Page 44

Anna arched into him, shivering as he lightly caressed her back where her dress was open, moaning when he trailed kisses from her lips, down the curve of her jaw to her neck, lower down her throat. She sighed when his lips brushed against the swell of her breasts, her fingers crawling up into his hair, tightening against the dark locks when he took one of her nipples into his mouth as his hand pinched the other between his fingers.

A need that felt much stronger than the one she had experienced during their wedding night overcame Anna, and she forced herself to stay quiet as he sucked and kissed her breasts, wishing she could rub her legs together in an effort to chase away the feeling of wetness growing between them.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, lowering himself to his knees.

Before Anna could question his actions, he lifted her foot up and pressed a kiss to the top of it. Then another on her ankle. And another on her calf; moments later, another kiss was pressed to her knee. As he got higher, he gently pushed up her skirts until they were bundled up around her waist.

“I have thought of this moment for an alarming amount of time. And finally, I have you where I want you,” he muttered, looking up at her as he spread her legs apart.

Anna felt as though she was being consumed by immense heat from the inside out, her throat tightening as he continued to trail kisses along her thigh, getting closer and closer to her secret space.

When his tongue met her moist center, it was all she could do not to press closer. She had not realized how much she had longed to be touched. Hudson seemed amused by her decision to remain silent, because he continued to mouth at her like a man starved, licking and sucking at her entrance.

Anna’s hand found his hair again, and she threw her head back breathlessly, moaning as his tongue pressed past the folds of her entrance. His insistent exploration caused the heat in her to burn even more, until she was gasping and writhing on his tongue, her body shaking slightly with tremors of ecstasy.

Hudson leaned back for a moment and licked his lips, the sight of him on his knees for her painting a ridiculously handsome picture. She thought he was done, but he only spread her legs apart even further and nestled himself between them once more.

Almost immediately, he felt the drag of his tongue over her folds, and she moaned, arching her back as one of his hands came up to fondle her breasts. Anna felt overwhelmed and tightly wound, as though she was moments away from bursting.

She had only just climaxed moments earlier, but now, she was at the edge again, helpless against Hudson’s enthusiasm.

Her husband was either committed to making a mess of her or simply enjoying himself where he was — she vaguely wondered if there was a possibility that both speculations held the answer — because he hummed in approval and the sound seemed to only tighten the knots in her stomach.

“Hudson—” Anna whined, tightening her hold on his hair. “Hudson, please.”

Her begging only seemed to spur him further because his actions grew more persistent, almost out of desperation, because she could feel herself crumbling over the edge.

This time, it was immensely intense, because her thighs threatened to close over his head, but he did not seem to mind, simply smoothing his hands over the top of her thighs, rubbing up and down in what she assumed, after she had regained herself, was an effort to soothe her.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, his gaze locked on hers. Then he leaned in and kissed her deeply, giving her a taste of herself.

Anna clung to the lapels of his coat, her mind pleasantly void of any thoughts as they kissed.

“I believe it is high time we retired for the night,” he suggested gruffly, pulling her dress up to cover her bosom.

Anna hummed, still feeling pleasantly light. Hudson chuckled and adjusted her skirts before he helped her off the table. Then he escorted her out of the library, towards her bedroom.

Once they arrived, he nodded towards her bedroom door.

“Rest well, duchess.”

Anna nodded, hesitating for a moment before she tugged him close by his lapels and stole a kiss.

“Good night, Hudson.”

The duke stared at her, started, then a slow smile crawled onto his lips.

He nodded and she quickly went into her room, heart beat thundering in her ears. She waited until she could hear his footsteps head away from her bedroom door before she sank to the floor in disbelief.

Slowly, she lightly traced her lips with the tips of her fingers, her mind gradually awakening from activities they had just performed.

“What… what have I done?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Do they have everything? Are you certain they will not need anything in my absence?”

Angelica was proving to be not only quite adept at caring for children, but also very patient with Anna, who was quite protective of her babies. Each time she wished to leave the house for whatever reason, she always made it a point of duty to ensure the children had all they needed and would want – even in her absence.