No man had ever held her this close before,well, except Carlo, but that wasn’t the same. She had never feltthe arousal of her dance partner. At least she assumed that waswhat the hard length was pressed against her belly. Maman hadexplained about a man’s member and how it was relaxed andinconsequential most of the time, but could grow to hard lengthswhen they wished to make love. Did Acker wish to make love toher?
Acker scooped her up in his arms beforecarrying her to the settee. Instead of putting her down as sheexpected, he sat and cradled her on his lap. Not once did he takehis lips from hers and Juliette wasn’t about to breakaway either.His hard length was now pressed against her hip and Juliette wishedto explore, but didn’t dare.
The room grew warm, despite the cool rainoutside. Her clothing was almost too tight to allow a proper breathand heat pooled in her nether regions. She had never experiencedanything like this before. Was this desire or passion?
All Juliette knew for certain was that shedid not want Acker to stop kissing her.
She threaded her fingers through his damphair, surprised by the softness. For a moment it seemed as if shewere falling, assuming it was Acker’s kiss that caused the dizzyingaffect only to find herself laying against the pillows, Ackercoming over her. His lips left her mouth and she wanted to pull himback until he kissed her neck and then shoulder.
Everywhere he touched ignited sensationswithin that she had never experienced before. Goodness! She wasn’tsure how to respond or if she should kiss him anywhere else, norcould she concentrate long enough to decide on an action.
His hands slid up her waist before liftingand cupping her breast through the material of her dress. His lipstrailed a blazing line across the edge of her bodice. Need pulsateddeep within but she was unsure if it was building to something moreglorious or would simply drive her mad.
She should make him stop, but how could she?Not when her body was coming alive for the first time.
This was wrong and she knew it was wrong, andher mother would be livid if she knew, but Julia could not find thewill to push Acker away.
Acker shifted and a moment later his hand wason her calf, inching up her leg and pushing her dress away. Sheneeded to make him stop. This was not right and no matter how muchshe wanted to know what happened next, she could not allow it. But,how did she make him cease when she couldn’t find the willherself.
Acker’s fingers grazed the inside of her warmthigh. Juliette was more passionate than any woman he had everencountered and soon she would be his. He could not wait to buryhimself deep within. He already knew that once would not be enoughand wasn’t sure he could leave Milan without taking her withhim.
The curls at the junction of her thighsteased the back of his fingers. He was so close to the prize.
Her hands pressed against his shoulders andAcker opened his eyes. Surely she didn’t want him to stop. Notnow.
Then he heard it. Booted feet on the stairs,climbing to this floor. He moved off of Juliette and she quicklystood to smooth her dress and then resumed her seat. Acker shiftedto an opposite chair so as not to be caught sitting next to her.Why he cared, he wasn’t certain, but a gentleman was not caughtalone with a lady under any circumstance. Yet, Juliette was not alady and the same rules did not apply. Still, he would notembarrass her.
He glanced at Juliette as she tried tostraighten her hair. It wasn’t overly mussed and most people wouldnot notice she looked as if she was almost tumbled.
Almost, he repeated in his mind and groaned.To be so close! Despite the circumstances, his member did not relaxand throbbed painfully. It would take some time before it went awayor perhaps Acker would need to take care of the situation once hewas alone.
The footfalls came closer and Ackerinstigated a conversation so that their being alone would be viewedas innocent. “I will not be able to see the performancetonight.”
Juliette frowned. “You have seen it more thananyone Lord Acker.”
He smiled. “I must attend a gathering or Iwould be there again tonight.”
“Tomorrow is our final performance,” sheinformed him.
Acker stiffened. “I did not know.” Would hertime be freer once this production ended? “I promise not to missit.”
“I will miss it when it is over.” She sighedand smoothed her skirt. “Usually I tire of the choreography by now,but not with this ballet.”
“Will you be in the next ballet or must yourehearse before it can begin?” Acker shoved his fingers through hishair. He had no idea how the theatre worked.
“She will begin rehearsing forPromethius in a few days.”
They both turned to find her dance partnerstanding in the doorway. He narrowed his eyes at Acker then smiledat Juliette.
“Carlo,” Juliette said as she came to herfeet. “What are you doing here?”
“I wished to rehearse before tonight, to makesure my hand will hold and I don’t have the same pain.”
Juliette nodded, accepting his excuse. Ackerknew better. That man had intentionally touched Juliette lastnight. Was she so innocent? Had Carlo not interrupted he would havefound out shortly. Her kisses did seem innocent and her responsesfresh and passionate.
“You had not yet returned home and yourmother thought you might still be here waiting for the rain to cometo an end.”
Acker didn’t like that this Carlo felt as ifhe could call at Juliette’s home any time he wished.
“Would you like to try a few lifts?”
Carlo nodded then turned to Acker. “You don’tneed to stay. We could be here for awhile.”
Juliette frowned at Carlo. “A few lifts, notthe entire production. Besides, you know I don’t like to rehearseoverly much the night of
