Page 88 of Duke of Seduction

“What, no joke?” Ezra retorted, causing a wave of laughter to ripple through the group.

Morgan chuckled along with them as he looked down into Helena’s eyes. Her blue orbs were bright with a mixture of love and excitement, and his grin widened as he saw his future there.

“Not this time,” he replied, raising his glass at the center of them. “To us.”

“To us,” everyone toasted, clinking their glasses against Morgan’s before having their final drink.

“Morgan,” Helena whispered, staring at the painting before her.

“Do you like it, my love?” Morgan asked, standing behind her as they both looked up at his work. “I thought I would try my hand at painting you with clothesonthis time. Not my favorite way to portray you, but I must say, I am rather fond of it.”

Helena gazed in awe at the painting of herself. Morgan had been able to capture her beauty and essence from his very first coal stroke, but there was something more intense about this particular painting. Instead of being posed, naked and welcoming, she stood, wearing the black dress and mask Morgan had bought for their second lesson at theDevil’s Masquerade.

Her stature was tall and fierce; intimidating but still incredibly feminine and beautiful. Her blue eyes glimmered behind the mask with both fire and life, creating a sultry warming glow that seemed to emanate from the painting itself. In this one,shewas so clearly the one who gave commands. It was how she presented herself to everyone else but him. For him, she went down on her knees.

“It is a wonderful present, thank you,” she said sincerely, turning in his arms.

Morgan smiled as he bowed his head to her lips, the words, “my pleasure,” breathing out as he sealed the kiss. Helena felt her body melt into his as they deepened their kiss; excitement skittering through her as she realized that her wait was finally coming to an end. She reached for the buttons at the back of her neck, trying to work the frustrating things free.

She was rewarded with Morgan’s soft chuckle before his hands reached for hers and captured her wrists.

“Let me take it off,” Helena pouted, fighting Morgan’s hold on her wrists.

She had given into his request to remain chaste until their wedding, had kept her excitement at bay all throughout the ceremony and reception, but now that their guests were gone and they were alone in Morgan’s bedroom —theirbedroom — Helena did not want to wait any longer.

Morgan chuckled as he kissed her pouting lips but did not release his hold on her wrists.

“Iwill take it off when I am ready for you to take it off,” Morgan replied, his tone chastising. “Patience, little Persephone.”

“I have been patient for long enough,” Helena insisted as Morgan lowered his lips to her neck. “I have — ohh!”

Her words of complaint were cut off with a gasp as her husband’s teeth sank seductively into her flesh and his hands gripped the back of her dress, which was held together by a long row of small, pearl buttons, and gave it a sudden yank.

A shiver traveled up Helena’s spine as she felt the cool air and Morgan’s hot fingertips touch her bare skin. Her brain immediately cleared itself of all thoughts.

“Turn for me, little one,” Morgan commanded, his deep voice full of seductive authority.

Her body was warm and hummed with electric desire. Helena turned away from him with effort and gasped again as she heard the deft sound of a knife’s blade cut through the strings of her corset in one straight line. The ruined undergarment was roughly pulled away from her, dragging along her nipples in a teasing fashion that made her quiver.

Before she could recover, Helena felt Morgan’s lips begin to move slowly down her back, starting from the base of her neck and only stopping when his lips brushed the end of her tailbone. When he finished, he rose back up and slowly dragged down the front of her gown until it was a puddle of white clouds on the floor.

“There you are,” he murmured in appreciation as he walked a patient circle around her. “I have missed you, Persephone.”

His voice was filled with awe as he took his time taking her in, and though Helena was flattered, her need and impatience were brewing into a dangerous combination.

“And I have missed you,” she breathed, following him closely with her eyes.

“Where were we in our last lesson?” Morgan asked, taking off his jacket.

Helena’s cheeks flushed red as she thought of their last exercise. Though they had slept apart the last week and Morgan had yet to take her innocence, they had still continued down their path of sexual exploration, especially when it came to Helena’s submission.

“Crawling,” she replied, licking her lips as he took a seat on the edge of their bed. “And using my teeth to undress you.”

“Shall we start where we left off then?” He suggested with a gleam in his eyes, and Helena nodded excitedly.

“Very well, then, little one. On your knees. Come to me,” Morgan commanded, untying his cravat.

Helena felt her body tremble in anticipation as she slowly went to her knees and crawled to him. By the time she reached his knees, he had removed his shirt and sat bare-chested with his legs spread wide apart. Morgan groaned, causing her mouth to water as she rose up slowly, placed her hands on his knees, and laid a warm kiss on his abdomen.

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