Page 174 of His Grace, the Duke
“Hold on,” she said with a laugh. “Do you have any idea how long it took Sarah to get me looking like this?” She gestured to her perfectly set curls and powdered nose. “And if even one bead of this dress is out of place, Paulette will murder me.”
Burke came up behind Tom, one hand on his shoulder. “And how are we to pleasure you, if we cannot touch the dress?”
Her smile wavered as a thought sparked in her mind. Itwas weak, like the flame of a candle lit on a blustery winter’s night, but growing warmer, heating her from the inside out. They needed this. Her men were on edge, unsettled, ravenous. She needed this too. She dropped her hand from Tom’s chest and took a step back. “Pleasure can take many forms, can it not? You know how much I love watching you together.”
Burke’s devious smile spread. “Say what you want, little siren.”
She held his gaze. “I want you to please me.”
She stepped around them, crossing over to James. His eyes traced up her body, lifting to note the sparkle of the tiara in her hair. She saw the ache in him, twisting and fighting as he tried desperately to lock it away. She cupped his cheek with a gloved hand, and he closed his eyes. “Look at me, my love,” she murmured.
He opened his eyes, the green slowly being swallowed by black.
“Tom needs you.”
He stilled under her hand, eyes darting over her shoulder to where she knew Tom stood.
“He doesn’t need you to protect him, or fight for him, or make his decisions for him,” she went on, drawing his eyes back to her. “He just needsyou. Not the Duke of Norland. He needs James. Weallneed James. I am your duchess and your wife, and I’m telling you to comfort him. Nothing will give me more pleasure in this moment than to watch you please him.”
He swallowed, dropping his gaze to her lips. “I can’t protect him outside of this house, outside of my reach,” he admitted softly.
She smiled in understanding. “And thank God for that, for your hands are already more than full.” She brushed her gloved fingers over his brow, sweeping an auburn curl back into place.“Tom has always been a free spirit. He was made to sail away, but he always sails back again. Shall we be his safe harbor?”
James nodded.
Relieved, she tipped up on her toes, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. “Then show him.”
James let out a deep breath and nodded again, holding out his hand. “Tom, come.”
Tom came without hesitation, wrapping himself in James’ arms, burying his face in his neck and breathing him in. James held tight to his shoulders. “I love you,” Tom murmured, the words muffled by James’ cravat. “I love you so goddamn much. Push me away, and I will die.”
“Never,” James replied, digging his fingers into Tom’s curls. He pulled Tom’s head back, holding his gaze. “You are mine. Christ, I would give you the Corbin name if I could,” he said, kissing Tom’s cheek. “Shower you with my love for all to see.” A kiss to his brow. “Call you ‘husband’ in a crowded room—”
Their lips met, Tom fighting James for dominance as they began feverishly shedding their clothes. Rosalie stood back and watched, love blooming inside her, matched by her white-hot, aching need. But she could wait. She was more than happy to wait and to watch. Tom and James needed this. “They’re beautiful,” Burke murmured, coming to stand at her side. “How did we ever get so lucky?”
Before Rosalie could respond, James was breaking his kiss with Tom, glancing over his shoulder. “Burke—I need—” His words died on his lips as a shirtless Tom latched his mouth onto James’ neck, sucking on his flushed skin. Tom’s hands roved, stripping James of his waistcoat. He broke his fevered kisses long enough to drag James’ shirt off over his head. “Burke,” James groaned again.
Next to Rosalie, Burke chuckled. “You have to actually ask me, James. I’m not a mind reader.”
“Yes, you are,” James panted.
Tom shoved his hand inside James’ high-waisted dress pants. Both men groaned as Tom wrapped his hand around James’ hard length.
“Please, Burke,” James tried again. “Let me have him. Let me—God—” Tom squeezed him, silencing his request.
Burke laughed, and Rosalie let out a relieved sigh.
“Does this mean I win?” Tom muttered, his lips and tongue still hungrily teasing James’ flushed skin.
James went still in his arms, his eyes losing some of their haze. “Wait—what?” He looked from Rosalie to Burke.
“Oh, we wagered on how long your stupid rule would last,” Burke explained. “You know, the one where Tom cannot take you with his mouth?”
Tom chuckled, not minding when James tried to shove him off.
“What?” James growled.
“Rosalie’s been out for ages,” Burke added. “She didn’t think you’d last three weeks.”
