“And you are not simply frightened after today?” she asked.
Victor gave a quiet huff of amusement. “I am constantly frightened where you are concerned.” His gaze darkened warmly. “But this is not fear. It is clarity.”
Charlotte’s eyes stung again.
Victor smiled faintly and guided her toward the bed. “Come here, my love.”
The endearment nearly melted her on the spot. She sat carefully upon the mattress while he moved behind her. His hands slid slowly to her shoulders, and the moment his fingers began softly touching her skin, Charlotte let out a soft moan before she could stop herself.
Victor chuckled low in his throat. “That pleased you rather quickly.”
“You have unfairly talented hands,” she murmured.
“I shall take that as praise.”
His hands moved down the sides of her body, and his thumbs worked carefully along her rosy peaks through her chemise. Heat immediately spread through her body beneath his touch.Charlotte closed her eyes as he continued touching her with slow, firm pressure that made her head feel deliciously light.
“Should I continue, Duchess?” he asked softly near her ear.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Very.”
Victor hummed in satisfaction. “Good.”
Charlotte leaned back against him slightly without thinking. His chest was warm and solid behind her. Every touch felt impossibly intimate now that all the uncertainty between them had finally vanished.
She smiled faintly as his hands glided lower and then back upward again. Her entire body tingled beneath his attention. Charlotte had never imagined tenderness could feel this intoxicating.
Victor leaned down and brushed a kiss against the side of her neck. “You smell lovely.”
Her stomach fluttered wildly. “You say dangerous things so casually.”
“I am your husband. I believe I have earned the privilege.”
Charlotte turned her head slightly toward him. “You are still a rogue.”
Victor laughed softly before turning her carefully toward him. His hands cupped her face as he kissed her slowly. The kiss deepened gradually until Charlotte melted fully against him again.
Then his tongue brushed lightly against hers.
He moved his hand down and cupped her sweet center between her thighs.
A startled sound escaped her throat as heat rushed through her entire body. Victor kissed her deeper, slower this time, teasing her mouth until she clutched helplessly at his shoulders. His finger moved in a slow circle over her tingling rosebud. She opened her thighs wider.
Charlotte felt almost dizzy from the sensation of him.
“Charlotte,” he murmured against her lips.
She could barely think straight enough to answer. “Yes?”
“You are trembling again.”
“You are touching me senseless,” she moaned.
“That was rather the goal,” he growled against her ear.
He picked her up at her waist and laid her on the bed. With an eager hunger, he pulled off her chemise.
“I shall have you now,” he groaned as he took off his own clothing until they were both naked on the bed.
