Page 78 of Wedded to the Ruthless Duke

He pulled his hand free of her and unfastened his trousers, determined to give her what she wanted and take what he needed to. When his length was free, he moved to her entrance, sliding slowly inside of her.

As he moved, he kept his eyes on her back, watching her reaction. She arched a little more, her head throwing back as sounds escaped her. Her fingers curled tighter around the racks in front of her too. To see the power he had over her made him move faster, rocking their bodies quickly.

“Philip,” she moaned his name, repeating it constantly.

The pleasure was so overwhelming, he couldn’t think of pulling out of her. He just had to keep going, to drive them both to that perfect climax of pleasure.

He moved quicker and quicker, gripping her waist, so he could anchor himself to her, drive into her more easily. She kept moaning, such sounds now that he felt like he was living out every secret fantasy he had ever had of Grace.

She tipped her head toward the racking, her sounds suddenly growing deeper.

“You’re close, aren’t you?” he whispered, needing to know it, to know that he was the one driving her there. “Tell me, Grace. Please, tell me.”

“I… I’m so close,” she whispered, then gasped again. She moved her hips against his, joining him in this desperate and urgent need to be completely absorbed in one another.

Then it happened, as he drove into her faster, she tipped over the edge. She cried out his name as he pleasured her, her head thrashing one way and then the next.

To see he was the one doing this to her sent him over the edge.

“Grace,” he moaned her name as he thrust himself inside of her, feeling his own release tingle through his abdomen then stretch through his entire being. He couldn’t stop but rode out both of their waves until they were completely done.

Unlike last time, he didn’t stay inside of her. His legs felt weak, and he had to pull out fast. The two of them both capitulated to the ground, falling together and leaning against the racking.

She leaned into his side, her back still toward him as he looped an arm loosely across her hip.

Neither of them said anything. They both just panted, gasping in an attempt to catch their breaths.

The next thing she did was simple, yet it had an overpowering effect on him. She rested her head on his shoulder.

He closed his eyes and bent toward her, kissing the top of her head.

What is this feeling?

He knew it though he didn’t want to give it a name. He wanted to keep Grace beside him, to nuzzle into her side, to burn every scandal sheet in London, and think only of the two of them.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Fear spiked inside of him, and he loosened his arm from her hip.

“Philip?” she murmured, clearly noting the fact he pulled back from her.

“I need to…” Yet he didn’t finish the sentence. He couldn’t even come up with an excuse. He just grabbed his clothes and stood, pulling them on again.

I need to escape this feeling.

“Philip, where are you going?”

He didn’t answer her as he left the room.

CHAPTER26

Grace stood in the doorway of the house looking out at the rain.

“Your Grace?” Mrs. Williamson had appeared at her side. “Are you going riding again?”

Grace took a minute before she answered. She glanced in the direction of the dining room behind her though she knew it remained empty. Philip had not come to dinner the night before, nor had he come to breakfast that morning.

I need to get out of here.

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