Page 36 of Good Duke Gone Cold

“What’s this?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Just take it.”

It was ridiculous but he couldn’t accept it. He didn’t want to be vulnerable with her. He didn’t want her opening up to him. He didn’t want gifts from her, no matter how small. He could not allow her to get close to him.

She looked up at him. He knew she was exerting maximum self constraint to steel herself against disappointment and rejection. But why did she care? She didn’t care about him. She couldn’t. She just wanted to focus on her play.

But then he saw her eyes waver and her lips tremble. She turned on her heel and fled.

In her guest chambers, Mary was chastising herself holding back tears with the heels of her hands against her eyelids when Gregory stormed in banging the door and causing the items on her bureau to rattle then settle back into place.

“What the devil is the meaning of this, Mary?”

He was shaking the red carnation at her. “Why did you give this to me?”

She felt frozen in place. Her foot wouldn’t move, her hands had slid only as far down as to her cheeks. Her tears were locked in place.

“You know what this means.”

She shook her head.

“Yes, you do. I know you have used the language of flowers in your plays and to send your silly little girl secret messages with Margaret. Of course you know.”

She shook her head again.

“Mary!” He shouted at her.

All she could do was shake her head.

He slammed the door behind him and marched over to her. “You will leave this silliness alone. There is nothing between us. There can never be anything between us.”

With that he dropped the flower at their feet and yanked her in for a punishing kiss.

His kiss opened her heart and loosened her being into something airy and free. She felt the ability to move re-enter her body and she didn’t hesitate. She stepped closer to him, to the point her feet had nudged between his. She pushed her body up against his until she felt the perfect mold that she had felt before.

His tongue was forcing its way into her mouth and she couldn’t help but recall how wet she had been against him. She slid her tongue into his mouth to tangle with his and was empowered at hearing his guttural moan. That she had this power over him to reduce him to such sounds made her soar above the clouds. She, mousy, plain, dispassionate behind the scenes Mary.

She didn’t know if he had to look it up or if he somehow knew the message of the carnation, my heart aches for you, but she knew he now knew a part of her heart. They had always shared a part of life together. In their youth, they had built so many memories together. Recently, they had shared parts of their bodies with each other, and then finally last night they had shared parts of their souls. How she longed to be consumed by him.

And then he crushed her even closer to him with his hand on her lower back and she knew she never wanted this to end. She couldn’t imagine ever kissing anyone else. She never wanted another man to touch her the way Gregory did. His touch was filled with heat, fight, and tenderness. She always knew she could trust him, and now he had been slowly opening her up to reach for herself, her dreams, and desires. And he just happened to be one of them. This was… love?

“Mary.”

“Yes, Gregory,” she looked up with admiration. “Gregory, I lo–”

“Mary. This is the last time this will ever happen.”

She stumbled back, but he caught her.

“We need space. I can’t. I’ll not be going to the house party. Take this time for yourself.” He pressed a harsh kiss to her forehead.

The shock almost had its way with her body, but she would not let it win. She would gather the strength to speak. He didn’t get to decide their fate.

“Go.” She said softly. He looked into her eyes as she placed her hands on his chest.

“Go, Gregory. Just go!” She shoved him, but he didn’t budge. “I said, go. And don’t ever look at me again.” She pushed against him a second time and he allowed himself to be displaced.

He turned and made his way to the door. Easing one hand on the handle and the other on the frame, he braced himself as if to turn or say something. He did neither.

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