Page 59 of A Virgin for the Duke of Scars
“I know I shouldn’t care,” she began. “I know you met women before. That you did not grow up under the strict rules of the convent. Of course, other women would want you.”
Aaron watched her carefully as she paced back and forth in front of him. His gaze never left her, and she was grateful that he was not afraid of her emotions, whatever they were.
“I know you are married to me now, and it no longer matters, but?—”
Aaron took two steps forward and put her hand on her shoulder, effectively stopping her pacing. He lifted her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. She did so willingly for the first time since Lady Isabella introduced herself.
“But?”
“I hated the way she looked at you. It is irrational, but I felt like gouging her eyes out,” Theresa mumbled.
She felt the color rise in her cheeks and was grateful that the darkness would hide it from him.
The ensuing laughter surprised her so much that she turned around to see from which direction it came. Only then did she realize that the sound was coming from her husband.
“Are you making fun of me again?”
Aaron responded by lifting a gentle hand to her cheek. He brushed it with the back of his fingers, a tender touch that Theresa found herself leaning into more than she would like if he were making fun of her.
“That woman means nothing to me. Never did. But you…” He trailed off, leaning in.
Without hesitation, he pressed a kiss to her cheek where his hand had been a few moments ago.
His lips trailed down from her cheek to her jaw, to the sensitive skin of her neck.
Theresa felt her entire body light up at his touch, even though she was distressed by the idea of him with another woman. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was that he did not stop kissing her.
“You are my wife,” he murmured, walking her back to the bench.
When the back of her knees hit the edge, she plopped down.
“Let me show you what it means to be mine.”
CHAPTER 19
Theresa held her breath as Aaron leaned in to kiss her on the neck, the cheeks, the lips. His touch ignited something deep inside her that she could not quench.
This kiss was hungry, hungrier than any they had shared so far. He pressed into her, his hands cupping her face and pulling her closer. She felt each intake of breath, each breath he released, each flick of his tongue.
Aaron was not just kissing her; he was devouring her. She surprised herself by responding to his touch in kind, the type of kiss that she was certain would have scandalized the nuns and sent them praying for salvation.
If this were the precursor to fulfilling her wifely duties, she would gladly do this all day long. She would go to his tower, and she would share his bed without hesitation. If only he would invite her.
And yet, was this not the kind of touch he swore they would never share on their wedding day?
She tried to follow that trail of thought, but was distracted by what his touch was doing to her. It ignited something within her, a heat that pooled at the crown of her head and traveled down to her toes. It was almost too hot for her to tolerate, each time his stroke passed over her skin.
Theresa noticed that the heat pooled in one place more than others. That place between her legs that she was taught was sacred, never to be touched as long as she was serving the Lord.
Part of her wanted to pray for absolution. The other part of her wanted to pray that Aaron would satisfy every longing she had. She was torn between the thought that what they were doing was sinful and the fact that she desperately wanted to keep going.
“What is the matter, little wife?” Aaron asked, as if he could sense the hesitation in the movement of her lips.
“I was just thinking of the vows I would have taken. The sisters would say that this feeling I have for you is sinful,” she admitted.
Though it was hard for her to articulate her thoughts, as distracted as she was by the feel of his lips on hers.
While she spoke, his lips moved to her chin and then trailed down her neck, where he nipped her lightly. She felt his breath against her skin, warm and sensuous.
