Denying the Duke (Lords & Ladies in Love) Read online

  Alex pushed the door open and entered the room. “Polly tells me you’re ready.”

  Patience’s breathing halted. Apparently, he’d found a place to restore himself since he had also cleaned up and changed from his traveling clothes. No man should look so good. He wore snug tan breeches over powerful thighs, and a white linen shirt—minus a waistcoat—underneath a well-fitting dark blue jacket that no tailor had to add padding to. His cravat was loosely tied, giving him a rakish appearance. He strode from the door to where she sat, mesmerized.

  Reaching his hand out, he smiled what could only be called a wicked smirk. “Has my angel turned to stone?”

  My angel.

  If this was courting, he was certainly doing it right.

  “No.” She jumped up, taking his hand. Instead of placing her arm in his, he kept their fingers intertwined, his favorite way to escort her, as he led her out of the room and down the stairs. The private dining room was snug and well lit with two large candelabras next to a table covered with a white linen cloth and set with the inn’s best dishes.

  Alex closed the door behind them and took her in his arms. With one arm wrapped around her waist, and the other around her shoulders, a devilish look came into his eyes as his lips seared a path from her shoulders, her neck, then up to her lips. Thank goodness he gripped her tightly since her legs were not doing their job of holding her up.

  “What do you say we skip dinner and investigate that bed upstairs?” His lips had moved to her ear, sucking lightly on the lobe and causing gooseflesh to rise on her arms. She moaned softly and began to think that might be a very good idea when the door from the common room opened and the innkeeper’s two daughters arrived with their food.

  They both came to an abrupt stop, the girls running into each other. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Your Grace.”

  Alex recovered as if he were discovered kissing a woman with such passion every day. He smiled at the girls. “Not at all, please go ahead and serve. Her Grace and I are hungry.” He gave a choked sound at his own words.

  “Are you well?”

  He winked at her. “Yes.”

  Patience thought it was high time he stopped kissing her in public. It was becoming a bit discomfiting that they were always discovered. She patted her hair and clung to Alex’s arm as he escorted her to the table. It was a good thing, too, since she was having a hard time walking. This nonsense must stop.

  The fare was tasty. They were served baked trout in cream sauce, boiled turkey, macaroni, broccoli, and apple tarts, which Alex noted were not as good as Cook’s. He ordered a bottle of wine that they shared. The initial tension when she first sat down at being caught by the innkeeper’s daughters faded as she enjoyed the food and they spoke of their arrival in London.

  Patience poured the rest of the tea from the teapot into their cups and looked across the table at Alex. The flickering candlelight emphasized the golden strands in his brown curls, urging her fingers to brush them back from his broad forehead. He sipped his tea and regarded her over the rim of the cup. Of a sudden, she felt her skin flush and a light flutter in her stomach.

  She took a sip of her tea and put the cup into the saucer, noticing her hand shook. Alex reached over and covered her hand with his large, warm one. “Patience?”

  Taking a deep breath, she looked up from their joined hands to his face. “Yes?” She gave him a falsely bright smile, trying to control the emotions flowing through her.

  “Let’s retire to our room. It grows late, and we have an early start in the morning.”

  As if in a trance, she nodded, then rose from the chair and took his hand. It seemed to her there was something she was supposed to remember about them, but the thought vanished as he put his hand on her lower back and led her through the door of their room.

  …

  This was the night.

  Alex had felt Patience weakening since the night before last when he’d left her room in such an aroused state. As he had paced in his room, he’d heard her tossing and turning in her bed. She had been as frustrated as him. Several times he’d placed his hand on the door latch between the rooms to attempt another go-round, but, like a muddleheaded fool, had decided to drink himself into a coma instead.

  It had taken a few coins slipped into the innkeeper’s palm when they arrived earlier to have him announce there was only one room available for them. He’d made sure Patience had enough wine at dinner to relax her, but not too much. He’d arranged with the innkeeper’s daughters to turn down the bed and place flowers and candles around the room. Whether she knew it or not, this was to be Patience’s wedding night, and he wanted it special.

  Patience turned to him as they entered the room. “What is this?”

  “Nothing special.” Liar. “I guess this inn does this for guests.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him. “Indeed?”

  He raised her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, grinning against her soft skin when she closed her eyes and shivered. “I will send Polly up to help you change.”

  He barreled down the stairs in search of Polly. Bloody hell, if this didn’t work he would likely end up a cripple. After sending the maid upstairs with instructions to not put any night rail on his wife with more than three buttons, he left her to join the men drinking in the common room. Probably not what a duke was supposed to do, but hell, he didn’t feel like a duke. He still felt like a soldier in His Majesty’s service.

  After Alex checked his timepiece for the fifth time, Polly finally appeared in the common room to tell him Patience was ready. He thanked her and wished her good night. He stood outside the door for a moment taking deep breaths to compose himself.

  Propped up on pillows, Patience sat on the bed in a low-cut nightgown of soft muslin, which outlined the perfection of her breasts, the dark circles of her nipples visible through the material. Her hair had been brushed to a shine and cascaded down her back in a riot of blond curls.

