The Duke's Blind Temptation by Paige Cameron Page B

maid opened a door at the farther end of the corridor and stepped out, closing the door behind her.
    She turned to go to the back stairs and saw him.
    Rafe put his finger to his lip. Intrigued, the woman came close.
    “What are you doing here, Your Grace?”
    “I need to speak with Miss Upton.”
    “I’m her maid, Trudy. She has retired for the night.”
    “I don’t suppose you could do the same and pretend you never saw me?”
    “Why should I do that?” she asked him.
    “I’ll do nothing to hurt her. I promise.”
    Trudy bit her lip. “You’d better not.” Then, apparently coming to a decision, she went around him and disappeared down the steps.
    Rafe slipped inside Ellie’s room. She sat at her dressing table, her hands holding on to her bent head. Candlelight shone across her long, golden-brown hair where the waves flowed over her shoulders to her waist. She wore a white night rail that caressed her soft curves.
    “Ellie,” he whispered her name.
    She jerked her head up and looked at his image in her mirror. “What are you doing in my room?” She spoke to his reflection.
    He strode across and came up behind her. His hands reached out and touched her soft, silky hair. “I need to talk with you.”
    “You had time to talk with me at your home. This is highly improper. You must leave.”
    He closed his eyes and rubbed the strands of her hair through his fingers. Leaning down, he breathed in her familiar lemony scent. Her warmth radiated around him. He raised his eyes to hers. “I want you. Only you.”
    She hadn’t moved except to raise her head since he’d said her name. His hands slid down the inside of her gown and covered her breasts. Her heart pounded against his hands. His thumb and finger tightened around each nipple. His cock went rock hard. Lowering his head, he kissed the side of her neck.
    “Let me make love to you.”
    “No. There is no hope for us. You must marry into a more powerful family than mine. I intend to marry Lord Turner.”
    “I have no intention of marrying anyone but you.”
    “Have you told your stepmother and Lavinia of your choice?” Her eyes taunted him.
    “I have.” Before she had time for more questions, he moved one hand across her flat stomach to the wet curls covering her sex.
    “Spread your legs for me,” he demanded. He held her attention as she moved, and he rubbed his finger over her clit. Shivers rippled over her smooth skin. “Lean back against me.”
    All resistance gone, she did as he asked. Gently, he slid one finger into her tight sheath. His hot cock pulsed against her back as he rolled her nipple between his fingers of one hand while the other stroked the inside of her hot passage. “Bend your head back.”
    His lips ravished her sweet mouth, her tongue tangling in the dance of desire while her body surged up to meet his touch. Her wetness increased, and she moaned in his mouth. He stopped abruptly.
    “Don’t,” she protested.
    “I’m only going to move us to a more comfortable position.” He blew out the one candle and picked her up. He’d seen the placement of her bed and headed in that direction. He sat her on the edge. “Lay back and open your legs for me. I want to sip your sweet honey.”
    As though in a dream, she did as he said. He brushed her filmy skirt aside and knelt before her. His fingers opened her to him. He separated her pink, swollen lips and drank in the sight of her. His mouth covered her clit, and his tongue darted back and forth across the sensitive area. Her body moved against his lips.
    Two of his fingers slipped inside her opening and caressed the satin skin. He moved his fingers in and out of her vagina.
    His tongue licked along the sides of her lower lips and replaced his fingers at her sensitive opening. She whimpered. He lifted his head. “Am I hurting you?”
    She shook her head no. He grinned and bent back to his sweet task. His hands covered her breast again, and his fingers danced over her nipples.
     
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