Page 55 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
He swallowed audibly. “I think I do.”
They danced in silence for a while, both contemplating the situation. Ava had no idea what to think. It all seemed implausible, but she knew that Edward believed it, and he was no fool.
“Why would the government kill your brother?” she asked at last and then listened in horror as he whispered to her exactly what he had been told. The need to cling to him became exigent. She wanted to pick him up and run away with him.
“Edward, I think you should do as he said andleave this alone.”
He shook his head slowly against her own. “Darling, I wish I could. I wish with all my heart. But I can’t. Don’t you worry though. I shall keep you safe. Perhaps when your family returns to London, you and Lily should go with them.”
“No!” she almost shouted it but remembered at the last minute to whisper even as his hold tightened warningly around her waist. “I am not leaving you,” she said stubbornly.
“This could get very dangerous, Ava.”
“Then it would be too dangerous to you too, Edward. You need to leave this alone.”
“I can’t.”
“You have to.”
She let go of him, stepping back so she could look him in the eye. “Edward.Please.”
“I…”
Her fingers dug into his arms. “Please. I love you. Don’t leave me.” She batted her lashes at him, clearing the moisture from her eyes.
He stopped and stared in disbelief.
I love you too.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Edward could hardly wait for the guests to leave. He felt deeply that he and Ava needed some time alone. Wherever she was in the room, he felt connected to her by an invisible bond. For her to have said those words to him, with his face the way it was, felt like a blessing to Edward.
Finally, the party began to wind down, and apart from a few stragglers—including Margaret and Ava’s mother— most people had left. He did not catch sight of the Earl of Fenton again, much to his relief. The man was a cad and a rake, and he deserved a pistol ball to the arse. Edward took Ava’s hand and led her up the stairs after saying good night to her family.
Their shoulders brushed as they walked down the corridor, and they exchanged shy smiles as if this was their first night together. Ava hesitated at his door. “I don’t know; should I go and get ready for bed in my own bed chambers first?”
“Only if you wish to.”
She hesitated a moment longer before shrugging and reaching for his door. She opened it and stepped into his chambers, turning to face him as she stepped bashfully from side to side. “Where do you want me?”
His gaze raked over her frame as he imagined all the things, he could do to her. There were many things that he wanted to do. He reached up, untied his mask, and threw it aside, watching her all the while. She kept her eyes steady on him, unflinching.
He stalked toward her, and she watched him come, eyes widening further with every step. As he reached her, he scooped her up, and she squealed as he carried her to the bed.
“Did I tell you how lovely you look tonight?” he asked, setting her down gently on the bed.
“You may have. I don’t recall,” she replied coyly.
“Well, you are just about the loveliest thing I have ever seen. Turn around.” She hastened to do as he said, turning to lie on her stomach. He straddled her, reaching for her buttons. One by one, he began to undo them, exposing her corset. Once he was done with her buttons, he unlaced her corset and then began massaging the blood back into her flesh.
She groaned with relief. “Oh, that feels lovely.”
He pushed her gown off her shoulders so that he could massage those too. Her groans became louder and more appreciative.
“Sit up,” he said quietly, and she pushed herself to a sitting position, so he could push her gown down to her waist and pull her corset off. She turned to face him, breasts bouncing, a blush on her face. She looked shyly into his eyes and smiled.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, reaching out to cup her breast, “soft and warm. I just want to bury myself inside of you.”
