Georgianna: The Last Real Duchess (The Real Duchesses of London) by Lavinia Kent Read Free Book Online

differently, to see her as more than a silly innocent girl.
    With some trepidation she raised her head from the comfort of Richard's chest and stared up at his face. It was hard to see in the dark, but she could make out the square line of his chin, tight lips – and closed eyes. Was he asleep?
    No, his breathing was not steady or quiet. In fact, it sounded remarkably fast and – she shifted her body lower along his torso and felt him heavy and hard against her leg.
    She might have climbed to heaven, but he clearly had not.
    Shifting again, she felt him gasp against her.
    "Give me a moment," his voice rasped.
    A moment for what? She shifted again.
    "If you don't stop that I'll embarrass us both."
    Instantly, she stilled.
    She heard him draw in a couple of deep breaths – and then he moved, pushing himself above her. This part she knew – and rather enjoyed despite all of her mother's warnings. Her legs parted and she felt his weight settle between them. Raising her knees on either side of his hips she waited.
    For a moment he didn't move.
    She could feel him there and ready, but still he paused. Sliding her feet along the sheets she attempted to move herself against him.
    He chuckled. "I don't remember your being so eager."
    Was that a good thing? He was smiling. She couldn't remember him smiling since those first few times before they were wed. Those forbidden times.
    And then he moved, sliding forward he filled her. God, that was good. It was probably sacrilegious to think of God at such a moment, but . . . And then thought faded away and he was all there was – moving, withdrawing, filling her again. Her still tender nerves cried for more.
    She pushed against him, trying to find that moment of release, but he held back, teasing.
    She looked up and met his eyes.
    And se saw more than she could ever remember seeing before.
    Even now. Even in this moment, she could see his pain. His loss.
    But there was more – so much more.
    She saw herself reflected in his eyes, saw an appreciation she had never even imagined.
    And then it was too much. She felt her world explode upon itself, every nerve shattering into a thousand pieces.
     
    #
    He had never felt anything like it. As the last of the shudders ran through his body, Richard lowered himself carefully beside Georgianna. He did not look at her, but kept his eyes fastened on the canopy.
    What had just happened?
    At the age of twenty-six a man did not suddenly expect to discover such a thing for the first time.
    He'd had orgasms before, plenty of them, in fact. But never before had he felt as if the world had been made anew, as if his whole body had been pulled apart with pleasure and then magically reborn.
    He felt better than he could ever remember feeling.
    It shamed him. Paul was dead and he had just . . .
    He didn't even know what to call it.
    Damn it all. All he had wanted was comfort, the feeling of two warm bodies pressed together in need.
    He hadn't expected this.
    Certainly hadn't wanted it.
    Except, blast it all, how could a man not want that?
    Most men would probably sell their very soul for it.
    Hell, he'd sell his soul for it.
    Only he felt as if he'd sold his brother's soul instead – and that he could not - would not allow.
    He glanced over at his wife, as she lay there, soft and rosy.
    He should take her in his arms. Women expected these things and he'd always complied. It was part of being a gentleman, most particularly when the woman involved was his wife.
    But not now – not when Paul was dead.
    He eased to his side of the bed, felt her glance at him and then away.
    Bloody hell. He didn't want to hurt her. He'd hurt her enough over the years – but he had nothing left in him.
    He would have left if it had been her bed they occupied, left without a word, waiting for morning light to bring the right answers – to bring any answers.
    But they were in his bed. He could hardly ask her to leave.
    At least she didn't talk. He could remember the early days of