He pushed her gown to her thigh and lifted her bare knee. He pulled it atop his hip, ensuring that the part of her that ached with need came into even tighter contact with his hard length. They both groaned when he moved his hips against her, pressing into her again and again.
The friction in the place she wanted it the most made her whimper into his mouth. “Please,” she begged, wanting even more.
In seconds, he had her gown up over her head and tossed to the floor. Then her hands were tangled in the waistband of his trousers, tugging them down. They, too, were on the floor in moments, and Lucian rolled atop her, pushing her onto her back as his hot, hard body covered her. Her legs spread, and she welcomed his heat between them. Their kiss continued, wet and all-consuming. She clung to his hard shoulders, digging herfingernails into them. She couldn’t get enough of him. “Please, Lucian. Take me.”
Lucian had hadevery intention of going slowly with Gemma tonight. He wanted to give her pleasure and plenty of it. Unrelenting pleasure she would remember and want more of. But the explosion between them from the moment they’d touched was undeniable, and when she said his name while begging him to take her, he was lost.
He moved his hand down between their bodies to ensure she was ready for him, and the wet heat he felt there left no doubt. Nearly mindless, he pushed into her to the hilt in one swift thrust and then gasped, pressing his forehead to hers hard. He stayed like that, unmoving for several seconds, waiting for her body to have time to adjust. But the ungodly heat and tightness of her made his eyes roll back in his head.
It had been a long time. So long. He hadn’t told her, hadn’t wanted to give her the satisfaction before, but Lucian hadn’t touched another woman the entire time he’d been in India. Partly because he’d been so focused on his work, and partly because he hadn’t been able to bring himself to touch another woman. He may have believed she was a scheming liar, but unlike his father, Lucian was no cheater. Now that he knew the truth about Gemma, he was thankful for his discretion. But it certainly wasn’t helping his performance at the moment that he hadn’t had a woman in over a year. He’d taken himself in hand, of course, but since he’d been home, each time he pleasured himself, it was his wife’s gorgeous face he’d seen hovering in his fantasies. Now, the real woman laid before him, her head thrownback in passion, her body stretched with his cock, would be his undoing.
It was Gemma who began to move. Beneath him she thrust up her hips and Lucian bit his lip in agony. “Gemma, I can’t?—”
“Can’t what?” She had a downright mischievous grin on her full, kiss-swollen lips.
“If you move again, I can’t be held responsible for my actions,” he panted, doing his damnedest to control his breathing, to control himself. It wasn’t easy.
“Ooh.” She licked her bottom lip and thrust up her hips again. “Promise?”
The damn broke then, and Lucian took over. He grabbed both of her hands that were clutched to his hips and pinned them above her head against the mattress as he took control and began thrusting into her. Once. A groan. Twice. Another. Soon his groans were intermingled with her sharp cries of pleasure bouncing off the headboard as he thrust again and again into her his lush body. He was sweating with the exertion it took to keep from coming when all he wanted to do was explode into her hot, wet warmth.
Lucian took a deep shivery breath and moved his hand down between their bodies again. This time he used his finger to touch the spot he knew she needed him to. He drew little unending circles around and around the center of her pleasure while Gemma’s brow furrowed and her head tossed fitfully against the pillow. “Please,” she begged.
Oh, he could watch this all day, Gemma taking her pleasure. She bit her lip and whimpered deep in the back of her throat. He purposely slowed his thrusts so she could concentrate on chasing her orgasm, and moments later, when it overtook her, her entire body shook. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Her breath caught in her throat and the delicious tremor that made her shiver spread through Lucian too. He threaded his fingersthrough hers and pushed the backs of her hands against the mattress on either side of her head as he took up his deep thrusts again. Over and over, he drove into her, letting go and allowing the overwhelming perfection of being buried deep in her tight body consume him until his body shuddered one last time and he spilled his seed deep inside of her with one last rumbling groan.
When his brain finally worked again enough for him to open his eyes, he kissed her ear, the side of her face, and her neck before rolling off of her. But he kept one of her hands in his, holding it tightly, never wanting to let it go.
