Page 34 of The Virgin Duchess

“Then why on earth are you unwilling to discuss it?” Charlotte’s volume shot up, her tone biting. “I, of all people would understand the need for discretion, could be trusted with the truth. But you don’t, do you? You don’t trust me. Because as you’ve made so very clear, I am not family, nor am I your proper wife. This was merely a business arrangement.”

The abrupt noise of Frederick’s steps across the floor was a shock, each one a clap of thunder that brought him inches from her face. He gripped each of her shoulders, his grey eyes shining with icy fire.

“Can you truly think that? After everything I’ve shown you?” His fingers dug into her flesh. “Your presence has been impossible for me to ignore since the moment I saw you, and I don’t me in the alley.”

The blazing intensity of Frederick’s stare forced Charlotte to hold his eyes even as she was aching to look away. It was too much, too much of a confession without words that she wasn’t prepared for. She’d wanted to understand why he was spreading grisly details about Halfacre. This? This was not that.

“Richard’s wife invited guests for dinner, and then there you were. Keeping my eyes off of you…I am so painfully torn, Charlotte. I have a duty that I need to uphold. I am called to it every day, seeing in my mind the devastation that that man could wreak on my family. Anyyou…”

Anger, confusion, blistering fire, it all swirled through Frederick’s expression, and Charlotte could feel it reflected inside her. Did he hate her? Was all this fury being directed ather?

“You, Charlotte,distractme. Your image ekes out even the worry of destruction. Concentration when you are around me is an insurmountable task. I had thought it a simple fix.” Frederick’s stare consumed her, his eyes taking every inch of her in, leaving Charlotte a moth to his unbearable flame. “I need only taste you for myself,claimyou. And I would be free of this obsession. But I fear now that there is nothing in this world that could keep me from being ensorcelled by your very essence.”

Her mouth dropped open, and Charlotte let out a shaky breath, fumbling as she sought more air. Frederick was so close, everywhere around her and all she could see. His grey eyes were delirious with some unknown emotion that she didn’t understand.

An emotion that she would notallowherself to understand.

She shook her head, this significant part of her screaming a silent warning. The situation was wild, raw, and unpredictable in a way that terrified her. Still, it was an exhilarating fear that wormed through her core like potent wine.

What is happening? What…what is he…

“Frederick, I don’t…what are you saying to me?”

He studied her face, his gaze primal and hungry. Charlotte’s blood roared with molten rock, the intoxicating pull of his rough grip and searing stare not letting her go. But he was silent.

“You can’t just?—”

His lips were on hers before she could finish, taking hers so thoroughly, so wantonly, that Charlotte was out of breath in moments. Frederick yanked her against his body, the firmness of his shape pressing against her and making her thighs clench together.

After a moment, Frederick pulled back, his lidded gaze pinned on her mouth as they caught their breath.

“I need you, Charlotte. I need to feel you against me.”

Her mind reeled, and focusing became ever harder as Frederick danced his lips along her neck, trailing downward toward her breast. Panic gripped her at once, and she hissed in a breath, leaning away from him.

“Frederick, I…” His ministrations along her neck never ceased, and Charlotte’s eyes rolled back. “…please, I’m not ready for…”

She couldn’t finish the words, but then Frederick’s lips were at the shell of her ear, and he whispered low.

“There are far more things that I can do for you besides sex, sweet Charlotte.” He nibbled at the delicate skin behind her ear. “Let me show you.”

Facing him, Charlotte stared into those lidded eyes, unable to deny the fact that she wanted something from him as well. Her heartbeat was a thunderous pound in her ears, and Charlotte—who’d yet to experience anything more than a simple kiss—was at a loss for what her husband might mean.

“I don’t…What are you speaking of?”

Frederick’s gaze at her up, his smirk lifting on the right side of his mouth. Running his stare down the length of her neck, hovering it at the hem of her dress where it covered her chest, he hummed low once more, dragging a finger down the side of her neck.

“God, that lovely innocence, the way your cheeks burn pink…I can touch you, Charlotte,tasteyou…Would you like that?”

Chapter Seventeen

The world flared with searing color around her, and Charlotte was breathless. Her mind was a tumble of feverish thoughts. What was she supposed to say? Did…did she want that? Lord, it was nearly impossible to even comprehend what he was saying. Still, her body hummed, and the way Frederick paid keen attention to her was blissfully all-consuming.

She looked up into his eyes. “…Y-Yes.”

Frederick’s lips found hers once more, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth as he swept it across the seam of her lips. Charlotte eagerly let him inside, desperate for more contact in a way she couldn’t understand. They explored each other in a maddening dance, Frederick’s hands wrapping around her sides as he pulled her close.

They were entangled in each other so profoundly when her husband began to walk her backward. Charlotte’s legs hit thebed, and their progression halted. Frederick put his all into the kiss, deepening it until she was utterly breathless. Then, and only then, did he pull back from her, sliding around to the back of her.

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