Eleanor And The Duke (Berkshire Brides Book 1) (31 page)

“I never want to be parted from you again,” she whispered against his mouth. Her heart quaked in her chest. She’d nearly lost him, and only through her own stubborn stupidity.

“You won’t, love.” He pulled his shirt from his trews and dragged it over his head, leaving his torso bare. Then he slid Eleanor’s chemise down her shoulders and went to work on her corset strings while kissing her shoulders and neck. In a moment, Eleanor was free of her clothes.

Andrew kissed her deeply. He took her hand and placed it in the center of his bare chest. “My heart beats only for you, Eleanor. Ever since I laid eyes upon you, there was no one else for me.”

She opened the placket of his trews, finally freeing him to her touch. “I love you, Andrew.” She vowed he would never have cause to doubt her again.

He groaned as she slid her hand down his hard length, and Eleanor reveled in his fierce arousal. He suddenly lifted her into his arms and laid her on his bed, then came down with her, sliding one knee between her legs. He lowered his head to her breasts and lavished attention on each one with his mouth and tongue.

“You are so beautiful, Ellie.” He slid his hands under her, sliding down and around, touching her intimately, making her yearn for more.

“Come to me, Andrew. Now.”

He did not comply, not exactly. He kissed her abdomen, then moved down, opening her to his gaze, to his touch. Then he looked up at her and smiled wickedly, and she felt her bones melt. He knew exactly how much he was tormenting her.

Eleanor reached for him, but he kissed her most sensitive spot, using his lips and tongue to make her writhe with pleasure. When her climax came over her, she cried out, and he moved like a predatory beast over her, kissing his way up to her breasts.

“Ah, I love you like this, my beautiful duchess.”

Her tremors subsided and he pulled her on top so that she straddled him.

Still reeling with pleasure, Eleanor rose up over him, cradling his erection between her legs. She lowered herself against him, just close enough to brush her breasts against the rough hair of his chest.

He brought his hands up to her ribs, and caressed her breasts with his thumbs as she lowered herself onto his thick shaft. Eleanor let her head drop back, quivering with the contact of her aroused body against him. He plunged deeply and withdrew, and she felt the exquisite tightening that presaged yet another climax.

A low-pitched cry escaped her when it happened. Eleanor felt a shuddering heat, and Andrew immediately reacted to her pleasure, increasing his rhythm, intensifying the connection between them. Her heart fluttered in a wild rhythm when he pulled her down for his kiss. Their mouths melded just as he reached his own pinnacle, his body quaking, jerking out of control.

She lay across him for a moment while they caught their breaths. Then he slid out of her, drawing her into his arms and holding her close.

“I love you, Andrew.”

He smoothed a wisp of her hair from her forehead and kissed her there, and Eleanor had never felt so cherished. “I love you, too, Ellie,” he said quietly. “I had almost given up on ever seeing this day.”

“Oh, Andrew, I am so very sorry for—”

“No, my love. You know your fine spirit is one of the things I love best about you.”

“My stubbornness, you mean.”

He laughed. “Have it your way. Just remember, you are mine, always.”