Page 10 of A Virgin for the Cruel Duke

Why did she always act as though their conversations were a challenge that she was trying to win? It wasinfuriatingand itwas even more infuriating that it made him want to grab her in his arms and crush her mouth to his in an attempt to silence her.

“You could start with one.”

“I don’t want to wear out my cheeks so late in the day,” she said, quickly. “You shall have to wait until the morrow.”

“Were you paying attention to the Minister this morning, wife?” Stephen said, placing a hand at the top of the bed frame so he could lean closer to her, his eyes on her face, on the softness of her skin, on her lips parted and glistening. “Did you or did you not promise to love honor and obey me?”

“I promised many things,” she said, pertly, her eyes on his. She was staring at him with a gaze that he couldn’t understand. “I am trying to master them one at a time. We’ll start with the honoring first. I honor you, husband. I honor you far too much to keep you awake any longer. Perhaps you should retire. You must be tired.”

“I am no more tired than you are honoring me,” he said, baring his teeth in a dangerous smile. “What are all these strange things that you were looking at?”

“They are personal,” she said, her tone short.

“Are there secrets between husband and wife?”

“I’m sure that you have your own, so in the spirit of gracefulness you must allow me mine.”

She was slippery like an eel and far too pleased with herself for this last, Stephen thought. As though she had bested him, as though anyone could best him.

“I never promised I was a graceful man, wife. I promised, in fact, to worship you with mybodyand to endow you with my worldly goods, not to be graceful and not to allow you secrets.”

There was a little silence as they considered each other. Stephen did not find any indication that his new bride was minding having them so close to each other. In fact she was turned towards him, her whole attitude like she was being drawn towards him whether she realized it or not. She was like a flower turning towards the sun.

“Is that what you want, Elizabeth?” he asked, dropping his voice to a husky growl. “Do you want my body to worship you?”

Her flush rose higher and Stephen saw the way her gaze dropped to his lips for a moment, her own mouth slightly open as her tongue peeked out and wet her lips. It was more than any man could be expected to bear.

Elizabeth wet her lips, her breathing rough and unsteady in her own ears. She didn’t know what she had expected to come of herhusband’s sudden appearance or his barbed words but he was so close, leaning over her, his tall muscular frame bracketed against the bed frame and his attention raking over her body as though he could see through her slip and was drinking her in.

She took a short, ragged breath, her mouth opening a little and then his arms were around her, strong and firm and his mouth was on her own. It was hungry, fierce, his lips claiming hers and leaving her barely able to breathe. His mouth moved, his hand was in her hair and she tipped her head back, desperate to taste more of him, all other thoughts fleeing from her mind.

The fire that had burned between them from the beginning of the day, from the moment when he had first pressed her up against a wall and whispered in her ear was ablaze at last. Elizabeth could not form a single thought. She was captivated by him, helpless in the face of his desire, aflame at his touch.

They fell back on the bed, the covers rumpling under her fingers as Stephen pressed his body down in top of her, holding himself up with one hand and sliding dangerous fingers up the tender skin of her side towards where her breasts were heaving with every shaking breath.

His lips were on her neck, setting her nerves afire and she could only take him in in glimpses, her eyes fluttering closed. He wastouchingher, and she needed more, she needed him to explore her, kiss her, undress her even. She wanted -

She wanted.

A soft desperate moan escaped her as he swirled his tongue against a spot just underneath her chin and she felt rather than heard his answering chuckle.

All the fire in her veins turned to ice so quickly that it hurt. He was laughing at her. At her, the silly little virgin wife who was so quick and easy that all she needed was a kiss to be desperate for his touch. Of course he was laughing! She must be a thing of ridicule to him, something to be made fun of with his family, something to mock and pity!

Elizabeth pulled back but there was not far to go so she pushed at his chest until she could get enough space between them for her hand to fly and lay a blow across his cheek. He stopped, startled, no more mirth in his eyes as he stared at her, both their chests heaving.

“You may be a duke, sir,” she said, keeping her voice steady with all the effort she could muster. “And you may be richer than Croesus. And you may even be my husband, but there are things that are out of your reach to order or to buy no matter how much you might wish otherwise. I am one of them.”

The Duke stepped back, his entire expression going so cold so quickly that she was forced to remember the dangerous manner he had wrapped around him like a cloak when Dudley had dared challenge him. He could not be the kind of man one could strike with impunity but as he stared at her with those cold, thoughtful eyes she could not allow a moment of weakness to slip through her determination.

“Ah, Elizabeth,” he said finally, touching his cheek with one languid hand. “Your hands are shaking.”

His gaze was a little less cold, and she opened her mouth to retort, worried that he was about to laugh at her again but he was too quick.

“I will never force anything upon you, you may be sure of that. I am sorry indeed that I misjudged and you were not pleased with our interlude, but I promise you, my wife,” and here his voice was warm and molten and made her shiver for something other than fear. “I will not touch you again until you beg me to do so.”

It was so outlandish a suggestion, so wild a thought that Elizabeth could not corral her words together in time to protest before the door had closed, leaving her alone and flustered and wondering.

CHAPTER 5

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