Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
“ Y ou are trembling.” The Duke’s voice was silky. “Do you truly think you heard a ghost?”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Maddie really was trembling like a leaf as he approached her. Yes, she had made her choice, and it was strangely thrilling to submit to it. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t scared witless as well.
He walked up to her, standing very close, but he didn’t touch her. He simply gazed down at her, his face enigmatic.
She laughed weakly. “I do not know any longer.”
“It was probably a mouse,” he said, smiling crookedly. “Do not fear. I promise I will protect you from it.” His mouth twitched. “I will slay the beast with my sword and lay it at your feet, My Lady.”
A warm glow began to spread through her like honey. He was being charming again, and she was almost powerless to resist him. The contempt that she had felt emanating from him today seemed to have vanished entirely.
Do not be fooled . You know he has two sides. And you know that the charm is for a purpose.
She felt like putting her fingers in her ears to block out the voice. She knew that it spoke the truth, but she didn’t want to hear it. Not at that moment. She had made her decision to be here. She could have left. He had given her the choice.
But something more powerful had compelled her to stay. She knew it was the overwhelming desire she felt for him. And it was also curiosity. She wanted to know what it would be like if he did more than kiss her. His kisses had aroused her so fully that she felt as if a fire was burning inside her and she would surely die if it wasn’t extinguished.
So be it . I surrender to it… come what may.
He took the candlestick from her hand, quite gently, leading her over to the long chaise sofa in the corner. Her body felt oddly heavy, her blood pounding in her veins.
He held the candle aloft for a moment, gazing at her. The silence stretched between them.
“What… what are you doing?” she whispered, feeling shy.
“I just want to look at you,” he whispered back, his grey eyes intense. “My eyes want to drink you in. You are so very beautiful, My Lady.”
“Maddie.” She blushed hard, swallowing a painful lump in her throat. “Please, call me by my name. It seems… odd for you to address me in such a formal way, given the circumstances.”
He laughed softly. “Yes, it does. Maddie . A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”
Her blush deepened. He thought her beautiful. She felt like she was blossoming, transforming, in front of his very eyes. She knew it was just a word—she had been called beautiful too many times to remember. But it had never affected her like this. Idly, she wondered why.
It is because his eyes tell you that he means it . His eyes show that he really does think you are beautiful. This, at least, is not a lie. It is real.
She raised her chin, meeting his gaze. He was impossibly beautiful to her as well, but she didn’t know how to express it. Her heart somersaulted with delight as she absorbed his tall, muscular physique, the way a dark lock fell across his forehead, and his magnetic grey eyes. Truly, she had never beheld a man like him.
I want to touch him. I want him to touch me.
But suddenly, his countenance changed. His gaze hardened, just a little.
“My cousin seems to appreciate your beauty as well,” he said curtly, his eyes narrowing. “I do hope that you are not encouraging him.”
“We have already spoken about this,” she countered, an edge to her voice. “I am merely being polite to Lord Christopher.”
He kept gazing at her. “Really? Because you were ensconced in quite a cozy tête-à-tête with him in the drawing room this evening.” He paused, staring at her. “You didn’t seem to even notice when I left the room.”
Maddie’s jaw dropped. He truly was jealous that his cousin was paying attention to her. She hadn’t imagined it.
“Does it matter to you whether I notice if you leave a room?” she asked, really wanting to know the answer.
They were so close now that she felt his breath on her face.
“You know that it does,” he replied in an anguished whisper. “You know that you have invaded my bloodstream. And I cannot stand that you would ever let anyone kiss you besides me.”
Her heart fluttered. Slowly, he put down the candle, taking both her hands, and pulling her towards him. Maddie felt like she was stepping into a dream.
Boldly, she reached up, cradling his face in her hands, feeling his skin and the hard, angular lines of his cheeks and chin, just like she wanted to. It felt divine. As her fingers drifted towards his lips, he took possession of one of them, drawing it deeply into his mouth.
She gave a strangled gasp. He was suckling on her finger, pulling it deeper, his eyes fixed on hers. She felt a deep, primal tug inside. Her eyes fluttered shut as the incredible sensations enveloped her. She felt like she was sinking into a bottomless pool of warmth.
“Open your eyes,” he commanded in a husky whisper.
She obeyed him, her eyes opening.
She gasped again. There was such fierce hunger on his face that it was almost frightening. Before she could even truly comprehend it, he wound his arms around her tightly, pulling her to him. His hands were suddenly in her hair, dislodging her pins so that it tumbled down her back.
He kissed her then, devouring her lips. She clung to him, gripping him for dear life as the sensations swept over her anew. She vaguely realized that they were falling onto the floor. It occurred to her briefly that her gown would probably be ruined.
