Page 72 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

“Yes, Christian,” she breathed. “I belong to you.”

He let out a small sigh, as though the words had settled something inside him, and then he took her hand and led her to the side of the bed. They stood there for a few moments as he took a deep breath. Some of the tension had left his shoulders,and as he turned to look her in the eye once more, some of his anger had faded away.

“I have been thinking about the last time,” Christian mused, his voice lilting now, having lost its intensity. “I think I rather did things backward.”

Louise frowned. “Backward?”

“Mhm. It does not seem fair that I have seen you in all your glory when I did not even shed a single layer of clothing. Quite ungentlemanly. Now, I would have you sit back and enjoy the show.”

The arrogant, little smile he gave her made her blush furiously as she lowered herself onto the bed, anticipation thrumming through her.

Christian stepped back as though he were on a stage and gave a theatrical bow. Louise could not help but laugh gently at him.

He gave her another smile and then slowly began to unbutton his waistcoat.

I do not know why I torture myself like this.

Christian wanted to strip his Duchess bare and claim her immediately, but he had not missed the way her hands trembledor the way her shoulders rose to her ears as she entered his room.

He wanted her to be comfortable, and if that meant taking things slow, then so be it.

He slowly took off his waistcoat and draped it over the back of a chair. Louise huffed out a small laugh.

“What is so amusing?” he asked softly.

“Even when you are undressing, you cannot throw away your clothes. You must always be neat. Everything in its place.”

Christian cocked his head as he pulled his shirt from beneath his breeches. “It is practical. I should not wish to dirty all my clothes on the floor.”

“You are exact in everything you do. Your study is the tidiest room I have ever seen.”

Christian nodded his head in agreement, absurdly pleased by her observation.

“I thank you, Duchess. You are correct. I like things in order. Although I shall have you know, Jack has put paid to my desk. I had to tidy it twice over, with that kitten knocking my things to the floor.”

Louise smiled at that bit of information, but it faltered quickly when he pulled his shirt lazily over his head, exposing his chest to her hungry gaze.

Christian boxed regularly, rode his horse about town, and fenced better than many other men of his acquaintance. He knew that he looked very fine.

Still, seeing the lust in her eyes was something he had not anticipated. He adjusted himself through the falls of his breeches and watched her eyes track the movement.

“Are you going to help me with my boots?” he asked. “They are damnably tight.”

She leaned back on the bed, and her robe fell open, exposing the soft planes of her stomach beneath her shift. Christian swallowed.

“No,” she said mischievously, “I think I would enjoy watching you struggle.”

Christian rolled his eyes, and just to be contrary, he went to join her on the bed. He sat beside her and bent down to pull off his left boot with some effort, but once it was neatly placed beside the bedpost, he lifted his right boot to her.

She grabbed it with a put-upon sigh and pulled it off his foot, exposing his stockinged feet beneath. He rather enjoyed havingher undress him, but her body was still tight with tension, and he wanted her pliant and soft in his arms once more.

His patience running thin, he stood up again and took off his breeches and drawers in one motion until he was entirely naked.

Louise stared at him, dumbfounded, her eyes fixed on his hard length, which was unapologetically jutting out toward her.

“Now it is your turn, Duchess,” he said huskily. “I would have my fill of you, too.”

Louise slowly stood up, and he stepped back and watched with a hammering heart as she removed her robe. She would have never had the opportunity to learn the art ofteasing,but she seemed skilled at it regardless. Her movements were achingly slow, ratcheting up his need beyond anything he had ever felt before.

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