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Much later that night, as the manor darkened and quieted down for the night, James paced around his bedchamber, the rain drumming hard again the windows.
He could not forget the tender kiss he and Kitty had shared earlier that morning, but feelings of unease had risen along with those feelings of endearment.
James had vowed to himself ever since Lady Montgomery exited his life, that he would not allow any other woman to reach that vulnerable part of him, yet he wished that Kitty would appear at his door and inform him that he was silly and perhaps kiss him again.
The taste of Kitty’s sweet mouth still lingered on James’s lips as he stared out the window. He wished desperately to possess the courage to go to her, to speak with her, and to explain why he was acting so foolishly.
It had been a long while since anyone expressed such an interest in him, and made him feel the way he felt while he’d kissed Kitty.
He had not spoken much during dinner, and had excused himself earlier when he received a letter from an old acquaintance to retreat to his study. Perhaps he was a coward and did not deserve to have such a fine young woman as Kitty to be his wife.
The rain continued to pour and it was rather odd to imagine only hours ago there was not a cloud in sight. The storm had arrived faster than anyone could have predicted, but James’s paranoia told him that is was an omen.
Its meaning, however, was still unknown.
He continued to stare through the window until movement caught his attention. It was only for a moment, but James’s brow furrowed as he stepped closer to the window. The dark figure opened the door of the stable and rushed inside. James’s jaw clenched, but he was fairly certain it was simply one of his grooms. No person in his sane mind would be outside in this downpour.
Thunder rumbled in the distance and James stepped away from the window, closing the drapes. He recalled a memory from his youth, where his mother had warned him and his siblings of the dangers of thunderstorms, and that they should never leave the drapes open. Her words sounded in his mind as if she spoke them for the very first time, and James sighed as the nostalgia struck him the same manner as the thunder struck the earth.
James sat on the leather chair in the corner of his chamber and reached for the book that lay on the table beside him. He settled into a comfortable position and immersed himself between the pages of an old philosophy book his father had adored as the fire in the hearth provided the much needed heat to warm not only the entire room, but also the cold chill he felt inside him.
The amount of time that passed was unbeknownst to James as a soft, barely audible knock sounded on his chamber door. He glanced at the door, wondering if he had imagined it. Another knock sounded, more urgent than the previous, and he closed the book, placing it on the table beside him.
He stood and made his way to the door. He briefly glanced at the large, upright clock that stood in the corner of the chambers and his brow furrowed. It was nearly midnight and his servants were well aware he did not wish to be disturbed this late.
James reached for the door and opened it slowly. He gasped as he glanced at a drenched Kitty standing in front of him. Her hair was dripping wet, her dress clung to her body, and her lips trembled violently.
“My lady,” James gasped and stepped aside, allowing her to enter. “Are you well?”
Kitty entered the chambers without a word and James closed the door. As he reached for a woollen blanket to wrap around her shoulders, she turned to him with an intent glance on her face.
“What did I do wrong, James?” Kitty inquired, her voice hoarse and breathless.
“I do not understand,” James said.
“We had a lovely morning, we shared parts of ourselves with each other,” Kitty murmured and slowly approached him. “We even shared a tender and wonderful moment where you kissed me. You even openly admitted that you had never kissed any woman in such a manner, yet you did not speak much during dinner, excused yourself early and still insist that nothing is the matter.”
Oh, no... “My lady—”
“It’s Kitty when we are alone,” she said, a fierce flash in her eyes catching him off guard. “What did I do to make you not wish to be near me?”
“It is nothing that you did,” James admitted. “I am the one at fault.”
“Tell me how I can fix it.”
If only that were possible. “It is not your duty to fix it.”
Kitty stepped closer to him, and he felt the cold emanating from her body. Her lips trembled as she glanced up at him, and her hands touched his chest. The contact sent pulses of longing through James and despite knowing it would most certainly not be in either one’s best interest, James could not fight the feelings of desire inside him.
He placed his hands on Kitty’s narrow shoulders and pressed his lips against hers. A soft moan escaped her mouth and she pressed closer.
James wrapped his arms around Kitty, drawing her tight. Her bosoms pressed against him and her heart pounded against his chest.
“Wait,” James breathed against her lips. “Kitty, I do not wish for you to do anything you will regret in the morning.”
Kitty tilted her chin upwards, staring into James’s eyes, her own sparkling like two sapphires in the moonlight. “James, there will not be a single thing I would regret as long as you do it to me,” Kitty murmured, her eyes beckoning him to take her.
“Only if you are certain, my lady,” James whispered.
Kitty nodded slowly, her pink lips pouting at James and drawing him in. His hands caressed the skin below her neck, the curves of her ample bosoms. He lightly fingered the ribbons in the front of her dress, and delicately loosened them.
As if Kitty read his mind, she slid her sleeves from her shoulders.
James inhaled slowly, to compose himself against the strong feelings rising up inside him. Although momentarily he thought that things had already gone too far, this was exactly what he wanted. He wanted Kitty, and she wanted him.
James peeled the wet dress from Kitty’s body, never tearing his gaze away from her. He couldn’t even if he tried.
Her petite, yet curvy figure that had been hidden underneath her dress was utter perfection. Much to his surprise, Kitty slowly undressed James as well, making him feel exposed, vulnerable.
James took her hands in his and led her to his bed, staring at her form in awe, and laying down beside her. Their bodies intertwined with one another, tenderly and without a moment’s hesitation. She was a maiden—untouched by the hands of men—which pleased James even more.
Kitty’s body quivered against his, an occasional wince forming on her lips, her brows furrowing as James’s thrusts were slow and steady. A soft moan escaped her throat as his rhythmic movements began to quicken. James pressed his mouth against her lips, muffling the sounds, as he did not wish Kitty’s parents to be aware of what they were doing.
Fornication before marriage was not entirely unheard of—it was much more common than most believed—but James did not wish Lord and Lady Dunne to know he had defiled their daughter.
Kitty brought her arms up and pressed her fingers against the skin of James’s back, and her legs wrapped around his waist. The young lady threw her head back as waves of desire passed over them.
Kitty turned her head to the side, closing her eyes as James pressed his lips against the soft skin of her neck. He couldn’t continue to go slow.
His rhythm increased in speed, causing Kitty’s lips to part. She panted softly, pushing her fingernails into James’s back. Her back arched, making her breasts press against James’s chest.
He groaned loudly as his body tightened. He was nearing the edge. He moved even faster, thumping the headboard into the wall now.
There was no way of staying quiet.
The wave of release picked him up and he thrust one final time, Kitty moaned in unison with him as waves of passion flowed over them, and through them.
James collapsed beside Kitty, panting loudly.
Breathlessly, he pulled her close and as she pressed his hand against her bosom, he felt the rapid beating of her heart, as satisfying at the deed itself.