Page 16 of Good Duke Gone Rogue

Her eyes fluttered open. “A bit dramatic, Reggie. Even for you.”

His thumb reached out to wipe the tears from her eyes. If he didn’t see and feel the tears himself, he wouldn’t have believed she was crying. Nothing else on her face or in the tone of her voice gave any indication of tears, sadness or otherwise.

“How could you even think I would—” he stopped himself. He shuddered to think of her reply because he knew the answer before she said it.

It was barely audible, “He always had to finish.”

Chapter 7

“WE’RE GOING HOME, DETTA.” His brain was a loose cannon. There were no other words. No other course of action he could think of. Certainly a man wanted to finish every time he was with a woman. It was one of the primary goals, but really, every time? And never once for her? It was preposterous to think about being in such a one-sided married relationship.

Actually, it was asinine to think of that in any relationship. Didn’t a man, a real man, find the most pleasure in seeing his woman come? Didn’t a worthy man aim to see her come all over him? Under him? From behind? On his knees?

He was growing thick just thinking of all the ways he wanted to see Detta come.

And he had been the first, and only man, to see Detta come. And it had been tonight. Twice. It was glorious. It was theultimate satisfaction, to feel pleasure ripple through her body and convulse around him. It was literally the stuff that his dreams were made of, only, reality beat his dreams a hundred times over. At least.

And it was enough, for now that she had come. But what did she think of him for pulling out when she had encouraged him to finish? He gave himself a mental shake. Just remembering her resignation to have him finish stung. It stung in so many ways he couldn’t even begin to analyze it all.

Reggie’s head was pounding harder than his heart. The blood didn’t know where to pool anymore.

“Let’s go,” he put his hand on her back and urged her off the wall. He quickly scanned her for vines, leaves, twigs, anything that might give them away. Her skirts were wrinkled a bit, and her hair…well, it was mussed. Just a touch, he thought. But he was a man, what did he know about hair? He only hoped his observations were not too optimistic. And if they moved quickly enough, no one would be the wiser.

He guided her toward the door leading back into the ballroom. “I’ll follow in a few minutes. Just make your way to the front door.”

She nodded.

He thought he would breathe easily having a moment of space to think, but his concern was clamoring into every thought. What if she didn’t make it to the door? What if she was asked to dance? What if someone noticed her skirts? Would rumors start? How quickly? Would her reputation remain intact? She was a widow after all. But did she want to be known as that kind of widow? The questions were piling up. So much so, that they were leaving little room for him on the terrace.

Better make his way inside. When Reggie entered the ballroom, he noticed Detta trapped by Margaret and Mary. And Margaret was discreetly picking a leaf from Detta’s skirts.

Damn.

Well, if anyone could keep a secret, hopefully it was those two. At least, they could keep a secret if they could share it with each other, which was, thankfully, the case.

“Reggie,” Margaret beckoned him over. “We were thinking of when we could introduce Bernadette to Lady Agatha and Lady Harriet. I’m sure they are in attendance tonight.” She surveyed the room, but Reggie wasn’t going to stay one minute more. “Unless she’s off reading again?”

Reggie didn’t give much thought to who was reading at a ball and why. He had an objective, and it was simple. Get home. Lady Agatha and—what was the name of the other lady?—they could wait.

“It’s been a crush. Truly. But we have to head home. Have to check on my father.”

“Oh yes,” Mary nodded solemnly. She was a kind soul, often thinking of others. He was surprised she hadn’t said it earlier that evening, but she was saying it now, “Please give him our best wishes.” Or perhaps she had said it earlier when he was too distracted by Bernadette to notice. Had he even spoken with Mary and Margaret yet? His brains were all over the map.

“Will do.” It was the most matter-of-fact Reggie had ever sounded. He startled himself for a moment. But then he titled his head, and gestured Detta toward the door.

It worked. They were free.

Except they were trapped in a carriage. Again.

Thankfully it was a short trip for Bernadette to stare out the window while he tried not to stare at her staring.

“We don’t have to attend any more balls while you’re here,” he said, trying to reassure her about something. Anything, really.

“Balls are fine.”

He would have normally chuckled at the statement, but her demeanor made it impossible to do so.

“Any other events you would like to avoid?”

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