Page 68 of His Accidental Duchess

“Oof,” Anna gasped, nearly losing her balance.

Her skirts billowed around her, and she might have toppled backward if Theo had not grabbed her around the waist and hauled her forward. Her skirts and the petticoats underneath foamed around them both, almost comically so, and she was suddenly aware that her legs were open and Theo was standing between them.

Before she could blush with embarrassment at this new development, he slid a hand around her neck and pulled her to him for a deep, slow kiss.

“Now,” he breathed once they had broken apart for air, “let’s see if we can make you think only of your husband.”

Anna opened her mouth to ask him what exactly he was planning, but the words died in her throat. Wrestling her layers of skirts aside, Theo had managed to slip his hand underneath the impractical gown, a fact that Anna did not notice until his fingertips touched the bare skin of her thigh.

She gasped, flinching. He had deliberately slid his hand above the silk of her stockings, and she could feel his warm palm pressing against the top of her thigh.

Anna wrapped her arms around his shoulders again, partially for balance and partially to have some way of steadying herself as his fingers slid higher and higher until he reached the apex of her thighs. Anna had to press her hand to her mouth when his forefinger traced a line upwards, circling at the top. She heard, and felt, his chuckle against the delicate skin of her neck as he repeated the movement again and again.

The coil of desire in her gut began to unspool, growing more and more urgent, tensing up her muscles slowly but surely. She pressed her knees into Theo’s sides, her fingers gripping his shoulders and even weaving into his hair, pulling in a way that must have hurt, but he never said a word.

Anna felt rough moans fighting their way up her throat, and she leaned forward, bending over Theo’s head. Her chin dug into his cheek, and it must have been uncomfortable, but he only growled low, pulling her closer. His movements sped up, practiced, with just the right mix of pressure and gentleness.

Her climax, when it came, was powerful and like nothing she had ever felt before. Gasping, Anna sagged against Theo, who seemed to be a firm, immovable rock in a world that was turning to quicksand around her.

She heard him chuckle again, right in her ear.

“Now then, Duchess,” he said, his voice a slow drawl that made her shiver again, “wasn’t that worth asking for?”

Anna felt the urge to laugh, and she flopped bonelessly against him, her skirts in a tangle, bunched up around them both, and his knuckles still grazing the soft skin of her inner thigh.

As the waves of pleasure gradually receded, sobering her up, Anna found herself wondering what would happen next. Surely this was only the opening move in a much more complicated dance. What wasshemeant to do? Would he be upset if she could notperformquite as well? What if…

“Theo,” she began, not sure whether she wanted to air her worries or not. But it didn’t matter, because at that moment, footsteps and muted voices sounded outside.

Both of them froze. Theo’s head whipped towards the door. Anna held her breath.

The voices grew closer, and somebody laughed quietly. And then, quite without a warning, the handle of the library door turned.

Anna let out a squeak of alarm, clapping a hand over her mouth. The doorknob jiggled.

“What’s this?” came an unfamiliar voice. “Why’s the door locked? Who’s in there? Open up at once!”

CHAPTER 19

Theo backed away, hauling Anna down from the desk as he did so. Her eyes were wide with panic, and he didn’t blame her. Married or not, being caughtin delictoin such a manner would be scandalous, indeed. Paired with his and Anna’s already shocking history, this could well be a fatal blow to their reputations.

Well, Anna’s, at least. Women’s reputations were always much more fragile than men’s.

Regardless, it was now fairly urgent that they were not caught in compromising positions when the library door finally opened.

Anna was frantically shaking out her skirts, trying to smooth down her bodice. She tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear—despite their best efforts, a lock or two had escaped her updo—and fanned herself with her hands, apparently trying to cool the blush on her cheeks.

The doorknob jiggling was becoming more urgent, and there were muffled voices on the other side of the door.

Theo glanced at Anna, raising his eyebrows. She nodded in response to his unspoken question.

Theo strode over to the door, unlocking it and yanking it open in one swift movement.

Two footmen stood on the other side of the door. The one that had been jiggling the handle was pulled forward, nearly tumbling into Theo’s arms.

They straightened up, their eyes widening when they took in Theo’s height, breadth, and disapproving stare.

“Oh, Y-Your Grace,” one footman stammered. “I beg your pardon.”

---