxing beneath her touch. In a way, the moment felt quite intimate. It was a different kind of intimacy than the one they had shared the other day.
“What did you do to me?”
Simon blinked. “I was merely picking at your brain for answers.”
“No. That is not what I mean. I meant the other day…” Her voice dropped to a whisper all of a sudden, even though they were alone.
“How did it make you feel?” he countered with a question of his own, though he suddenly felt warm at the memory of her.
“I…” she flushed, looking away.
No. You brought it up; now, you must also answer.“There is little need for shyness around your own husband, Duchess.”
Her blush deepened, and she bit down on her lip in a way that made him wish that it was his teeth there instead. “Well, I… I never knew I could feel like that. I never knew it was evenpossible.”
A muscle in Simon’s jaw ticked, his knuckles white against the glass in his hand.
So innocent.It baffled him that the kind of carnal pleasure they had shared was new to her. He’d had his suspicions that she was inexperienced before, but now, they were confirmed.
Rachel had never pleasured herself before. The thought alone was enough to drive him wild, but he restrained himself.
“I just… I need to know.What was that?”she continued, oblivious to the darkness that had suddenly overcome his thoughts.
“You surprise me every day,” he answered finally.
“That is not an answer.” Her eyes narrowed, though the blush on her cheeks remained.
“Yes, but it is an observation,” He kept his voice measured. “You have no experience of physical pleasure.”
Rachel looked down at her hands. “No, I haven’t.”
For some reason, that admission made Simon’s blood run hot.
Damn her.
Damn her for sitting there, looking at him with those wide, green eyes, unaware of how utterly tempting she was. Unaware that the very innocence in her question made him want toruin her.
“Would you—” She exhaled shakily then straightened her shoulders. “Would you show me?”
Simon stiffened, his entire body taut with restraint.
“You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”
Rachel met his gaze, searching. “Please,” she whispered.
Please.Heavens. The words—however innocuous—seemed at that moment the most tempting thing that had ever entered his ears.
Simon closed his eyes for a brief second, exhaling harshly.He had to hold back.
No.
Heneededto hold back.
But God help him, he could not deny her.
“Say that again.”
Rachel’s eyes widened for a moment at the request, but she complied. “Please. I need to know.”
