Page 61 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“She had no right to speak to you that way.”
“Sometimes you must let me fight my own battles. I can handletonwomen like her.”
She wasn’t entirely sure how true that was anymore. Usually, she could but now she was the butt of their gossip and speculation, and she had lost her grip on her ability to do so.
“Although it was foolish of her, she was in love. Misguidedly, but I suppose one cannot choose who their heart wants. It makes sense that she lashed out.”
Alexander moved closer to her, making her breath catch. “You aremine, Madeleine. When will you realize that? Do you know what that means, wife?”
He drew a finger down the side of her face, caressing her cheek.
“It means that nobody, and I meannobody, should ever dare to insult you. Not in my presence, not without my presence. That means you should receive respect, and if you do not I will ensure that changes immediately.”
Madeleine opened her mouth, preparing to argue back but Alexander pressed a finger to her parted lips.
“No.” He shook his head. “Do not refuse my words. You did not deserve the way Kinsfeld treated you. I am not a fool, Madeleine; I know it was likely worse than you will ever confess. You never deserved any of it.”
“He merely ignored me. It is the unfortunate fate for many,” she whispered.
He shook his head again. “No, that is no way for anyone to treat their wife.”
Suddenly, the carriage felt a lot smaller with the pad of his finger pressed to her mouth, and the urge Madeleine possessed to run her tongue over his skin.
She held back, but Alexander’s figure was there, leaning over her, demanding her full attention.
She gave it willingly.
“Perhaps, Duchess, it is time I showed you how a real man treats his wife.”
The words sank into her slowly, and she was still understanding them even as he kissed her.
His mouth was searing against hers, demanding yet soft, his lips moving against hers sensually.
After a moment, he swiped his tongue over her lower lip, and sucked her lip between his. Madeleine’s stomach curled with heat, and she gasped, letting herself fall into that pit of desire he always opened up in her.
When he pulled back, he already looked like a man wrecked.
His gaze was on her intensely, dark and promising.
“Alexander,” she whispered.
Her husband straightened up, and she almost mourned the loss of his nearness, only to watch him sink to his knees before her in the carriage.
Her mouth opened, and she could not hold back her soft gasp of surprise as he looked up at her from between her legs.
“Here is what will happen, Duchess,” he told her. “This carriage is going to continue taking us to Silverton Hall but meanwhile, you are going to lift your skirts, and you are going to bare yourself ever so prettily for me. And me… I am finally going to feast on you like I have been dreaming of doing for many, many nights.”
Her heart stuttered, and her desire flickered, blazing bright.
“Yes?” he prompted.
“Yes,” she sighed, aroused already.
“Do not lower your skirts for a moment,” he told her. “I want to have nothing in my way when my mouth is on you.”
She could not hold back her whimper of shame, almost, as she slowly hitched up the skirt of her dress, baring herself.
“Part your legs for me, wife.”
