Page 17 of Good Duke Gone Far

The two wandered back to the horse who was stopped on the side of the road. “The highwaymen must have been on the run, otherwise surely they would have attempted to take Muffin.”

“Attempted?”

“Yes. It would have been over my dead body that they take Muffin from me.” He patted the mare on her neck and smoothed her just below the crest.

He had to keep his hands moving to match his racing thoughts. Moments ago, he had only thought of Kat. Muffin, his tried and true loyal companion had not even flashed into his mind. Why had he only thought to protect Kat when trouble was imminent? Did he think Muffin could take care of herself? Even though she was clearly not in possession of her full strength? The answer was probably obvious, but he ignored it.

“It’s good to see such loyalty in people.” Aware of Kat studying him, he avoided her eyes as she kept talking, “It’s what I love about my sister, Charlotte. She’s loyal to a fault.”

Another stroke down Muffin’s neck would surely tell Kat that he didn’t want to continue the current conversation.

“Was your brother like that?”

He wanted to shout.Yes! You don’t even know the half of it. If Charlotte was loyal to a fault, my brother was loyal to death. Death. It killed him how loyal he was. And now it’s still killing me.But all he said was, “Something like that.”

Quinn turned his feet to walk further into the tall grass.

“Where are you going?”

“Going to look for a stream. I think I heard one nearby. Muffin could use a drink.”And so could I.

“That sounds delightful. I should love to rest my feet for a spell.”

She skipped into the grass ahead of him until together they found a small stream. Making her way toward a boulder near the stream, Quinn watched as she lifted her hem to avoid it getting wet.

Only, she didn’t stop lifting her skirts.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“Relax. I’m just going to let my feet cool off.”

He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. He wanted to assume she was trying not to show off her stockinged feet and calves. And he wanted to think that she wasn’t intentionally and slowly rolling down her stockings for his sake.

But, his groin was not in cahoots with his mind. His groin spoke loudly and told him that she was doing this for him. Given the choice between his mind and his groin, he was choosing the latter this time. So he watched.

He watched her fingers glide down her calves. He watched her pull her stockings off and toss them behind her head, unaware that one landed on Muffin’s back and the other in a bush. And he watched some more when she dipped her feet in the water. He saw a shiver roll up her spine, and he was jealous. But when she leaned back on her palms and pushed her chest out to catch more sun, his mouth went dry.

And he forgot how to swallow.

For a whole minute.

His own cough finally shook him from her spell.

“Care to join me?”

Her eyes were closed and her head had dropped back. He traced the line of her neck with his tongue. In his mind. In his mind. Out of his mind. Out of his mind. Where was his mind?

“Uh…yes. No, that’s quite alright. I’m fine here.”

He was actually afraid to move. The tenting bulge in his breeches was obvious, though he hoped not from her perspective. If she looked his way, she would have the sun blinding her from making out any details. He prayed.

“Suit yourself. Just a few minutes and then we can go.”

“Yes, a few minutes will do.”For tempering this raging erection.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed while he worked to corral his passions. It wasn’t working. He needed some help.

“Do you want some?” Came the question.

---