Free The Courtesan Duchess by Joanna Shupe Page A

exploded into something wild. Then he deepened the kiss, turning her head slightly to adjust the angle, allowing his tongue to slip inside, and the room spun. She dug her nails into Nick’s shoulders in an attempt to brace herself in the onslaught of sensation.
    He coaxed and stroked, his hot, wet tongue like velvet against hers, and she couldn’t focus on anything but his kiss. Nothing existed but this wickedly charming man and what he was doing with his mouth. She rubbed her breasts, now swollen with need, against the hard planes of his chest in a desperate attempt to ease the ache inside her.
    Nick’s hand glided over her knee, under her dress, along her stockings, until he reached her bare thigh. His fingers played there, on her naked skin, dancing and teasing, while his mouth kept up the assault on her senses. Her sex burned, and she knew he would find her hot and slick if he reached a bit higher. Her own tentative explorations of her body hadn’t felt anything like this. No, this was so much more, more than she’d ever thought possible—and still, it wasn’t enough.
    Her hips tilted toward his exploring fingers, searching, begging for him. Nick moved his lips to her throat, nipping and kissing the sensitive skin. “I had thought to make you beg,” he whispered by her ear as his hand crept north, “but God’s truth, I’ll be on my knees in another few minutes, promising anything if you’ll just allow me to touch you.”
    “Touch me, please,” she said, clutching him tighter.
    He reached the apex of her thighs, his fingers sliding through the wet folds to find the heat of her, and she gasped. His touch was gentle, placed exactly where she craved it most.
    “So wet for me,” he murmured. “Say my name. Say who has made you so warm and wet, Juliet.” The tip of his finger circled the tiny sensitive nub, stroking it and sending her arousal soaring. Clothing around her waist, Julia’s stocking-clad legs were splayed open on his lap, offering no resistance. She’d ceased caring how wanton she looked. “Say it, my dear,” he ordered.
    “Nick,” she sighed, then inhaled sharply as he slid one finger into her entrance. He kissed her then, hard and deep, his tongue finding hers. Julia could hardly think, hardly breathe as he teased her, his finger moving in and out of her body to drive her higher. She broke away from his mouth, her head falling back, panting, as the pleasure built.
    “My God, you’re tight,” he whispered against her throat. He added another finger, stretching her, preparing her. “I cannot wait a moment more.” Grasping her waist, he lifted her to straddle him, the heat of her directly over his erection. Julia grabbed his shoulders, steadied herself, too mindless to do anything except fight for breath as Nick reached between them to unbutton his trousers.
    Before she had time to think, his shaft sprang free and nudged her opening. He held the base with one hand and brought her hips down with the other, the pleasure mixing with pain as he worked his way in her body.
    He swore through clenched teeth, a fine sheen of sweat on his brow. “So tight. So good. It’s so bloody good.”
    The deeper he pushed, the more Julia fought to stay relaxed. She knew if she tensed up, he would not be able to enter her easily. And the last thing she wanted was for him to realize this was her first time. Inhaling steadily, she ran her hands down his chest, feeling the sinewy muscles under his light shirt to distract herself from the increasing pain between her legs.
    Pearl had said to get it over with quickly, for the shaft to pierce the maidenhead as fast as possible. Then perhaps Nick wouldn’t notice its presence. So gripping his shoulders and taking a deep breath for courage, Julia dropped her hips down as hard as she could, seating herself fully on him. The pain snapped through her as he filled her completely, but she tried to mask it with a groan of what she hoped sounded like pleasure.
    Nick