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“Does that surprise you?”

“Yes, it does a bit. Not that you are unwelcome. Quite the contrary. What is more, it is quite fortunate that you found me here in this particular parlor, for, other than Jane and I, no one else ever comes here.”

“I consider that good information to have at my disposal,” he said. Then, after sipping his tea, he placed his cup aside.

“Is the tea not to your liking, sir?”

“I thought we might talk.”

Her eyes grew wide. “I can think of no better pastime. We always seem to find other rather agreeable means of passing our time together than engaging in intercourse. There is much we have yet to learn about each other.”

“Yes, I agree.” He nodded, his eyes trailing down to her lips.

Elizabeth realized he was looking at her lips, and she smiled. “Am I distracting you?”

“Only in the most delightful of ways. There were many things I had planned to discuss with you, but I find I have nothing to say except how wonderful your lips look.”

He leaned over and brushed them with the tip of his finger. “And they are wonderfully soft, too… to say nothing of their taste.”

The contact was so light she could barely feel his finger against her lips. It was nearly like a whisper. Elizabeth’s body was instantly on fire with desire. She smiled.

Leaning closer, he asked, “May I?”

“I would like that very much.”

Mr. Darcy held Elizabeth’s face in his hands and paused for a moment. Her eyes were fixated on his brooding, dark, beautiful eyes. A thousand thoughts were racing through her head. He brushed his nose against hers, his breath hot on her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest as he moved in to kiss her. He brushed his lips atop hers.

“I do not know what it is about you—about being here with you. You have bewitched me, body and soul. I want you. I can scarcely make it through the day or night without my arms around you.” His eyes locked on hers. “I want to be with you. I want to be inside you, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s body grew warm and flushed, listening to his voice. The soft way it rolled off his tongue took her breath away. A small sigh escaped her lips. It was permission.

“I want that, too.” Her whisper was just audible.

“Tell me what you want, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s gaze darted up to Darcy’s and then down to the dark blue fabric of his waistcoat and lower still. “I would like very much to please you, Mr. Darcy,” she said in a quiet voice. She slipped her hands under his and unbuttoned his waistcoat. “I know this is very bold of me, even though I have no idea how to seduce a man. I do not know what to do. I am counting on you to guide me, sir—to lead me.”

“I have no qualms with that. You can do whatever you like—” His words were cut short as her hand brushed against the bulge in his trousers. He sucked in a breath.

“Whatever I like?” Elizabeth asked, her voice trembling—barely above a whisper.

“Yes, whatever you like. It is yours—to touch. To explore. To please.”

Elizabeth’s hand swept back and forth over his growing length. It was swelling as she touched it, getting harder and thicker every time she stroked it. She looked up at his face. Her lips were parted, and her cheeks were flushed. She leaned forward a bit and pressed her lips against his shirt, then lifted her head to look at him again. “Does this please you, Mr. Darcy?”

He nodded.

“Shall I do more?” Elizabeth asked as she continued carrying her point.

He sucked in another deep breath.

It was now Elizabeth’s turn to lay the tip of her finger on Mr. Darcy’s soft lips. “Pray, hold that thought,” she said, standing.

“Where are you going?”

“To lock the door.”

“You said no one uses this room but you and your older sister.”