Page 110 of The Captive Duke
“Now that I’m here, of course you are.” He drew circles on her nape with his thumb, lazy caresses that drained all the nameless worry out of her.
“What do you mean, Marcus was too much the officer?”
His fingers on her neck slowed. “He was all bonhomie and good show. He’s facing near ruin at Greendale but wouldn’t let me lend a hand.”
The estate was another victim of Greendale’s legacy, and in some ways, one bearing the more difficult wounds to overcome. “How could you tell?”
His hand shifted to knead her shoulders, and Gilly let loose a soft groan. “My countess sounds like Chessie after a good roll.”
“My duke has a few talents that might endear him after all.”
“You got the important part right,” he said. “I am your duke, but back to the matter at hand. Marcus was careful to take me around to his best farms, but still, the fences are sagging, the land is tired, the herds are adequate, but the beasts are runty enough to suggest years of inbreeding. The servants scurry around like whipped dogs, and Marcus claims the solicitors won’t turn loose of any of the estate monies because of legal restrictions.”
“Greendale had coin,” Gilly said. “Or he acted like he did.” She stifled a yawn and shifted her leg to a more comfortable position on Christian’s thighs.
“Move your leg like that again at your peril.”
Her eyes flew open. “I’m not…I’m still indisposed.”
He patted her bum through her nightgown. “That doesn’t preclude me from wanting you, or you from wanting me.”
Would anything?“It most certainly should.”
“Gilly, dearest lady, you likely treasured your indisposition because it meant old Greendale stayed at a distance. He’s dead. If you want your pleasure of me, I’m not put off by a little untidiness. Copulation is messy. That’s part of its charm.”
“You are entirely lacking in delicacy.” And yet, his honesty, his simply lusty directness was as precious to her as the feel of his fingers circling gently on her neck.
“I am entirely lacking in subterfuge when it comes to my countess. Give me your hand.” He followed her arm down and took her hand in his. “Feel this.”
He put her fingers around his engorged shaft then took his hand away.
“You get into this state merely fromtalkingto me?”
“And from missing you, and touching your sweet flesh, and feeling your leg brushing against my thighs in an unintentionally provocative manner.”
He fell silent, and Gilly trailed her fingers over his length—intentionally. He was quite aroused, so aroused she considered risking the sheets. And her dignity.
“You can bring me off, love, touching me like that.”
“I can…?” She stroked him again, though repeating such vulgar language was beyond her—taking her nightgown off before him had once been beyond her too.
“Take you about two minutes, and you’d have a very grateful duke in your bed, did you try it.”
“A very chatty duke…” she muttered as she sleeved him with her fingers, a light grip, and stroked over the length of him while he flexed his hips.
“That’s it,” he said, setting up a rhythm. “And you could come here and give a lonesome duke some kisses to linger over lest he rush his fences.”
The hand on her nape slid up into her hair and guided her head so he could get his mouth on hers, but she pulled back.
“I’m glad you’re home.” Foolish words, but she wanted to give him something, because in his blatant desire for her, even in her indisposition and crankiness and fatigue, he gave her a precious gift.
“I’m glad to be home.” His mouth was still smiling when he set his lips against hers.
He kissed her with easy languor, letting her take the lead until the end, when his hand closed over hers and he demanded more than a light grip. He shoved the sheets aside, bowed up, and cradled her against him tightly, while a wet warmth spilled over their hands and his breath seized in his chest. When he lay back on a sigh, he still didn’t let her hand go.
“We’ll need a handkerchief, Your Grace, or a flannel or a—”
“Hush.” He stroked her hair. “Give me a minute to hold you, and then an hour to thank you. You now have a favor to call in, Gilly, the best kind of favor.”
