“Why are you complaining?” He smirked at her as his fingers slipped into her honeyed slit, drawing a pleasured cry from her. “Already, you are dripping wet for me once more.”

Evie shuddered beneath him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as his fingers teased the little bud between her legs.

Was there ever a woman on earth who was as responsive as his beloved Duchess? He doubted he would ever find one, and in any case, he had absolutely no desire to.

He and Evie, they fit perfectly. As if both their bodies were made to be joined in exquisite bliss.

“Daniel…”

He smiled as he kissed her lips. Perhaps, this time, he might be able to go slower. He might be able to draw her pleasure out longer until she was writhing beneath him, begging for release.

Or maybe not.

Her hand had found his arousal once more.

He leaned his forehead against hers and gazed deeply into her eyes.

“I love you,” he murmured softly. “My Duchess.”

She smiled up at him in reply and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

“My Duke.”

He groaned as he sank into her once more, losing himself in the ecstasy that her body offered him.

It would be a long, long time before either of them ever managed to get any sleep…

EPILOGUE

Daniel never cared for the opera, nor did he care for the new singer who supposedly whipped up the entire city into a frenzy.

But Evie had been talking about it for close to a fortnight, so when the program was finally announced, he had his usual box ready to receive them, as well as their friends.

Unfortunately, that also meant that he would have to see her brother again.

He and Colin might be old friends, but the latter would never cease to remind him that Evie was his sister.

As if I need any reminder that the woman I love is actually related to this buffoon!

“Darling?”

He looked down to find his beautiful Evie smiling up at him. “What is it, my sweet?”

“You promised you would be nice tonight,” she reminded him. “I know that look in your eyes. You are not planning to goad Colin into a fight, are you?”

He smirked and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Are you willing to bear the punishment on behalf of their misbehavior, then? In fact, we could do it right now. I could just bend you over these chairs and…” he trailed off and let her imagination run with his words, watching with satisfaction as she turned a most adorable shade of pink, knowing full well the things that his words evoked in her.

Seducing his wife was definitely one of his favorite pastimes—second only to making love to her for hours on end. For a pampered noblewoman, he had found out that she was blessed with an endurance that matched his.

It certainly made the nights at Ashton Hall all the more titillating.

“They would never be as bad as you,” she muttered, lightly swatting him with her fan. “You are a scoundrel of the very worst order.”

“True,” he agreed with a smirk. “But I amyourscoundrel, and you like me anyway.”

“Oh, for the love of God, keep your hands to yourself in public, Ashton!”

Daniel pursed his lips and heaved a sigh of frustration as he straightened up. His arm, however, remained draped protectively over Evie’s back as he turned to his best friend with an arched eyebrow.