Page 73 of Judging Duke

“I might have made a mess this morning when I overslept.”

I looked at him, open-mouthed. What kind of mess was he talking about?

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Simon. I meant my clothes are all over the floor.”

I laughed and walked the few feet to my door and flung it open, gesturing for him to enter.

“Entrez,” I said with an elaborate bow.

“Is that the extent of your French?” he asked, stepping into the room.

“I can ask where the toilet is. That’s about it.”

Moonlight shone through the sheer curtains, bathing the room in an eerie pale glow.

“No lights,” he said. Had he read my mind?

“No lights,” I agreed.

He turned to face me. He kicked off his deck shoes and dropped his bag to the floor.

I couldn’t see his expression, his face in shadow, but as he moved nearer, his eyes hooded, I knew what he had in mind.

“Undress,” he ordered, and I obeyed without question, removing my shorts, T-shirt and shoes. I stood before him, completely naked, shivering under his intense gaze.

He circled me, like prey caught in a trap, and dragged his hand across my bare arse, finally standing in our usual position. Chest to chest.

“You are beautiful. All these hard muscles, and these…” He tweaked my nipple, and my cock jumped. “I want to suckle on them.”

He buried his face in my neck and inhaled deeply. “You smell of the sea.”

He licked my neck, sending a shiver through me. “You taste of the sea too.”

Funny how by spending a couple of days with him, my hatred had waned with every passing moment. Now here we were in my room, with me about to give myself to him in the most intimate of ways.

I never thought I’d see the day.

I had no regrets.

I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. I breathed him in, drowning in the pure essence of him.

He was like no one I’d encountered before, igniting a passion, both anger and desire.

What had he said about it being a fine line?

His hardness dug into my leg, reminding me of why we were here.

I reached for the hem of his shirt, lifting it over his head while he removed his shorts.

We stood toe to toe, our bodies glowing in the light filtering through the fluttering curtains as a warm breeze infiltrated the room.

He traced the planes of my face with his hand, his touch so tender it was featherlike. His lips ghosted against mine, barely brushing them before his fingers carried on their exploration.

“I used to imagine doing this when I was younger. I’d watch you sleep sometimes when I stayed over, wondering if I slipped in bed next to you, would you accept me or turn me away.”

“You were young.”

“I’m not anymore.”

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