How was she going to explain it to Jane?
But before the thought could take root, it vanished, as she felt his hands sliding up her legs, exposing her stockings, her gown bunching around her waist. He was breathing heavily, his eyes narrowed, gazing down at her legs for a moment, before his hands slid higher, to the bodice of her gown.
Oh, yes .
She felt him pull the bodice down so that her breasts spilled out.
Oh, yes, please.
He looked at her naked breasts for a moment, seemingly glorying in the sight of them. He flicked one nipple with the tip of a finger. A shock sizzled through her.
“Divine,” he whispered, smiling with satisfaction. “Truly divine.”
He bent his head, drawing her nipple deep into his mouth. It was still sizzling from the flick, but now, it was as if something else entirely was happening.
She cried out, in alarm as well as arousal, her head starting to turn from side to side on the ground. It was almost like it was too much pleasure, so much that she could barely take it.
I have died and gone to heaven. A most glorious heaven!
Her back started to arch as wave after wave of those tiny shocks overwhelmed her. He was suckling furiously, intermittently flicking her nipple with his tongue, driving her crazy. His hand had snaked to her other breast, cupping it, grazing that nipple as he suckled. The combination was so intense that she arched her back again.
A sudden, powerful heat raced through her body. Vaguely, she realized that she was so aroused that it was like a flood coming out of her.
She only just realized his other hand had snaked down her body, lifting her gown higher still, before reaching between her legs and cupping her most intimate area. She stiffened as he opened her, sliding a finger inside her, pressing against her at the same time.
His mouth left her nipple, and he gazed up at her, his eyes dazed. “Oh, Lord,” he whispered. “You are so moist, my darling. It is beautiful…”
She barely heard him, for something was happening to her under the touch of his hand, gaining in intensity by the second. He took her nipple back into his mouth, suckling furiously, as his fingers worked their magic inside her.
She stiffened again, crying out in an agonizing way as a flood of sensation enveloped her, wave after intense wave, with such force that she felt as if she was losing herself entirely.
“Oh!” she cried, lost in the wild wonder of it, as the peak hit her with the force of a sledgehammer. “Oh, Daniel.”
It was diminishing, tapering off, falling away from her. A delicious warmth enveloped her. She felt drowsy and content—more content than she had ever felt in her life. She barely had the energy to react when she felt him kiss her softly on the cheek as he slowly removed his fingers.
“What was that?” she murmured, her eyes fluttering shut.
She heard him laugh gently, as if from a great distance. “That was life itself,” he whispered. “That was the reason we live.”
She tried to reply, but she was so very, very sleepy. The last thing she felt was the warmth of a blanket laid gently over her before she blissfully drifted off to sleep.
Daniel kept gazing at the sleeping woman in his arms. She had crashed entirely. Fascinated, he kept watching her, noting her parted rosebud lips, the widow’s peak on her forehead, and her dusky eyelashes, which had golden tips, as if they had been gilded.
Hound’s teeth , I could watch her sleep all night. How beautiful she is.
He was so hard that it was painful. He wanted to take her so badly, especially after witnessing the wild abandon of her release, how her body had opened to him like a sunflower opening its petals to the sun. It would be easy. But something stopped him.
Wait . Prolong it. It will be well worth it.
He heard a muffled voice outside. She had slept long enough—people would be wondering where she was. He sighed heavily, putting a hand on her shoulder and shaking her gently. Her eyes opened. She looked dazed.
“Well, My Lady,” he whispered, “we can cross Sleep With A Gentleman off your list now.”
Maddie sat up, looking confused. She didn’t say a thing for a moment. He put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. But to his dismay, she stiffened, jumping to her feet. She gazed down at him.
“This was a mistake,” she muttered, straightening her gown, looking shamefaced. “A big mistake. And it will not happen again.”
Before he could say anything, she ran out of the room, unlocking the door and disappearing into the night.
Daniel sighed again, getting up from the floor. He had hoped that she had irrevocably surrendered to what was happening between them—to what must happen between them. Alas, it seemed he still had work to do before he could finally possess her.
But what delicious work it was. The best sport that he had ever undertaken.
He would dream of her tonight… of her beautiful face in that final moment of her release, when she had cried out. It was a sight that he could never forget. He was sure of it.
The next day at the breakfast table, Maddie could barely eat. All she could think about was what had happened the night before in the Duke’s lair. The shocking thing that had occurred within her body that she had never, ever felt before.
She blushed fiercely as she recalled what he had done to her. He knew her most intimate place. And he had coaxed something from her that she had never even known existed.
She glanced around the table. Mercifully, he wasn’t in attendance yet. She didn’t know how she could even look at him when the time came. Her strategy to avoid him must take precedence over everything else.
