Page 9 of The Duke and the Widow
Once Rosina’s long blond hair was brushed, she had Molly leave it loose around her shoulders. Why bother putting it up when the handsome duke would just release it?
Molly departed after adding a couple more logs to the fire, and Rosina stared at herself in the mirror. Something nagged at her, but she wasn’t certain what it was, or if she wished to explore it further. She had developed the practice of pushing such thoughts aside as a way of coping with the loss of Ry.
A knock sounded at her door. “Enter,” she called out in a loud whisper.
Rosina stood from her seat and turned to see the duke sweep into her chamber, then close the door behind himself without so much as a sound other than the turn of the lock.
“So it would seem you didn’t trick me,” he said.
She took a few steps closer. “There are far more fun ways to toy with you, Duke.”
Even in the low lighting from the candles and the roaring fire, she could see the tempting bulge forming between the duke’s thighs. He certainly was quite reactive and easy to entice.
“You look beautiful, Lady Preston,” he said, eyeing her from head to toe.
“Please call me Rosina, Duke. And I don’t require pretty words, Your Grace. You needn’t be afraid to dispense with such pretense and say what you wish in moments of passion. All I require from you is an orgasm and respect.”
He choked on the night air. “I shall do my best to tend to both.”
“And as for your own climax. You may spend in my mouth or my arse but never inside my cunt.”
That time he choked harder, and it took him several coughs to recover. “What?”
“I know it should go without saying, but it’s best to establish such rules up front. Given we have no desire to wed, we must do what we can to avoid an unexpected surprise.”
He patted his chest, and after a few moments, seemed to have his coughing fit under control. She assumed he wasn’t used to hearing a lady so boldly set the terms of such encounters, but she didn’t wish to wait to have the conversation when his cock was inside of her.
“I quite agree.” His words came out low and gravelly.
She took the remaining steps to close the distance between them and began working the buttons of his coat. “Very well, Your Grace. Where would you like to begin?”
He grabbed her wrist to halt her movements. “There is something else we must discuss first.”
Rosina eyed him curiously. “Of course, please continue.”
“I…uh…well…”
She wasn’t certain she had ever heard a duke struggle to find his words and simply speak what was on his mind. Rosina nodded to him, urging him to continue. What could possibly be so difficult for him to say to her?
“It’s just that I have never actually…been intimate with anyone.” He closed his eyes, and she believed his face would be the color of a beet if he were illuminated by more than candlelight.
Rosina did her best to hide her shock, to not make him feel more embarrassed than he clearly already was about his admission. “Oh…well…” But she struggled to find her own words. Of anything he might have shared with her, she hadn’t expected that.
“It should go without saying that I require your discretion in this matter.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
He ran his hands along his thighs. “I hoped you might tutor me.”
“Tutor you?” She did her best to keep her face even, still in shock at what had been shared, and far too curious about how and why he had remained a virgin, when most men took to brothels and doxies as soon as they could.
“Yes.” He sighed. “I want to experience everything and learn what to do for you.”
Something about the idea of teaching him the art of coupling made her heart race and her thighs damp. He would be hers to mold and tame, at least for the duration of the house party. The duke expected her to tell him exactly what she wanted and how to give it to her, and the notion was thrilling.
Grinning at him, she licked her lips. “I shall be your willing tutor.”
Chapter 5
