Page 92 of A Bride for the Forbidden Duke
She paused, chewing her lip. Her hair tumbled down her shoulder, brushing his chest, and he began to play with it idly. “Well… I know you feelsomeguilt towards my brother’s disappearance.”
Henry groaned. “I had half a mind to bury myself in you tonight, but now, I find the flames of my desire are completely banked.”
She giggled, playfully hitting his chest. “Nevertheless, I know you feel some remorse. And… Well, I was rather thinking, what better way to extend an apology to him than to host a ball? I did tell Robert we would help him be reintroduced to society. You agreed to endorse him, and your name supports his reentry, so it seems fitting, does it not?”
Henry hummed, nodding. “I see.”
“You see?”
“I see.” He slowly turned his gaze to her. “I see that you are finding an excuse to throw the ball you have likely been wanting since we wed.”
She feigned a gasp. “That is absurd!”
“Is it truly?”
“Incredibly,” she said and then remembered what he had said about the flames of desire.
Perhaps she could fire them again.
She draped herself over him, her leg tucked around his still, as she slowly shimmied down his body. “I would never scheme such a thing. I merely think a ball would be in our best interests. We get to show an appearance as man and wife.” Her fingertips danced down the trail of dark hair leading to his groin. “And… Well, we do some reintroductions.”
She was careful to keep her brother’s name out of her speaking as Henry twitched as her fingers explored. She wrapped them around his length.
“Are you trying to seduce me to get your way, Duchess?” he asked, a rare smile on his face.
“Me? Never.” Veronica let her mouth ghost along the tip. “I am only reminding myself of how much you enjoyed this earlier. And how much I enjoyed letting go and having you control me…”
She eyed him suggestively before her lips wrapped around him obscenely.
“And this also has—ah—” She sank her mouth down onto him. Where Henry had one arm tucked behind his head, he quickly moved it to cup her face. “—nothing to do with the fact that the ballroom has been the most recently redecorated room? Thecurtains, the new central piece for the Westley crest, and the ornaments?”
Veronica only eyed him as she teased and convinced him.
“Yes, I have noticed, my dear Duchess.”
Releasing him, she smiled. “I merely think it is a mutually beneficial suggestion.”
“Mmm,” he hummed in acknowledgement. “If you keep up what you are doing, then perhaps I can consider it.”
“Like this?” she asked coyly, taking him into her mouth once more.
“Exactly like that,” he breathed, his eyes slipping closed as he grinded up into her mouth.
Veronica already knew her answer, of course, for she was a duchess, and that was part of her role. Henry was already emerging into society more at her side, understanding that he needed to show up with her as Duke and Duchess of Westley.
The ball would go ahead, and Veronica would have a glorious time planning it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Must you leave so soon?” Veronica asked. “The guest chamber is not needed. It is free for your use.”
“That is very generous of you, sister, but I truly must leave,” Robert said, glancing over her shoulder at the Duke. “You have both shown me incredible generosity even when my earlier behavior did not warrant it.”
She waved him off. “You are my brother, and this is my home. I wish for you to feel comfortable in it.”
His gaze returned to her. “Nevertheless, I must not keep our fretful mother waiting longer for her reunion, and I believe you have a ball to organize.”
Over breakfast, which she had been overjoyed to see her brother accompany her for, she had announced her plans for the ball. He had almost wept with gratitude.
