Page 54 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

“That’s awful,” she said in a whisper.

“You have no idea,” he agreed solemnly. “You can’t imagine what it’s like to feel so weak. So... so powerless. I wouldn’t wish it upon anybody.”

“And these nightmares?” she pressed gently, shuffling closer still so that she was right beside him. Then, she reached out and rested a hand on his leg. His leg was beneath the blankets still but the feel of her hand imbued strength in him that he didn’t realize he needed. “They are related?”

“I never remember them fully,” he explained, doing his best not to think of them. “But I know how they make me feel. Trapped. Alone. Back in that bed again, unable to escape or do anything. Forced to watch as those I love...” He swallowed and realized he was shaking. “I cannot help them, not matter how hard I try.”

“Magnus...”

“Other times, it is my nieces who are in that bed, pleading with me to help them. But I can do nothing but watch. The feeling that leaves me with...” A shake of the head, and he tried to look at Diana but could not bring himself to. “I can only imagine that you heard me pleading.”

“I do not know what I heard.”

He scoffed. “Do not lie.”

She hesitated. “You were asking for help. But it did not sound as if it was for you, but for another. And truly, Magnus, to me, that is not a weakness but a strength.” Her grip on his leg tightened. “That even in your weakest moments, all you care about is the safety of those you love. It is nothing to be ashamed of.”

He snorted and shook his head. “You do not need to placate me.”

“I assure you that I am not. Just telling you how I feel. And Magnus...” Through the darkness he finally looked up, meeting her big brown eyes. He could see how concerned she was for him, and how worried. And something else... an emotion that was hard to recognize in the darkness but that he could feel.What is that? “Thank you.”

“Thank you? What for?”

“For sharing,” she said earnestly. “Truly, I know how hard that was, but I am so glad you did. That is all I ever asked.”

Magnus found his hand resting on top of her own. A beat passed between them. A shared moment that recognized how impactful this right now was. And despite how foolish Magnus felt, how embarrassed, he was also relieved and finally he was beginning to understand the value found in sharing.

It was then that he noticed something else.

“Diana...” His eyes adjusted further, and he realized what she was wearing. A cream-colored nightgown, barely catching the little light, but still somehow shimmering. “Is that...”

“Oh...” She half pulled back. “It is nothing.”

“The nightgown you bought. You’re wearing it.”

“I...” She looked away. “Just making sure it fits.”

He put the pieces together quickly. “I did not wake you, did I? And you did not come to my room because you heard me?”

It was Diana’s turn now to shake from nerves. “I... I was just trying it on. That much is true. But when I saw how good it looks, I thought... well... I thought you might wish to see.” She snapped her head up and forced herself to look right at him.

Oh, how he wished there was more light, for no doubt she looked beyond comprehension in that gown. Her curves struggling to be contained. Her light skin flowing from the material as if they were one. And the feel of it...

Without realizing what he was doing, Magnus reached out, taking a piece of the silk between his fingers. Then, silently, he opened his hand and wrapped his palm around her bosom. She stiffened as he groped her, and she moaned as he found her nipple and pinched it.

They were so close. Less than a foot apart. Diana shuffled in even closer, her breath warm on his face. Magnus leaned in but did not try and kiss her. Rather, he let his hands take over.

They rubbed up her exposed thighs. Soft at first, a light touch over her skin which sent her legs to quiver. Further still, to her waist now, he lifted the nightgown, his hands stroking up her soft body until they found her breasts. She leaned in as he wrapped his hands around them, but he did not kiss her. His fingers pinched her nipples, his breath caressed her neck, and his member sprung to attention right by where her hand still rested on his leg.

It shifted the blankets, and she noticed right away.

“Magnus...” she breathed as he continued to fondle her. “It is my thinking that... seeing as you have been woken the way you have, that you might struggle to get back to sleep.”

“Is that right?” he purred, his lips nuzzled into her neck, breathing on her but still refusing to touch with his lips or tongue.

“And I...” She hesitated. “I would like to help you relax, if you would want it?”

Magnus’ manhood literally pulsed because he could sense what was on her mind. “And how would you do that?”

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