Sweatyand satisfied and still breathing heavily, Gemma stared unseeing at the ceiling above her bed. Oh, God. She was in trouble. Becausethathad been good.So good. Life-alteringly good. The man knew precisely what he was doing. She’d just experienced pleasure she didn’t even know she was capable of. If she allowed herself to, she could get used to this. Which was why she couldnotallow herself to get used to it. Because she still wanted a divorce. No matter how good they were together in bed.
O
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Lucian woke up to an empty bed. He pushed himself up to his elbows and frowned. Where was Gemma? She had sneaked out in the middle of the night? Like a doxy? That wouldn’t do. Andwhyhad she gone? He wascertainshe’d enjoyed herself last night.
And so had he.
Lucian fell back on the pillow as the memories of last night returned to him in vivid detail. He hadn’t imagined it. Gemma had been just as uninhibited and passionate as the first time. More so, since she knew what to expect. She hadn’t been a bit shy about what she wanted. She’d taunted him, actually. He liked that. A lot. He was hard again just thinking about it.
Far from being a timid innocent, Gemma had given and taken pleasure as if it was something to revel in. She was unexpected that way, his bride. He’d misjudged her about so many things. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
And it wasn’t just her lovemaking that surprised and delighted him. In addition to the physical compatibility, Lucian had learned that Gemma was savvy. She’d been immediately suspicious of him when he’d changed his behavior toward her, and she’d asked every question she’d been able to think of whennegotiating their contract. She’d even thrown in some things he hadn’t thought of.
In addition to her beauty, she was clever. Clever, savvy, witty, and gorgeous. Not to mention strong. He shook his head. No wonder she’d become the darling of theton. No wonder men like Pembroke threw themselves at her.Notthat Lucian intended to allow Pembroke to throw himself at her ever again. No. She washis, and he intended to treat her like a precious gift from now on. To earn her respect and admiration. That would take time, he knew. But he was committed to his task.
And he would begin with a luncheon picnic in the garden.
Gemma pokeda lock of hair under the edge of her bright-pink bonnet. She’d spent far too much time this afternoon poking at her hair. There was nothing left to poke, but she still couldn’t help herself. She and Lucian sat on an ice-blue quilt beneath the shade of an elm tree in the gardens behind the town house. A lovely picnic consisting of bread, meat, cheese, and grapes had been spread out before them. The servants had left them alone, per their master’s request.
Gemma sat primly with her back resting on a pillow that she’d propped against the tree trunk. She didn’t say anything. She couldn’t say anything. And she couldn’t look at him. All she could do was think about last night in bed with Lucian. Oh, God. She’d even begunthinkingabout him asLucian.
It was one of the reasons she’d rushed out of bed this morning. The moment she’d awakened to see her gorgeous husband splayed out next to her, her skin had heated. The things he’d done to her last night. After they’d had sex the first time, fast and frantic, the next time he’d taken his time with her.Touched her slowly and made her burn for him before making her beg him to take her again. It was as if he wouldn’t give them what they both wanted until she was a pleading mess of heat and wetness, clutching at his hips and mindlessly murmuring his name. Only then had he slid into her, giving her relief from the deep ache between her legs. He’d given it to hertwice morebefore they’d both fallen into a deep sleep.
And that was the problem. Despite being satisfiedfour timeslast night, when she’d awakened and saw him lying there, she’d wanted himagain.Madness. And it frightened her so much, she’d quickly slid from beneath the blankets, wrapped a dressing gown around her nakedness, and hied off to a guest room where she’d called Anna to get the footmen to draw her a bath. It had been cowardly of her, but Gemma didn’t care. It had given her the reprieve she desperately needed. And when she returned to her bedchamber over an hour later, Lucian was gone.
But he’d soon sent a note asking her to meet him in the gardens for a luncheon at noon. Which promptly reminded her that in addition to spending the nights in bed with him, she would have to spend the days with him too. Doing things like picnic lunches and rides in the park, apparently. All while he did his best to charm her.
These would be the longest two months of her life.
