Page 20 of Taming a Beastly Duke
She held her breath, waiting to see if he would correctly name the poem from which she recited, or if he would mock the optimism within the passage. However, she noticed that he was not looking at her eyes. Rather, he was staring at her lips, licking his own as the desire reached a fever pitch in his eyes.
***
Marcus’s chest felt the wild hammering of his heart as he stared at Miss Barrett. Her awareness of his eyes on her lips fueled his ravenous desire, and he forced himself to look away from her.
“You should flee, Miss Barrett,” he growled, his desire boiling and barely contained. The beast within him clawed to break free; to claim her and mark her as his. He formed fists so tight that his nails dug into his palms. But the sting only served to feed his passion for the young woman.
Instead of leaving or stepping away from him, Miss Barrett moved closer. Her lavender scent overwhelmed him, and his entire being tensed, wrestling with the feral hunger that clamoured to consume her.
“What if I do not want to?” she whispered, placing a delicate, ungloved hand on his shoulder.
The fragmented control he had thus far contained, broke. He cupped her face in his hands, his touch gentle enough to surprise him, given the tremors of need running through his powerful frame. She was already prepared to meet his lips as he placed his mouth on hers with the tenderest of affection. It lingered almost reverently for a moment, but it was not long before his primal urge took control.
Their kiss quickly turned savage with hunger, and Marcus was surprised to discover that Miss Barrett seemed just as starved as he was. She melted against him, the poetry book tumbling to the floor, forgotten. The taste of herlips threatened to undo him completely as he lifted one hand from her waist to her braid and destroyed it, tangling his fingers in her hair.
He thought some distant voice in his mind tried to stop him, but his primal desire roared it into silence when her small whimper of pleasure tried violently to shatter his restraint. She arched into him, the fierce beating of her heart evident as his hand drifted from her hair to just beneath her collarbone. Her innocence was a stark contrast to the heat of her physical response to him. He had no doubt what he would find if he allowed his hand to travel further. And he did not know for how much longer he would have the ability to refrain from doing so.
The sound of approaching footsteps made his decision for him. She pulled away from him, smoothing her unruly hair as he stepped back, both of them breathing heavily as they stared at the door. Marcus knew the implications of them being found in their state. However, he was far more annoyed that they had been interrupted. If his eyes did not deceive him, Miss Barrett’s expression seemed to agree with his.
A shadow retreated quickly from beneath the door, and Miss Barrett faced him with wide eyes.
“I—I,” she stammered, her cheeks bright red and her eyes like molten blue-green from her desire.
Marcus longed to reach for her, to take the innocence which was so intoxicating to him. He yearned to see the rest of her and explore her in ways that would certainly give whoever had approached the door a great deal of scandalous gossip. However, he did not move, watching Miss Barrett flee the library. Her taste lingered on his lips as another wave of dizziness swept over him. He could not discern whether it was from desire or his mystery ailment. All he knew was that his body was still fully responding to the carefree passion they had just shared. And part of him knew it was only a matter of time before he relented to its beckon.
***
Adelaide firmly locked herself inside her chambers, her breath still stolen by the intensity of the new emotions and sensations she had just experienced. She had learned of the heat of attraction the moment she met the Duke. However, it was not until that evening that she learned how it felt to be so desperate to give in to it. She was a proper maiden; she had never had such experiences with a man.
However, as the burn of his kiss lingered on her lips, it was all she wanted in that moment. Leaving the duke’s presence had not quieted the flame below her waist, and pressing on her lower abdomen brought a heated weakness that drove her mad. She hurried over to her vanity, splashing water on her face and chest, marveling at how it fueled the heat within her, rather than cooling it.
She pressed trembling fingers to her lips, which were swollen from the powerful kisses the duke had given her. She hurriedly fixed her skewed nightgown, forcing her breathing to return to normal. Yet her body refused to quiet, humming with the intensity of her desire to finish what was started in the library with the Duke of Lochville.
Chapter Nine
The first thing Adelaide noticed the following morning, apart from the light coming in through her chamber window and beneath the wooden door, lay a folded piece of paper just inches from the bottom of her door. Her heart fluttered as she fetched her robe, holding it around her bosom tightly as she crossed the room to pick up the paper. Her fingers trembled as she unfolded it to see a note written within. The lack of a signature filled her with dread before she read the words.
Miss Barrett
You should be fully apprised of precisely who, or rather what, is extending its hospitality to you during your sojourn at Lochville Manor. The Duke of Lochville is a beast with no compassion or remorse in his darkened heart. You have undoubtedly noticed how unfeeling and severe he is to those he would profess to love. However, that is not his worst crime.
The esteemed Duke of Lockville murdered his father’s ward, Lady Charlotte Delaney, with ruthless intent. London ostracized him for his crime, though he has thus far eluded justice. Did you not ever wonder why a duke would lock himself away, far from the duties and obligations his father once proudly upheld and performed?
Beware, Miss Barrett. Once a murderer, always a murderer. Especially now that he has essentially gotten away with this heinous offence. If his father’s charge was not safe near him, trust that you will not be safe for much longer, either.
The paper slipped from her numbed hand, landing softly on the floor. She stared straight ahead, though her gaze was fixed on the memories of the previous night with the duke, rather than on her present surroundings. She recalled how upset her lady’s maid had been when recounting what she had heard about the accusations of murder aimed at the duke. His kiss still seared on her lips, yet now the warning echoed in her mind. Coupled with his cryptic warning in the library, her stomach tightened. She had thought he referred to his fierce gaze, as if he intended to devour her. Now, however, she wondered if his meaning was far more sinister. What if he truly was a killer?
“Miss Barrett? Sophia asked, having entered without Adelaide noticing.
Adelaide quickly fetched the note, tucking it into the pocket of her robe. She smiled weakly at her lady’s maid, motioning for her to come to help her dress.
“Good morning, Sophia,” she said, trying to conceal the depth of her unrest. “I believe I shall wear a yellow gown today.”
Sophia cast her a curious glance, perceiving her mistress's evident distress. Yet she nodded and complied, assisting Adelaide with her attire while sharing the latest household gossip she had gleaned from the other servants. Adelaide smiled and nodded absently, her mind elsewhere. The duke's warning to flee echoed repeatedly in her head.
***
The Lockhart family was already seated when Adelaide entered the breakfast room. Everyone exchanged greetings, with Edith’s being the most exuberant.
