Page 52 of The Duke and the Lady in Red
Placing her hands behind his head, she drew him back in, returning that wonderful, luscious mouth of hers to his. He shifted her body, brought her nearer, before plunging deep, growling low as she closed tightly around him.
She rained kisses over his neck and chest while he rocked against her. Harder, faster. Their harsh breaths echoed around them.
Clutching him, she cried out his name, either a benediction or a curse, he couldn’t tell which. Her name on his lips was definitely a curse as pleasure ratcheted through him, unforgiving and furious. He held her tightly while the spasms had their way, and she tightened around him, her haven still undulating from her own release.
Why was it always so intense with her? Why did he feel weakened afterward, yet incredibly powerful? With a long, shuddering sigh, he pressed his forehead to hers. “We shall be late for our engagement.”
“Must we go?”
He’d never known a woman who seemed to welcome the coming together with the fierceness that she did. “We’re expected.”
She leaned back until she could hold his gaze. “By whom?”
“A few friends. We’ve set up a private card game. The stakes are high, which makes it more thrilling.”
“So I’ll just observe.”
“You’ll play.”
“I’m not putting any of the five thousand at risk.”
He tucked stray strands of her hair behind her ear. He liked her flushed skin and unkempt state. “All expenses are on me this week, remember?”
“If I win?”
“Anything over what I give you is yours to keep.”
“I don’t see how I can say no.”
She couldn’t without reneging on their bargain. She was his tonight, however he wanted. He intended to make the most of it.
“You swindled me,” Avendale said, sitting opposite her in the coach. “You can swindle them. Never let them know when you’ve drawn good cards—or poor ones, for that matter. Keep your expression neutral, uncaring. You’ll make out like a highwayman.”
She’d chosen the red because it was what he wanted her to wear. The necklace weighed heavy against her throat because it, too, was what he wanted. While she wished it otherwise, the truth was that she wished to please him. “I’d not expected dishonesty from you, Your Grace.”
“The game we play tonight involves more than cards. It should be to your liking.”
“It’s important that people not know the truth about me. I can’t afford inquiries being made, so how will you explain my presence?”
“No explanation will be required. Besides I have no desire for them to know I fell for your ruse.”
“Not completely. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”
He looked out the window. “It stings my pride to know you could have left so easily with so much unresolved between us.”
“Not so easily, and certainly there would have been regret.”
His gaze came to bear on her as though he could see through the shadows, through her clothing and straight into her soul. “Were the others easy to leave?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose I shall take some consolation in that. How many others were there?”
“I told you last night that I will not discuss my past.”
“Yet I am fascinated by what it might entail.”
With a sigh, she looked out the window, refusing to be baited. He knew far too much, enough to see her imprisoned if he chose. She had to trust that when their time was done, he would not seek retribution through the courts, he would hold to his vow and let her go.
