Page 105 of His Unwanted Duchess

“Cornelia approached me at the theater,” she said.

Stephen stiffened. “That wretched girl. I’ll?—”

“No, no, please listen. She told me she was not with child. She admitted that things had ended between you. She said that she believed you were fond of me.”

He paused, giving her a wry smile. “I’m glad she did the right thing at last. Andfondof you? I’m afraid it’s rather more than that.”

Beatrice wet her lips. Stephen followed the movement of her tongue across her lips, and something darkened in his eyes. Beatrice felt the answering tug of desire in her gut but pushed it down.

Not yet.

“And the agreement?” she managed. “The rules?”

He smiled wryly. “I believe I gave you an updated version.”

“I burned it,” Beatrice retorted. “Can I trust you, Stephen, or must I sign another document?”

He came closer, close enough to cup her cheek in his palm. Beatrice let her eyes flutter shut, leaning into his touch. Tentatively, she reached up to put her hand over his. She could feel some bruising and scabbing on his knuckles, and she made a mental note to ask him how on earth he’d gotten those injuries.

Not now, though. Not now.

“You burned the rules,” he said, his voice low and rasping, “But I’d burn down the whole world if you asked me to.”

Beatrice opened her eyes, meeting his cool green gaze steadily. “I don’t need you to do that. I only need this. I only need you. I love you, Stephen. I love you.”

He drew in a shuddering breath, and Beatrice could almost sense his control breaking.

The glass between the two of them shattered.

Stephen crushed her to him, pressing them together as if the proximity would never be enough. Their lips met, heat sizzling down Beatrice’s spine, stoking the desire in her gut into something frantic and desperate. She wound her arms around his neck, pulling him close. There was something firm pressing against her hip, and she did not have to wonder what it was.

They broke apart to catch their breath, their eyes wide.

“I want you,” Beatrice stammered out. “Properly. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

Stephen’s eyes darkened, and he pulled her closer still. Beatrice could feel the familiar pulse of desire turning into a rapid, rhythmic ache in her hidden places. She smoothed a hand over his cheek, feeling the scratch of stubble, and pushed her fingers into his thick hair.

“Then you’ll have me,” he responded, his voice tight with desire. “Or rather, I’ll haveyou.”

She let out a chuckle at that. On impulse, she leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the side of his neck. His pulse leaped under her lips. More of curiosity than anything, Beatrice carefully gave his skin a soft bite and ran her tongue over the divots.

Stephen growled low in his throat. “Biting, eh? I’ll have to teach youa lesson, wife.”

Before Beatrice could respond, he hauled her into his arms. She knew she was not a light, willowy sort of girl, but Stephen did not hesitate or miss a beat. She clung to his shoulders, breathless, until she was abruptly and unceremoniously dropped onto the chaise.

Stephen did not give her the chance to catch her breath, pressing her down at once. Beatrice had an instant to notice the new redspot on his neck, where her teeth had been, and felt a brief flash of pride and a sense of ownership before his mouth covered hers.

It was a quick kiss, only a faint swipe of his tongue across her lower lip. Seizing her wrists, Stephen pulled them up to rest on the chaise beside her head.

“You’re going to be a good girl, aren’t you?” he murmured, his voice gravelly.

“I thought I told you,Your Grace, I’m neither good nor a girl.”

He pressed a quick, chaste kiss to her temple. “How could I forget?”

Beatrice had some witty retort lined up and ready, but the words died on her lips when Stephen slid his hand unceremoniously under her skirts, his fingers moving straight to the apex of her thighs. Biting her lower lip and clutching at the cushion behind her head, she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. Her climax seemed within reach when he abruptly removed his hand.

Beatrice opened her eyes. “Why did you… why did you stop?” she gasped.

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