Page 26 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
Chapter Nine
“What will you be having, Your Grace?” the butler asked Philip as he sat himself down at the breakfast table.
“Hmm?” He looked over his shoulder, not surprised to find one of the members of staff there waiting to serve him. His mind had been elsewhere…
“For breakfast, Your Grace. What are you hungry for?”
A wicked smile flashed across Philip’s face, because there was just the one thing that would satisfy his hunger. And he doubted very much that the kitchen would be capable of producing it.
Perhaps later. Assuming that is, that Iris deserves such a thing. Then again, even if she does not, won’t that make it all the better?
He felt his mouth salivate at the thought. Red hot blood pumped through his body. His crotch turned stiff, and he was forced toshift himself because of the way his manhood pressed against his pants.
It was not a surprising reaction. In fact, since yesterday, he couldn’t even count on his two hands how many times he’d turned hard just picturing Iris in his head. Not what he had expected. Not even what he wanted—or so he told himself.
Is it time to stop pretending?
Was it time for the two of them to admit how much they wanted one another? Philip had spent all evening considering the situation at hand, still not entirely certain what to do. That they were attracted to each other was obvious and he knew beyond a doubt that what happened yesterday was but the tip of the iceberg, and that there was little in this world that would stop them from exploring just how deep their desires ran.
Alas, it wasn’t nearly that simple either.
Sexual attraction was one thing, but this wasn’t some romantic fling or summer fancy. This was a marriage, Iris was his wife, and if they continued down this path without addressing the future, who knew what dangers might lurk that neither could see coming.
To pursue their attraction would be fun, but it might lead to a more serious situation from which they could not untangle themselves. A true marriage… which in Philip’s mind was the last thing he wanted.
There was a good reason that Philip did not want to marry in the first place. One that went beyond a mere dismissal of the concept. His past… memories from his youth that shaped him… a distrust of not just the institution of marriage but of women, of love and romance, because from his experience all it brought was pain.
For that reason, Philip decided that he needed to be strong. For a while, at least. Kissing her was one thing. Tempting her was another. But to go beyond that… Philip was only so self-controlled, and he feared what would happen if they found themselves in the same situation again.
Might this marriage lead to something beyond the expected? Happiness and romance and even love? No… such things as that are impossible, so why even think it.
It was confusing to be sure and were it not for how much he wanted Iris, Philip would have surely gone back to ignoring her as was his original plan. His past, the torrid history which haunted him and guided every decision he made, demanded it.
A shame then that he did want her. So, so much…
“I will wait for my wife to join me,” Philip answered the butler. “In fact, will you check on her for me? See when she is coming down.”
“Right away, Your Grace.” The butler bowed deeply and scurried off.
Philip spent the next few minutes preparing himself. He was determined not to see this morning turn into another fight. To not let his blood rise and his desires for Iris take hold. He needed to control himself—to prove that he could! Only then might he have his answer.
That was the plan, but when he spied the butler scurrying back into the breakfast room, he knew it would be for nought.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “Where is Her Grace?”
The butler grimaced. “I am afraid that she will not be joining you.”
“She said this?”
“She did, Your Grace.”
Philip felt his anger brimming, the first thought to reach him that she was purposefully spurning him. Was it on purpose? Did she do so because she wanted him to punish her again?And would that be such a bad thing…
“Did she give a reason?” he managed to ask.
“I am afraid that she has been taken ill, Your Grace,” the butler explained. “I spoke to her just now and she is still in bed.”
“Ill…” The anger left Philip, replaced by worry.
