Page 90 of Who Wants to Marry a Duke
When he sobered, she knew they were still dancing around the main issue.
“So you do forgive me,” he said.
“Only if you promise never to lie to me again. Because unlike your sister, I can’t bear it if you tell me anything less than the whole truth, warts and all.” She blinked back tears. “If I found out you had a mistress or spent your evenings in the stews when you told me you were at your club, it would destroy me.”
“I wouldn’t want to do that, ever,” he said earnestly. “So yes, I promise never to lie to you.”
“I promise never to lie to you, either.” She cupped his cheek. “And I forgive you.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I don’t think I could bear to live unforgiven by you.”
Oh, but the man had a way with words sometimes. She flashed him a teasing smile. “You need to explain that better.”
“I beg your pardon?”
She lowered her voice to what she hoped was a temptress’s thrum. “The way you explained why you wanted the wedding done at Rosethorn by special license. Remember?”
He gazed at her a long moment before a smile crept over his lips. “Idoremember.”
When he tried to pull her into his arms, she danced back toward Mama’s clematis and ivy bower, tugging him along. “I believe we’ll need privacy for this, Your Grace. Unless you want to be forced into marrying me when we’re caught in an embrace.”
“That would be dreadful,” he said, his eyes darkening as they entered the cold arbor. “But I warn you, if we’re to stay in here, in the chill of autumn, we’ll need to keep each other warm, and that will mean a more . . . intimate encounter.”
“You’ll have to explain what you mean by that,” she whispered.
He dragged her into his arms, kissing her so thoroughly she could hardly keep her wits about her. He pulled back only long enough to glance around. As he spotted the stone bench there, he pulled her over to it and took a seat.
She tried to sit beside him, but he wouldn’t have it. Instead, he tugged her between his legs. “You wore this front-opening gown for me, didn’t you, sweeting?”
“And what if I did?” she said lightly as she dropped the scene from his play onto the bench beside him.
“Then I shall take full advantage.” He had her gown open within moments and her short stays pulled down in even less time. But he took his time with her shift, unfastening each tiny button with care. “Ah, yes,” he murmured as he bared her bosom. “Just what I was looking for.”
By the time he had his mouth on her breast, she thought she would die of waiting. As he sucked at one and fondled the other, she let out a fractured breath. “You are shockingly . . . good at that. It’s a bit . . . worrisome.”
“I’ll admit to”—he tugged at her nipple with his teeth—“gaining experience in an . . . unsavory manner. You would probably disapprove.” He licked her quite deliciously. “But those days are over.”
She gazed down at him. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, yes.” He tongued each nipple until she gasped. “You like that, my wanton wife-to-be?”
“Yes,” she choked out, and clasped his head. “Though I don’t remember . . . agreeing to marry you after my . . . most recent refusal.”
He paused to stare up into her face. “Don’t tease me about that. I thought I’d lost you forever. And I had no one to blame for it but myself. So take pity on me. I won’t survive the loss of you again, my love.”
“You . . . you love me?” she stammered.
“More than you can imagine.” He worked loose the buttons of his fall and then his drawers and pulled them down and open in front to expose his very aroused flesh. “Shall I explain it some more?”
“Definitely.” She smiled. “I fear your wife-to-be is a slow learner.”
Lifting her skirts, he urged her to straddle him. She noticed he was careful to spread his coat on the bench on either side so she didn’t have to kneel on the cold stone as he guided her onto his member. That small gentlemanly bit of concern warmed her heart.
As she slid down atop him, he groaned. “You feel like heaven, sweeting.”
“So do you,” she whispered, surprised to find that the discomfort from their first time was gone, replaced by the pleasing feeling of his thickness inside her. “Myheaven.Mylove.”
“Mine,” he growled possessively as he teased and sucked her breast. “Forever.”
