“Oh.”
Victor smiled faintly. “Exactly.”
His touch remained gentle but firm as he worked carefully along her body, his thumbs rubbing over her rosy peaks, taut against the fabric of her shift.
Charlotte let out a soft sigh before she could stop herself. Heat spread beneath his fingertips wherever he touched her, making her feel strangely lightheaded.
“Too much?” he asked quietly.
“No,” she breathed. “It feels… nice.”
“Nice?” He sounded offended. “I am devastatingly skilled at this, Duchess.”
Despite herself, Charlotte laughed softly.
Victor’s hands moved lower, slowly massaging along the tops of her thighs with patient care. Every touch sent warmth spiralling through her body. Charlotte had grown so accustomed to seeing Victor as a charming rogue that moments like these still caught her unawares. Beneath all the arrogance and teasing existed a man capable of quiet tenderness.
Victor’s fingers slid down to her center, pressing careful circles through the thin fabric of her shift.
Charlotte shivered beneath his touch. Her skin felt unbearably sensitive, every nerve awakened by the heat of his hands.
Charlotte smiled faintly before another soft sound escaped her. Fire spread through her veins beneath every slow stroke of his fingers.
“Do you like that?” he asked quietly.
Charlotte could barely think clearly enough to answer. “Yes.”
“Good. Say, I like that, Victor.”
Charlotte gasped. His command was firm, and she wanted nothing more than to obey.
“I like that, Victor,” she moaned.
He groaned in approval and continued to massage her folds.
Charlotte’s breathing became uneven as warmth pooled low within her stomach.
Victor looked entirely too pleased by her reaction.
“You are blushing again,” he observed.
“You keep touching me in a way that makes me heated,” she breathed out the words.
“I am your husband. I intend to continue until I am satisfied,” he said.
The reminder sent another rush of desire through her body.
Charlotte forced herself to meet his gaze, though it proved difficult when he looked at her with such dangerous intensity.
“You enjoy teasing me far too much.”
“You enjoy it too, Duchess,” moaned.
“Oh, oh Victor,” she wiggled under his touch. Her body trembled as she released. The sensation spread through every limb. Her bosom heaved up and down.
“Enough with this. I must have you,” Victor growled. With those words, he tore her shift down the middle with a dangerous hunger.
Charlotte gasped at his intensity, but she did not stop him. He hovered over her. His gaze drank in her bare body before him.
