“Thinking?” he asked, his voice a low rumble against the background music.
She lifted her gaze to meet his, the familiar blue of his eyes anchoring her. “About how easily a cage can be gilded.”
He chuckled, a sound that always felt like a secret shared. “Is that so?” He tugged her gently away from the crowd, towards a smaller, seldom-used drawing room. Velvet drapes muted the sounds of the party, shutting out the performance.
A small fire crackled in the grate here, casting dancing shadows on the walls. He closed the door, the click echoing in the sudden quiet. He turned, his eyes never leaving hers.
“You needn’t perform for me, Shay.”
She managed a small smile. “I know.” She shifted, restless. “It’s just…difficult. Sometimes.”
He crossed the room in three long strides, cupping her face in his hands. His thumbs traced the delicate line of her jaw. “Tell me.”
“Everyone expects…something. A queen. A wife. Someone…pristine.” The word tasted like ash in her mouth.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her lips. “And what doyouexpect, Shay?”
Her own desires felt dangerous, illicit even after their betrothal. “I… I want to feel.”
He didn’t hesitate. He lowered his head, his lips brushing against hers, a tentative exploration. She responded instantly, her hands rising to tangle in his hair. This wasn’t the chaste, polite kissing they’d indulged in before. This was a claiming. A slow, deliberate unveiling.
He tasted of wine and something uniquelyhim—woodsmoke and spice and a hint of the stables. She deepened the kiss, urging him closer, her fingers tightening in the thick strands of his hair. He groaned, a soft sound that vibrated against her lips.
He pulled back slightly, his brow furrowed with a question. She just looked at him, a silent plea in her eyes. He understood.
He moved with a controlled grace, his hands sliding down her arms, tracing the curve of her shoulders. He peeled off her shawl, then the delicate lace sleeves of her gown, revealing the ivory silk beneath. She felt a blush warm her skin, but didn’t pull away.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Her hands worked at the buttons of his waistcoat, her fingers trembling slightly. He helped her, and soon, both of them were shedding the layers of formality, revealing the vulnerability beneath. The silk of her gown pooled at her feet. They stood naked, embraced, his hands hovering near her waist.
She tilted her head back, her lips parted in anticipation. He lowered himself to his knees, his gaze traveling over her body with an intensity that made her suck in a short breath.
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” he murmured, his voice raw.
He kissed her again, lower this time, tracing the delicate curve of her hips. Her fingers dug into his hair, anchoring him to her. He started slowly, reverently, his touch featherlight. She arched into him, meeting his touch with a desperate need she hadn’t even realized she possessed.
He explored her with a painstaking devotion, mapping the terrain of her body as if she were a sacred landscape. Each touch, each kiss, was a revelation. He’d been so careful, so respectful, observing the boundaries she hadn’t even known she’d set for herself. Now, those boundaries were dissolving, melting away under the heat of his desire. He kissed closer and closer to where the heat was building between her legs.
She moaned softly, her hands gripping his shoulders. His touch was sending tremors through her, igniting a fire that threatened to consume her. He deepened his exploration, his fingers following his lips, finding her wetness had already started to pool. He kissed her there, sending pleasure up and down her body at once. His fingers found their way inside her, slow and deliberate.
“Jacob…” she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. “What will your father… we’re not married yet. I don’t want you getting in trouble…”
“Shay,” he responded, just as breathlessly. “I see the way you ache to be touched, by them, by me. You’re safe now, you can relax now, and I can’t resist you any longer.”
He started to move, a slow, rhythmic pulse that built with each thrust of his finger. Kisses on the front of her pussy turned to deeper licks as his fingers played inside her. He put one finger in his mouth. “Mmm so sweet.” he said as he licked up the rest of her wetness. He slowly kissed his way back up her body, pressing his erection into her side as he stood. He kissed her neck, his teeth grazing her skin, sending shivers down her spine.
“Tell me what you want,” he urged, his voice husky.
She hesitated. Years of ingrained obedience fought against the burgeoning desire within her, but she couldn’t deny it any longer.” I want…I want you to take control.”
He stilled for a moment, his eyes locking with hers. He saw the vulnerability there, the hesitant plea for release. He understood.
“Lie on the chaise, bring your neck up over the armrest,” he commanded.
The authority in his voice made her shiver with anticipation. She draped her back over the armrest letting her legs stretch out on the couch.
“There. Now I get an incredible view while you can take me deep into your throat.” He stepped forward and Shay tilted her head back further, opening her mouth to allow him in upended. He reached down and ticked her nipples with his fingers, circling them slowly and gently while Shay closed her mouth around him and allowed him to slowly thrust his hips forward and back.
