“I do now.” Her words came out in a whisper. “The book helped me understand its meaning.”
“Mhm,” Algernon murmured, continuing his slow circle as his eyes cut deeply into her flesh.
“Tell me, from what you read from the book, what does a woman experience when she is aroused?” he asked, carefully placing the book on the table.
Beatrice took several steps back, away from the mess on the floor and from Algernon. The mess stayed put. Algernon did not.
“I do not want one of your lessons right?—”
“Answer me,” Algernon commanded, his eyes not leaving hers.
She could scream, she thought. For Mira or Mrs. Sheer. Anyone who was still awake would come running if they heard her scream—but as her body began to tremble, Beatrice found that she did not want to. As frightened as she was, she was just as curious as to where this particular lesson was going.
Gathering her bravado, Beatrice drew in a steadying breath and forced her mind to think. Again, she was hit with that delicious scent of his, making it nearly impossible to do so.
“The flesh grows sensitive,” she answered after a moment, her tone soft and rasping.
The green in Algernon’s gaze erupted with slivers of gold as he perked a brow and smirked.
“Very good,” his deep voice praised. “Is it painful?”
“No,” Beatrice whispered then gasped softly as her back bumped against the drape-covered windows, stopping her retreat.
“What does it feel like?” he asked, taking another slow, stalking step in her direction.
As he asked, Beatrice became overcome with the feelings he was making her explain.
“Hot,” she breathed, feeling dots of perspiration form on her forehead and chest. She felt her blush spread a deep crimson from her cheeks to her chest.
“What else,” he coaxed, closing the space between them.
“A trembling takes over the limbs,” she answered shakily, feeling it in her palms and legs. “A dizziness of sorts takes over the head. The body grows… sensitive.”
“Mmm,” Algernon hummed, close enough now that she could feel his warm breath fan upon her lips.
He reached up slowly, and as his palm cupped her jaw, he slid his thumb across her bottom lip, making her breath hitch.
“Are some places on the body more sensitive than others?” he asked.
He was teasing her now; she knew it. Trying to make her feel small over how little she knew about seduction. A second ago, that would have mattered, but his thumb so very gently caressed her bottom lip…
“Yes,” she whispered as he leaned in toward her.
“Where?” he whispered back then placed the tiniest, most gentle kiss against the corner of her mouth. It was nothing like the deep kiss they’d shared the other day, yet it sent shards of lightening spearing through her body.
She tried to answer, but only a whimper came out. It was followed by a shaky inhale as his other hand came up to her throat, and with his fingertips only, he trailed a path of fire from the hollow in her throat, down her chest, and to her right nipple.
“Here?” he asked, and Beatrice moaned loudly as he lightly pinched the already taut tip.
The small pinch sent a great shockwave moving through her entire body.
“Yes,” she breathed, feeling her sex begin to pulse and drip as his fingers loosened their grip, and he gently massaged the injured peak.
She couldn’t help but give in to her body as she leaned more into the closed window, her chest arching against Algernon’s palm as his large, warm hand massaged the mound. She was sure she’d never felt anything so lovely.
“And the other one?” Algernon asked, trailing his hand from her right breast to her left. “Do you think it is just as sensitive as the right?”
Her blush deepened at the question, and she forced her eyes open so she could peer down at his hand.