“Can I touch you?”she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
His cock twitched at her words, and he drew in a sharp breath to steady himself.“Touch me anywhere you wish,” he said, his voice hoarse.He sucked in a breath and braced himself for what was to come.He feared her touch would undo him.
She beckoned him closer with a single finger, and he obeyed without hesitation.Kingston would always come to her if she asked.She was his weakness.One he never thought he would have, and he could not find a reason to find that unappealing.He stepped closer to her and waited on bated breath for her touch.Her touch was tentative at first, her fingertips grazing his chest and stomach.When her hand finally closed around his arousal, his knees nearly buckled from the sheer pleasure of it.
“Does this hurt?”she asked, concern lacing her tone.
He closed his eyes and let out a ragged breath.“It feels too good,” he managed.
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile.“Can I kiss you here?”she asked, her gaze dropping lower.
He groaned at the thought, his restraint hanging by a thread.“Not tonight,” he said, his voice strained.“If you did, it would end this far too soon.I want to be inside you, Selena.I need to be.”
She seemed to understand, her hand drifting lower to cup him gently.He inhaled sharply, his body tightening in response.“Selena,” he rasped, “I’ll lose all control if you keep this up.”
“Then take me,” she said, her voice filled with confidence.“I want you.”
Not nearly as much as he wanted her.He joined her on the bed, pulling her against him as his lips found hers once more.As the kiss deepened, he settled between her thighs, her warmth drawing him in.Positioning himself at her entrance, he pushed forward slowly, inch by inch, until he was fully seated within her.He stilled, giving her time to adjust, though it took every ounce of his control not to move.
She gasped and shouted his name, her body tightening around him, and he kissed her softly, reassuring her with gentle touches.When she began to move beneath him, he took it as a sign to continue.His thrusts were slow and measured at first, each one designed to bring her pleasure.As her moans grew louder, he quickened his pace, his movements becoming more urgent.
Selena clung to him, her body arching into his as she reached her peak once more.The sight of her surrender, the sound of her cries, pushed him over the edge.His release came in a rush, his body shuddering as he spilled into her.He held her tightly, his breath ragged, as the enormity of what they had just shared washed over him.
In that moment, Kingston knew he could never let her go.With Selena, he had found something he hadn’t known he was searching for—something he could no longer imagine living without.
Eight
Kingston had held Selena against him for a long while after he had made love to her.He could have stayed there forever, wrapped in her warmth, her scent, and the feel of her against him.But he’d known he couldn’t risk her reputation by lingering—he couldn’t afford even the hint of impropriety.Though his intentions were honorable—he fully intended to marry her.He would not have taken her to bed if that had not been his intention; however, he still had to gain her consent to marry him.He would also have to talk to Foxcroft.His friendship with the earl was too important for him to take any chances.
While Kingston was confident in Selena’s feelings for him, he never took anything for granted.So, after leaving her bedchamber, he returned to his own, quickly changing out of his masquerade costume.Once dressed, he made his way downstairs.Most of the guests would still be abed for hours, many opting for breakfast trays delivered to their rooms.The servants would begin setting up the buffet in the breakfast room shortly, so he decided to pass the time in the library.A book would help distract him from the tumult of emotions swirling within him.
“You’re up early,” a familiar voice said from behind him.
Kingston turned, a grin tugging at his lips as he saw his friend, the Earl of Foxcroft.“I could say the same for you.What brings you to the library at this hour?Has your wife already exiled you?”
Foxcroft chuckled.“Not at all.Victoria sent me here to return this.”He held up a red leather-bound book.“She did not want to forget it.She spotted it on her table and insisted I bring it down before we finally retired for the night.”
Kingston raised an eyebrow.“You’re just now heading to bed?You look as though the ball ran you ragged.”
The earl was still dressed in black, much as Kingston had been.Though he must have left his black domino in his bedchamber.Other than the missing mask he still wore his masquerade costume.Foxcroft smirked.“Not quite, though it was a long evening.But you’ve already changed out of your costume.Did you retire early?”
Kingston hesitated.That was one way of putting it.“I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted.He had a lot on his mind and the very idea of sleeping seemed and impossibility.Should he ask Foxcroft now about Selena?Would his friend be upset with him?“I just changed.I cannot sleep so I thought to seek out a book.”The moment was as good as any to broach the subject of Selena.Kingston knew Foxcroft was protective of his cousin, and while he didn’t expect outright opposition, he valued his friend’s approval.
Foxcroft handed over the book with a shrug.“Take this one, if you like.Victoria enjoyed it, though I couldn’t tell you what it’s about.”He held up the leather bound book for him.
Kingston grinned.“Perhaps I will take it from you.That’s an excellent suggestion.”His lips twitched as he took the book from Foxcroft.“Since you are here do you have a moment before you return to your wife?”Kingston took the book, smiling faintly.
“I suppose I can spare some time for you.What is on your mind?”his friend asked.
“It’s about your cousin…”
“Selena?”Foxcroft frowned, his expression immediately turning serious.“What has she done now?I know she’s been… less than accommodating with some of the guests.She didn’t want to celebrate Christmastide surrounded by people she loathes, and, well, her displeasure has been… apparent.”
Kingston chuckled.“Yes, I noticed.Her honesty is refreshing, if a bit sharp.But that’s not why I wanted to speak with you.”He found her grumpy and blunt replies refreshing.It was what had made him pay attention to her since the start of the house party.
“Then what is it?”Foxcroft asked, his brow furrowed as he sank onto the settee.Kingston took the chair beside him, leaning forward with his hands clasped.“I worry about her.She hasn’t had a good time of it.The snobs in the ton have treated her terribly.”He blew out a breath.“While I rebuilt our fortune, she suffered through season after season of being a wallflower.”
Kingston listened to Foxcroft and kept wondering what to say.But when it came down to it, the response that was needed was simple.“I want to marry her,” he said plainly.
