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Another moan came from her lips when the duke returned his kisses to her bare neck. She angled her head to the side to give him better access, pulling his head toward her. He kissed her again, nibbling gently on her skin before resting his face in the crook between her neck and shoulder. His hands came back down over her breasts, his fingertips lingering on her pert nipples, and awakening the heat of temptation between her thighs.

Then his hands were back on her waist, and he turned her around to face him.

They kissed again, and Eleanor found her fingers searching up Gabriel’s front for the buttons on his shirt. She fumbled the first time, but quickly managed to get the first two buttons undone before working her way down his chest and revealing his stomach.

“Someone has become bold,” Gabriel noted with a smile. He kissed her forehead.

“I believe you have encouraged me.”

“Then allow me to encourage you some more,” he said.

His hands moved up her front again, grasping her breasts this time and squeezing them as he thumbed at her nipples.

Eleanor struggled to undo the last button of his shirt in her pleasure before she finally pulled it open.

Gabriel took his hand from her body for a moment to remove his shirt, and then his touch roamed over her again.

Eleanor’s hands snapped to the duke’s chest like a magnet to metal. She dug her fingers into the thick tufts of hair on his chest, almost pulling on them with her eagerness.

The duke pulled her close, his hands on her back now, and then down to her rear, cupping both cheeks, almost lifting her from her feet as he grasped her, and her mouth sought his chest as she began her own exploration of his solid torso.

Eleanor’s lips parted as he tipped her chin up to his face, and she leaned forward, eager for his kiss. Their lips met briefly, and their tongues once again wrestled for control.

The room disappeared around Eleanor, and all she knew was him. She couldn’t smell the wildflowers anymore, but she knew they were still there, and she felt the duke’s warmth over that of the fire.

“You are not nervous anymore,” Gabriel said when the kiss ended.

Eleanor almost panted her response. “I have no nerves now.”

“Good,” Gabriel stated.

They stopped for a moment. Eleanor wondered if Gabriel did that for her benefit so they didn’t rush into the act, or if he needed a moment to slow himself down. It excited her to think that she might be the reason for his restraint.

Gabriel undid his belt buckle and let his trousers fall to the floor. He stepped out of them and moved closer to Eleanor. She didn’t move back, but looked into his eyes, not daring to look down to see what she’d find. He still wore underwear, but little would be left to the imagination.

Even less was left to her imagination when he pressed his body to hers again, and she felt his solid manliness as his member touched her just above the waist. She gasped in a breath at the effect she was having over him before letting it out shakily.

It was confirmation that she could excite him without needing to do any more than she had already done, and that excitement pulsed through her body and into her core, the wetness growing within her, as she readied herself to accept him.

“Be gentle with me,” she whispered.

Gabriel brushed a lock of hair from in front of her left eye and tucked it behind her ear. “We’ll take it slowly.”

“I can’t…I feel as if I will…” Eleanor managed.

“You don’t need to hold back or hold on,” he told her. “Feel whatever you feel as long as it is good.”

“It is good,” Eleanor whispered. “And I know it will continue to be good.”

Gabriel reached down and removed the last of his clothing, becoming fully nude before her. When he reached for Eleanor, she raised her arms, letting him remove the last piece of fabric between them and pulling it over her head.

Gabriel took half a step back, devouring her naked body with his eyes. Eleanor’s nerves reappeared for a moment as she felt his eyes roaming her body, but they were quietly whisked away when Gabriel smiled, his eyes twinkling.

It was too much for Eleanor. She could feel her wetness pooling and her core pulsing.

“Take me to bed,” she begged softly.

Gabriel moved back to her, pressing his body, his manhood, to her. Eleanor’s body ached to take him in. She was lifted from her feet, cradled and kissed as she was taken to the bed and laid down.