Page 68 of The Language of Love

They both moaned as he eased in alongside the first. “So bloody tight.”

Annis teetered between discomfort and desire; the pleasure was too acute—overwhelming—she needed—needed—

“That’s right, take what you want—use me, Annis.”

His words were a catalyst and a shocking cry tore from her throat as every muscle in her body clenched and the tight knot that had been building and building in her sex exploded.

Annis lost track of herself as wave after wave of bliss buffeted her.

She was only vaguely aware of his labored breathing, soft caresses, and quietly murmured words as she floated slowly back to earth.

“Once more,” he whispered, as the waves of pleasure receded. His wicked thumb resumed its skilled dance, driving her toward oblivion much faster this time.

“Yes, that’s it,” he urged as she clenched and shook. “Come for me once more, Annis.”

Come? Come where?

But the thought was born away like a leaf on a gust of wind as the second wave of pleasure consumed her.

“Shhh, sweetheart.” Henry’s voice was low and rough against her temple as she moaned and thrashed in his arms. “It’s alright, darling.”

His soothing words brought her back to herself, and the warmth that had enveloped her ebbed away.

Cold, humiliating reality took its place.

You’ve been rubbing yourself against his hand like some sort of animal.

Annis cringed at the embarrassing picture that lodged itself in her mind’s eye, an image of her writhing like a strumpet.

“Annis?”

She pressed her face into his shoulder, like a child believing that what she couldn’t see didn’t really exist.

But powerful hands took her shoulders. “Sweetheart, look at me.”

She squeezed her eyes shut tighter. Maybe if she refused to answer him, he would simplydisappear.

Annis felt, rather than heard, the low, gentle laugh that vibrated his body. “I’m not going away just because you refuse to look at me.” He eased her a few inches away as he spoke, the loss of his heat and nearness almost physically painful.

“Open your eyes, Annis.”

She exhaled a long, shuddering breath, and then she obeyed.