Page 23 of Duke of Seduction

“You understood my riddle, yes?” he asked patiently, taking a moment to sharpen the tip of his charcoal. “Tonight shall be easy for you. You simply have to pose for me.”

“Naked,”Helena said softly.

It was the first time Morgan had heard the word spoken from her lips and damn him if his ears did not hear it as an invitation.

“Yes,” he said, his own voice once more becoming raspy. “As you had agreed.”

Morgan could not miss the evident worry in her eyes, which compelled him to walk away from his easel and go to her.

“You do not wish to pose for me?” he asked, stopping a few steps away from her. His hands itched to touch her, but he would not chance swaying her truth. He needed to know how she truly felt, for he had never been the type of man to force himself upon a woman. Especially not Helena.

“It is not that,” Helena whispered, her eyes cast downward. Then, in a rush she suddenly added, “though, admittedly this is a bit frightening. To show oneself so plainly.”

Unable to resist any longer, Morgan reached out for her chin, tilting it up until her eyes met his.

“What is it?” he asked.

Helena’s cheeks blushed harder, but she did not look away.

“Is this…is this the only task we are performing tonight?”

Excitement exploded through Morgan as his lips rose into a wicked grin.

“You want your second lesson tonight as well?” he asked.

“Yes.” The word tumbled in a whispered rush from her lips.

Her willingness to learn more of what he could teach her pleased him immensely. Morgan lowered his head towards hers. Just as she pouted her lips for him, he dipped his head to her neck and nipped it softly. She let out gasp of slight pain as his bite transformed into a suckling kiss, then leaned into him as he drew his kisses up the column of her neck before finally meeting her mouth.

Helena sighed as she kissed him in return, opening herself up to him, inviting him to take what he liked. Stars exploded behind his eyes as their lips met and parted sweetly, and when he finally pulled back, he felt a rush of dizziness sweeping through him.

“Pose for me like a good girl,” he whispered, stroking her cheek, “and I will give you what you wish.”

Pulling himself away, Morgan returned to his easel with considerable effort and waited for Helena to remove her gown.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Though Helena had initially trembled as she removed her gown, the look of pure approval in Morgan’s eyes had chased away her insecurities. He had stood silently at his easel for several moments, letting his eyes roam across her body, wanting to take in every inch of her.

He then began his commands, ordering Helena to pose one way, then another, while his artistic eye attempted to find the perfect position. He finally settled upon seating her on the fur rug by the fireplace, her back to the flames, one of her legs laid straight while the other remained bent at the knee with her foot on the soft fur. He had then gently coaxed her to move in increments until he had her positioned exactly as he wanted.

Each one of Morgan’s commanding touches felt like a bead of water sizzling on her skin, and when he had first pulled away she nearly fell out of her pose in her desire to follow his hands. Morgan had smirked and taunted her about patience, then posed her again.

After a brief review of her pose, Morgan had brazenly laid his hand upon her ribcage, his fingertips just barely brushing the delicate underside of her left breast as he worked. He kept his hand in place until he had felt her trembling subside. When he pulled away she felt as if he had pulled her flesh along with him; the lack of his heat felt harsh and unfair but she stayed put.

Silence gathered like a thunderstorm between them as Morgan began to sketch the outline of her body. The sound of charcoal stroking the paper and the flames crackling in the hearth were the only noises that graced the room. As Morgan drew her, Helena studied him.

A bit of his usual humor had appeared when she had first arrived, but the joker in him was soon tucked away. Upon entering the library, the lord of seduction had risen up to take the joker’s place. His handsome face, which was usually creased with mirth, had become drawn in deep concentration as he immersed himself fully in his sketching.

As she posed for him she considered his duality and marveled at it. She had known Morgan nearly all of her life yet had never once thought that he was more than the joker he made himself out to be. Now she wondered what other secrets he kept. Were they all wickedly delicious, or did something painful and twisted fester inside of him?

All three of the other dukes had shown their darker sides in a more obvious fashion, but Morgan had never let anyone bear witness to his pain. Was it because he truly felt none, or because he was so good at hiding it?

“That is enough sketching for tonight,” Morgan announced. His deep tone slid like silk over her ears, and Helena felt a rush of excitement and surprise as she moved onto her knees and he walked towards her.

“Was that long enough?” she asked, rising slightly as he stopped before her.

Her eyes were level with the waist of his trousers, and she could not stop them from widening as she saw the clear outline of his manhood straining against the fabric. Though she was not sure why, she felt her mouth begin to water as she took in the sight and a deep curiosity rose within her.

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