Page 15 of A Slumber for a Duke

The pain was nothing he wouldn’t bear in Rose’s place a thousand times over.

“Andrew, I’m so sorry. Let me help you up.” Rose used her strength to pull him up. “She’s the devil. Doesn’t she realize who you are?”

“She should realize whoyouare,” Andrew countered.

“I’m nobody. You’re the duke. She may as well have signed her death wish.” Thinking better of her statement, she said, “Though you would probably never stoop to such revenge, would you?”

Andrew shook his head. “I wouldn’t. She’ll seal her fate all on her own. But I couldn’t let her speak to you that way. However, if she had been a man, there’d be a duel being planned right now.”

“Not over me, Andrew.”

“Yes. Over you. You are a treasure.” His knuckles grazed over her cheek as a tear rolled down. “Why are you crying?”

“You saved me.” Rose sniffled. “Twice.”

“It’s only fair. You saved me last night.” He cupped her jaw and brushed his lips over hers. “But I may need to ask a small favor.”

“Anything,” Rose mumbled.

“Please help me in removing any thorns that may have embedded themselves in my person from that fall.”

“Oh, Andrew!” Rose yanked his hand away from her face and dragged him inside.

He winced in pain as the fabric over his back wiggled a few thorns deeper, yet he couldn’t help chuckling at her eagerness.

Rose led him inside, and he directed her to his bedchamber. At least, the bedchamber he usually stayed in when he visited. Fortunately, when they came upon it, they found that it was empty.

He locked the door behind them and they entered the room.

“Help me with my clothes, will you? It’s a bit painful to move at the moment.”

Rose rushed behind him and began removing the layers. Once she got to him down to his light linen shirt and breeches, she slowed her movements.

“You’re not just saying this–about the thorns–are you?” She peered up at him through her long dark lashes. “You know, to get back at me for the dog thing?”

“Would I do that?”

“You might.”

Andrew laughed. “Then you’ll have to watch for it in the future, because my back will prove to you that I’m not lying. Truth be told, it might be more my backside than my back.”

A grin broke out on Rose’s face, as if she couldn’t contain the light beckoning to be free. “Alright, let’s see the damage.”

Her fingers nimbly unbuttoned his shirt and gently rolled it over his shoulders, letting it drop to the floor.

Andrew watched her suck in her breath as she slowly traced her fingers down his chest, following his hairline to the top of his breeches.

With exceptional care, she undid his buttons and pushed his breeches down. “Turn around,” she said with the tenderness he longed to hear.

“As you wish.”

A soft touch met his back and a softer breath warmed it. As her fingers blazed a path all over his back, they stopped to pick out a few thorns along the way.

“There are only a few spots of blood. Are you in much pain?”

“I’m alright now. Nothing to worry about.”

“You did that for me.”

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