You are a fool . You walked into his trap willingly. You wanted it to happen.
And yet… her body was still glowing, still thrumming from what he had done to her. The amazing thing he had evoked within her. How could such an incredible thing be wrong? She was so confused that she didn’t know what to think anymore.
She was so engrossed in her reverie that she barely noticed when Selina sat down beside her, reaching for some toast. Her best friend coughed.
Maddie started.
“What happened to you last night?” Selina asked, buttering her toast. “You were gone for ages.”
Maddie plastered a smile on her face. “Oh, you know, I just kept wandering, searching for Lady Darnley’s pup.” She hesitated. “I didn’t realize that Augusta had found it already.”
“Thank the Lord,” Selina said, grinning. “I was starting to worry that it drowned in the lake. Lady Darnley was overjoyed when we brought it to her safe and sound.” She gazed at Maddie curiously. “You look different, dearest. You have a glow about you.”
Maddie almost dropped her cup of tea. “Do I? I suppose it must be that new rouge that Jane purchased in London. It is all the rage.”
Selina raised her eyebrows. “Really? But you disdain artifice! You never paint your face like a trollop. I haven’t known you to even use face powder before.”
Maddie shrugged, feeling desperately uncomfortable. “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. But if it looks too much, then I will stop wearing it. Maybe Jane applied just a little too much during my toilette this morning.”
Selina bit into her toast, still staring at her quizzically. Maddie sipped her tea, trying to keep her composure. She knew exactly why she was glowing. But the real reason wasn’t something she could tell Selina. Not now, in this public place, and not even in private.
She felt sad. Selina was her very best friend in the world. Normally, they confided in each other about everything. But there was just no way she could tell her best friend about the strange thing that was happening between her and Daniel. She didn’t think Selina would approve at all.
The door to the dining room opened. Maddie almost dropped her teacup again. It was the Duke.
Do not look at him. Do not even glance his way!
But, of course, she couldn’t resist. To her relief, he took a seat on the other end of the table, next to Lady Darnley. He turned to the older lady.
“And how is your puppy this morning, Lady Darnley?” he asked. “I hope you are spoiling him after his great adventure.”
Lady Darnley beamed. “Oh, yes, Your Grace! He has been in the lap of luxury, being fed sweetmeats, the little rascal! I venture he will not wander far again after his scare last night.”
The Duke nodded. “I am only sorry I was not the one to find him,” he said solemnly. “I searched for a good while. But it hardly matters. All is well that ends well.”
Maddie’s face burnt with shame. She knew he hadn’t searched for the puppy at all. And her search for the lost animal had been curtailed by him. While everyone else was scouring the grounds, they had been locked in his lair, doing scandalous things.
Well, My Lady, we can cross Sleep With A Gentleman off your list now.
His voice from the previous night, just before she had fled the lair, drifted into her mind, as clear as a bell. Her color deepened. She had fallen asleep, and he had watched her sleeping. The first thing she had seen when she had opened her eyes was his face gazing at her avidly.
Somehow, it was even more intimate than what had happened previously. One was vulnerable when sleeping. She didn’t know what to think about it at all.
The list. There are still more things on it…
She put down her teacup, rising to her feet, throwing her napkin on the table. She couldn’t eat, and she couldn’t stay in this room with him. Not for one more minute.
She glanced at him again. Her eyes widened. Lady Darnley was dabbing at her eyes with her lace handkerchief, clearly distressed, as she recounted in detail the lead-up to the loss of her pup last night to the Duke.
That wasn’t surprising. Lady Darnley always wore her heart on her sleeve a little bit, particularly when it concerned her animals. What was surprising was the way the Duke was handling it. He was patting her arm, talking to her in a soothing voice. The old lady smiled at him tremulously.
Maddie frowned. It was a kind, caring gesture, and it seemed genuine. But even if it wasn’t, the effect it had on the lady was real. Was it possible that the Duke had a tender side, after all?
“Shall we go for a walk this morning?” Selina asked, making her jump. “Maybe Augusta could come with us.”
Maddie nodded quickly, seemingly just as eager to escape. “That sounds perfect, dearest.”
“And then, we must confer about our gowns for this evening,” Selina added, smiling. “That shall take some time.”
Maddie looked blank. “Why?”
Selina laughed. “Your mind is like a sieve, Maddie! The ball is this evening. Mama will be preparing for it for the entire day. It will be the talk of the district. Simply everyone is coming.”
“Of course,” Maddie said in a faint voice. “The ball. How could I forget?”
Quickly, she started walking out of the room, looking straight ahead. But when she reached the door, she glanced back. The Duke was gazing at her, a warm expression on his face.
Oh, how was she going to evade him now, after what he had done to her?