  He made a note to give Polly a raise tomorrow.

  Her green eyes watched him warily, and he knew in that moment, despite all the preparations, he had to go very slowly or his skittish wife would probably bound from the bed and race downstairs to sleep with her maid.

  Adopting a casual attitude, he removed his jacket and cravat, all the time pretending nonchalance, even though he watched her like an animal seeking its prey. He pulled off his boots and stockings, and climbed onto the bed in his shirt and breeches.

  “Is that how you sleep?” She waved in his direction, her voice high and shaky.

  “No, sweetheart, I generally sleep sans clothing, but I thought—”

  She sucked in air. “Yes, thank you for that.” She inched away from him as he moved closer until he realized if she moved once more she would likely fall off the bed.

  “Come here.”

  Clutching the cover to her chest, she shook her head.

  “Patience. You will fall off the bed if you move even one more inch.” He reached for her arm and tugged her next to him. He was encouraged when she didn’t resist. “I don’t want you to be nervous because we’re sharing a bed.”

  She lifted her chin. “I am not nervous, Your Grace.”

  “Oh no?” He grinned at her vexed expression.

  If he didn’t calm her down, and fast, his plans would blow away like a windstorm in the desert. He put his arm around her shoulders and eased her down so they were both lying in the bed. “See. Nothing to be nervous about.”

  She turned to him. “I told you I am not ner—”

  His lips covered hers as he cupped her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. He turned her head to take the kiss deeper, nudging at her lips until they opened on a sigh. He swept in, and held in a groan at the sweet taste of tea, honey, and Patience.

  She broke the kiss and giggled. “Your mustache tickles.”

  He rubbed his upper lip back and forth over her mouth and then kissed her again, her body softening as he continued his assault. Almost of its own mind, his
hand slid down her jaw and collarbone to rest on her plump breast.

  When there was no objection, he massaged, caressed, and flicked his thumb over the turgid nipple. She slid her hands up his arms to encircle his neck. Encouraged by her movement, his lips traveled to her jaw, then the soft skin under her neck, to settle on the nipple visible through her gown and begging for his mouth.

  Her breath was ragged and her breasts heaved with each lave he gave her nipple. The nightgown he’d so admired had now become a hindrance. Hoping she was ready to remove the garment, he whispered in her ear. “You will be much more comfortable without this.” Before she could protest, or more likely process what he’d said, he reached down, clasped the hem of the gown, and began to slide it up her legs. “Sit up, sweetheart.”

  She did as he said, but moved back. Alex held in a groan. Was this going to turn into another denial? Instead, she smiled and crossed her arms over her chest, her fingers pushing the straps of the nightgown off her shoulders. She removed her hands and the material pooled in her lap.

  As she sat very still in front of him, he stared at her nakedness, struck dumb. God, she was beautiful. The glow of the candlelight cast shadows on the dips and curves of her body, and gave a golden glow to her creamy skin.

  She shifted her body, drew the gown out from under her, and tossed it over his shoulder. Her full breasts stood proud, her narrow waist leading to gently flaring hips. Her legs were long and not as slender as he would have thought, and certainly firm enough to grip his waist as he thrust into her. The area between her legs drew his eyes. Dark blond curly hair made his mouth water. Blood pounded in his body and raced to his cock, which felt about to burst.

  Over the years, he’d been with a fair amount of women, but none had ever affected him as much as Patience. Back at the funeral, when he’d seen her for the first time in four years, he’d thought his craving for her had subsided.

  Bloody hell, had he been wrong. Now it was epochal.

  …

  Patience had suspected from the time they’d first entered the bedroom that this was the night Alex planned to seduce her. The plying with wine at dinner, the nightgown Polly had selected, almost as if ordered to do so, the flowers, and perfect candlelight only reinforced her suspicions.

  She could have objected, but frankly, she was tired of denying herself as well as Alex. The last time they’d kissed and he’d fondled her, she had been left in such a state that she’d known she would have to surrender soon for her own sanity.

  Now that she’d taken a bit of control and removed her nightgown, she was conscious of where his warm flesh touched her. Each contact raised her heartbeat and brought a flood of warmth throughout her body. Her fingers ached with the need to touch skin, not the fabric of his shirt and breeches.

  Almost as if he’d read her mind, he whispered, “I will be right back.” The coolness to her skin once he left her side made her shiver. She watched in fascination as he pulled his linen shirt over his head, his muscles rippling as he tossed the garment aside. Tempted to close her eyes when his fingers moved to unbutton his fall, she forced herself to watch instead, as he stared in her eyes and slid his breeches down, kicking them off.

  Her gaze roamed his body. She inhaled a deep breath. He was magnificent, all sharp angles and sinewy muscles. His years in the military had turned the slender young man into a broad-shouldered, powerful man. Dark hairs were scattered around his chest, forming a line down the center, leading to his manhood.

  A monstrous organ she was absolutely certain would never fit.

  She backed up as he put one knee on the bed. He held out his hand. “Come here, sweetheart.”

