Page 75 of The Big Bad Duke

He held her tightly, letting out a primal growl as pleasure spilled from him into her.

In the aftermath, they lay together, tangled and breathless.

She trembled in his arms, her body pulsing with aftershocks, her skin tingling from head to toe.

She had never known it could be like this.

She had never felt like this.

Not just sated. Not just desired.

But seen. Claimed. Safe.

Complete.

Gideon propped himself up on his arms and lifted his head.

He was exhausted—his limbs felt heavy—and he could only imagine he was crushing her. But he didn’t want to part from her. Not even for a moment. So he slipped an arm under her back, held her close, and rolled them both so that he lay on his back and she rested atop him.

Then he pulled his cloak over them.

She glanced up at him before ducking her head, but it was enough for him to notice the sheen of tears glinting in her eyes. He brushed the pad of his thumb to the corner of her eye and felt the wetness.

“You’re crying,” he said. Had he hurt her? Had he missed something in the haze of his own pleasure?

She bit her lip and shook her head, though a tear still escaped. He frowned. She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

“Out of joy.”

He studied her face, his frown deepening. It was etched with raw, unguarded emotion.

He caught another tear with his thumb, then kissed her salty cheek before wrapping her tightly in his arms.

Her hand pressed to his chest, where his heart thudded beneath her palm.

“This is the first time I’ve felt like this,” she said softly, on a breath.

He stilled. “The first time?”

Surely she didn’t mean she was a virgin?

She hadn’t seemed uncertain or hesitant. She’d met his passion with equal fire, and he hadn’t exactly been gentle. If this had been her first time, it had been anything but delicate.

“Yes,” she answered, her voice tentative.

“You’re… this wasn’t—” he tried to clarify, but she cut in quickly.

“No. No, this isn’t the first time I’ve… done this.” She stumbled over her words, letting out a small huff. “It’s just… this was different.” She paused, her fingers slowly weaving through the soft curls on his chest. “Does it always feel like this when you’re with someone you…” She hesitated, “choose?”

He rolled just enough to see her face, but she didn’t meet his gaze.

“The person you choose?” he echoed.

“The person you want,” she clarified, quieter this time.

He swallowed, her words tightening something in his chest. “The men you’ve been with before… you didn’t choose them?”

She said nothing.