Page 36 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
“Well, well, well, you are just everywhere, are you not?” he murmured to himself.
Mr. Michaelson had suggested that if Edward could spare the time, perhaps he could come up to London. “What terrible timing,” Edward said to himself with a sigh.
“I could perhaps go for a few days. I will just tell Ava that I was called away on duty. It will give me some time to think.”
He got up and went to his room, ready to pack up, so he could leave early in the morning. He looked toward the connecting door, wondering if he should just barge in or knock. He walked slowly toward it and stopped, staring at the door in trepidation.
With a deep breath, he reached out and opened the door.
The room was bathed in candlelight, but that meant there were a lot of corners that were in the shadows, and he did not see her right away. He walked into the room and said her name softly, “Ava?”
There was a splash of movement in the tub at the other end of the bed and then Ava’s head poked out to the side, her hair all wet and stringy, hanging down her very bare shoulders. She looked up at him, blue eyes wide with surprise.
“Edward,” she said, her voice hoarse.
He was frozen in place, unable to go back or forward. She sat up, staring hopefully up at him.
“I am… sorry. I should leave,” he stammered.
She stretched her hand out. “No, don’t go. Please.”
He stopped again, not knowing what to do.
“Come here.” Her voice was soft, low, and seductive. He turned and looked at her. “Please.”
He could perhaps resist her soft seduction, but he could not resist her plea. Turning completely around, he stepped up to the tub and knelt down, looking into her eyes.
“Why are you resisting this so hard?” she asked.
“I…” His throat clicked as he shook his head. “I don’t know. I suppose… I never imagined that any lady would want me.” His mouth twisted, “At least, not unless I was paying for the privilege, and so I suppose I cut the possibility out of my mind.”
“You didn’t even give me a chance. Giveusa chance.”
His eyes slid away. “I was… afraid, I suppose,” he whispered.
She reached out and clutched his wrist. “So am I,” she said intently. “I am scared of trying and being rejected and humiliated, once again. I am scared that the regard I hold for you is not returned.”
He snorted with derision, shaking his head. “Not returned?” He slid her a wry glance. “I am doingeverythingI can to stop myself from ravishing you at the moment.”
“Why?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “Why what?”
“Why are you stopping yourself?”
He looked up, piercing blue gaze meeting soft blue gaze. “Oh… you want me to?—”
“I do.”
He shook his head slowly, still watching her in disbelief. “You don’t know what you?—”
“I do.”
Her gaze was open, letting him see what he would in her eyes. He was still shaking his head but more in a thoughtless way rather than denial. She inclined her lips upward and pursed them in wordless appeal.
Slowly, he leaned in, his eyes on her mouth, his own parting slowly. “Ava,” he mouthed before pressing his lips to hers. The first touch was a jolt to his system, and then he just sank into her, completely lost in the sensation of her lips, like pillowy down, yielding to his superior strength, asking to be dominated.
He put a hand on her wet shoulder, kneading gently, enjoying the sensation of her soft flesh beneath his fingers.