  “Um, I don’t think so. Perhaps it would be best if we went to sleep now. I imagine you want to leave early in the morning. I think ’tis best if I dress now to save us time when we awake. You know how sleepy I am when I first rise. In fact, Polly—”

  In one swift movement, he climbed onto the bed, gripped her shoulders, and pulled her to him, melding her mouth with his. Stunned, she was unable to move or think. Then, he moved his hand to her bottom, and picked her up, placing her flat on the bed, coming down on top of her.

  The weight and heat of his body, of naked flesh against naked flesh, removed any coolness she’d felt when he’d stood to undress. Then his hands were everywhere, on her breasts, her bottom, smoothing over her curves, massaging her hip. He lifted her knee and ran his fingers up the back of her leg, then lightly brushed them over the fine hairs between her legs.

  She dropped her knee to the side to give him greater access to the area that had begun to throb and ache with his attentions. He pulled his lips way from her mouth, and braced himself on his elbows, studying her as if he were seeing her for the first time.

  “You take my breath away, wife of mine. I spent months, no years, blocking from my mind this very moment.” He rested his forehead on hers. “No matter how hard I tried, it didn’t work. And now, to have you here, underneath me as I imagined for so long, is so much better than anything I ever dreamed.”

  Patience placed her hand on his warm cheek. “Me, too.”

  As he took her mouth in another passion-filled kiss, his hand once again returned to the area between her legs that begged for his touch. She arched her hips as his fingers played at the entrance to her body, the scent of her moistness filling the air. He released her lips and moved to her breast, taking her nipple between his teeth, biting lightly. Her moan joined the sound of her heartbeat thudding against his and the gasping of their lungs.

  She was intoxicated by his scent, a mixture of bergamot, the wine they’d had at dinner, and something that was only Alex. She breathed deeply of the combination, the back of her head pressing deeply into the pillow as the pressure grew between her legs.

  This.

  This is what she’d wanted for years. The feel of Alex’s body covering hers, his warm, large hands on her naked flesh, his erect manhood pressing against her side. She gripped his hair and pulled as the tension in her body grew.

  Minutes passed as she thrashed on the bed and tried desperately to reach something her body teased her with. Alex kept busy with his fingers and lips, murmuring words in her ear, his mustache brushing against her sensitive skin.

  “Let go, sweetheart. Don’t try so hard. Let me do the work.” His soft words pushed her closer to the edge.

  “More, Alex. Harder, please.”

  He shifted his hand, pressed hard, and a wave of pleasure unlike anything she’d ever felt in her life washed over her, again, and again. “Alex. Oh my God, Alex.”

  “Yes, my love, I am here.”

  Her body floated down, all her bones had melted. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see him watching her with an expression she hadn’t seen since his return. But a very familiar one to her from four years past. Before she could mull over that thought, he spread her legs and settled between them. “This may hurt for a moment, darling, and for that I am very, very sorry.”

  He nudged at her opening, and then with a shove, entered her body in one swift movement. She sucked in a deep breath at the sharp pain that brought tears to her eyes. He stilled his body and smoothed the hair back from her forehead, scattering kisses over her face. “How do you feel?”

  After a minute, she shifted slightly. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  He groaned and began to move in and out of her body, causing all the tension of before to return to her core. His thrusts increased as he whispered into her ear, words of encouragement, of her beauty, of how much he wanted her, how ecstatic he was to finally make her his.

  Patience ran her palms down his back, feeling his muscles move under her hands as he thrust into her. His buttocks were muscular, strong, just like the rest of him. A fine sheen of sweat covered both of their bodies, causing them to slip against each other as they continued the ancient dance of lovers.

  Cupping her face, he apologized for not holding out longer. Not sure what he meant, she closed her eyes when a smaller wave of pleas
ure washed over her as Alex gripped her shoulders and pulled her close, groaning her name. The warmth of his seed flooded her body, and then, with a deep sigh, they both collapsed.

  The sound of their erratic breathing filled the air. After a short time, Alex rolled off her and pulled her close against his side, tucking her head under his chin. The pounding of her heart drummed in her ear, Alex’s heartbeat doing the same under her hand where it rested on his chest. One thought ran through Patience’s mind: this was what she had been denying them.

  Fool, her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alex lay on his side, his arm under his head as he studied Patience sleeping alongside him. Making love to her was everything he’d imagined, and more. The sweet, shy girl had turned into a seductive woman. It had probably not been a good idea to take her again during the night, but he would let her be for a couple of days since she might be somewhat sore.

  A remarkable side effect of their lovemaking was the night of peaceful sleep he’d had. For the first time in years, he’d not been troubled with visions of war. Although those dreams had subsided slightly since he’d left the military, he’d never slumbered as he had last night. Like a babe.

  Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and her lips moved into a sleepy smile. God, he wanted her again, but he’d just made a promise to himself to allow her body time. Instead, he kissed her softly. “It is time for us to be on the road.”

  He hid a groan as she stretched, the blanket covering her nakedness slipping down to reveal her plump breasts. She sucked in a breath and yanked the cover back up, a lovely shade of red rising from the top of the cover to her hairline. He couldn’t help grinning, but in deference to her embarrassment, he did not comment.

  “If you will hand me my nightgown, I will rise and dress for the day.”