Page 41 of Claiming His Lost Duchess
Georgina's eyes widened with false innocence. “Oh! I meant no offense, Your Grace. I was merely observing how fortunate – “
“How fortunate I am,” Graham interrupted, “To have married the most remarkable woman in England. A woman whose intelligence, grace, and beauty put every other lady in this room to shame. A woman who chose to honor me with her hand in marriage despite having every reason to refuse.”
Georgina's mouth fell open at his direct contradiction of her implications.
“Now,” Graham continued, his tone becoming even more dangerously polite, “I suggest you keep your opinions about my wife to yourself. Unless, of course, you enjoy being cut from respectable society entirely. You might not think much of me, but my title is no joke either.”
The threat was unmistakable. As a duke, Graham had the social power to make Georgina's life very difficult if he chose to do so.
“I... of course, Your Grace,” Georgina stammered, backing away. “I meant no harm...”
She fled into the crowd without another word, leaving Joan staring up at Graham with something that looked like wonder.
“You didn't have to defend me,” she said quietly.
“Yes, I did,” Graham replied. “You're my wife. No one speaks to you that way in my presence.”
Before Joan could respond, the orchestra began playing the opening strains of a waltz. Graham turned to her with a formal bow.
“Your Grace,” he said, his tone shifting to something lighter, “Would you honor me with this dance?”
Joan's smile was radiant as she placed her hand in his. “It would be my pleasure, Your Grace.”
Graham led her onto the dance floor, acutely aware of the eyes following their every movement. Let them stare. Let them whisper. Joan was his wife, and after waiting for so long to have her, he was proud to claim her before all the world.
As they moved together in perfect synchronization, Graham found himself leaning closer to speak quietly in her ear. “You realize every man in this room is envying me tonight?”
Joan's cheeks flushed prettily. “I hardly think – “
“They are,” Graham insisted, spinning her gracefully. “They're all wondering how a rough Scottish barbarian managed to win the hand of such an exquisite creature.”
“Graham,” Joan warned, but her voice was breathless with suppressed laughter.
“Do you know what I'm thinking about?” he continued, his voice dropping to a whisper that only she could hear.
“I'm almost afraid to ask,” Joan murmured.
“I'm thinking about how beautiful you look in that gown,” Graham said, his mouth brushing against her ear. “But I'm also thinking about how much more beautiful you'll look when I take it off you tonight.”
Joan stumbled slightly, her face flaming with embarrassment. “Graham!”
“I'm thinking about kissing every inch of skin that's hidden beneath all that sapphire silk,” he continued relentlessly. “I'm thinking about making you cry out my name so loudly that the servants will have no doubt about how thoroughly their duke satisfies his duchess.”
“You cannot say such things while we're dancing,” Joan hissed, though her eyes had darkened with unmistakable desire.
“Why not?” Graham asked innocently. “We're married. It's perfectly natural for a husband to desire his wife.”
“But not to speak of it so... explicitly. Especially not in public,” Joan protested.
“I could speak of it much more explicitly,” Graham assured her with a wicked grin. “I could tell you exactly what I plan to do to you the moment we're alone. How I plan to worship every curve of your body until you're begging me for release.”
Joan's breath caught audibly, and Graham felt a surge of masculine satisfaction at her reaction.
“I could tell you how I've been aching to be inside you again, after so many years,” he continued, his voice growing rougher. “How I lie awake at night thinking about the sounds you make when I touch you. How I want to watch your face when you come apart beneath me.”
“Graham, please,” Joan whispered, and he wasn't sure if she was begging him to stop or to continue.
“I want to taste you again,” he murmured against her ear. “I want to make you forget everything except the feeling of my mouth on your skin. I want to make you mine in every possible way.”
