Page 106 of His Unwanted Duchess

Stephen had his knees planted on either side of her hips and was grinning down at her with a wolfish expression.

“You are very demanding, wife.”

Before she could respond, he neatly took off his linen shirt, revealing smooth, bare skin underneath. Breath hitching, Beatrice reached out to touch his chest, her fingers exploring ripples and mounds of muscle, feeling them shift under her fingers.

When she had explored him for a moment or two, Stephen firmly took her wrists again and pinned them to the cushion.

“I believe I said that you should keep your handsthere, my dear Duchess,” he said, his voice smooth. “I do hope I won’t be obliged to punish you. Stop smiling at once! It is a punishment, and you arenotmeant to be enjoying it!”

Beatrice couldn’t quite smother the gurgles of laughter, and Stephen grinned down at her. Behind him, the night sky spread out in the most marvelous array, but somehow it seemed less magical than Stephen himself.

His hands slid up her ribcage, curving around her breasts, and Beatrice was a little surprised to feel answering twinges of desire.

“Laces up the back,” Stephen muttered, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. “I suppose I shall have to wait until later to enjoy these.”

“I suppose you shall—unless you fancy spending half an hour or so lacing me up again,” Beatrice heard herself say, her voice shaking.

He leaned down to kiss her again, and she wrapped her arms around his bare shoulders, forgetting her orders already. She did not see Stephen undo the front of his trousers, but she felt his hands spread her legs more widely, while his fingers brushed against her. Then she felt the nudge of an intrusion, and she held her breath.

“Just a moment, my love,” Stephen whispered in her ear, his voice cracking.

“Aren’t you afraid?” she murmured back. “Of children? Of babies?”

“For future reference, darling, do not bring up babies and families at a time like this, hm? And the answer, surprisingly, is no.”

She bit back a smile, pressing her lips to this shoulder.

He shifted above her, and she felt the tip of his member, noticeably thicker and hotter than his fingers, pushing into her. The sensation of Stephen sliding inside her was a strange one—not painful, but uncomfortable for just a moment.

As he had promised, though,onlya moment. It seemed entirely natural for him to shift, pushing into her, and for her to roll her hips up to meet him.

Beatrice’s heart thumped, her body singing with desire, and she squeezed her eyes shut as their movements quickened. Stephenwhispered things in her ear which she half-heard due to her own quick pulse.

His movements grew sharp and jerky, and Beatrice barely had time to wonder about this change in rhythm before her climax blossomed out inside her, almost as a surprise. At the height, Beatrice opened her eyes, taking in the miraculous night sky beyond Stephen’s broad shoulders. She let out a shuddering breath.

Stephen growled, his movements slowing to a halt, and she felt the prick of teeth ever so gently on the side of her neck.

“Fair’s fair,” he mumbled, sounding almost drunk.

Gasping for breath, they rolled apart.

There was no room for two to lie side by side on the chaise, of course, but with some maneuvering, Stephen lay on his back and Beatrice sprawled across him, each clinging to the other to avoid falling off.

Sweat dried on Beatrice’s forehead, cooling her down, and her breathing returned to normal. She twisted to look up at Stephen, only to find him already looking at her.

“You know, I might well be with child after this,” she said. “Would it truly not bother you?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t believe so. I think I would like them if they have your red hair.”

Beatrice smiled, pressing her forehead against the side of his neck.

“Now, since we have a little time, why don’t you start by telling me what you know about astronomy? Point out a few constellations. I’d like to learn, and there’s no time like the present. Tell me about the stars, Stephen.”

He smiled affectionately down at her. “Youare my star, darling.”

Beatrice wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that, so she contented herself with kissing him instead.

EPILOGUE

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