Page 45 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

The problem, however, became apparent almost immediately.

They were outside. Exposed. The sun was shining overheard. Surely, that should have given them cause to stop this at once. It was not as if they were in any sort of rush?

And perhaps under different circumstances they would have considered this. Alas, even if Magnus had suggested it, Diana felt herself so overwhelmed by her state of arousal that the world could have ended around them and she still would have insisted they not stop.

Magnus pulled away but did not let go. She gasped and tried to follow his lips; eyes closed because she did not want the moment to end.

“No,” he said. “Not here.”

“But...”

She opened her eyes and saw the wicked grin on his face. Then, he took her hand and silently he led her across the patch of grass toward the row of hedges. She knew what he was thinking, and her heart beat heavy with fear and excitement. The danger inherent in what he wanted. The thrill of it, also.

“Not dissimilar to where we first met,” Magnus joked as he led her around the round of hedges and pressed her back against them.

“Shall I attack you again?” she joked.

He grabbed her hands and held them to the side. “If you can.” She pretended to try and bit him. He snapped back. And then, they were locked in a passionate kiss once more.

Diana was still new to this, but she felt herself growing more confident by the second. As the duke kissed her, memories of their last entanglement flashed through her mind. On the bed, her legs spread, his head between her thighs. Oh, how she wanted it again. Just the thought had her legs shaking...

And yet, she also knew that this time, perhaps it was on her to return the favor. She did not know what that meant, exactly. Stranger still, her mouth salivated at the thought. As if her hand was being guided by an innate desire, she moved it from Magnus’ hips to the front of his pants, which she was delighted to find were very stiff.

“Diana...” He gasped and pulled away.

She flashed her eyes at him. “Do you... is this... may I?”

He frowned. “Are you asking?”

“Unless you are telling me to?”

She could see in his eyes that he wanted it. A thrill flashed behind them. A smile rose up his lips. His mouth found her lips again, but his hands went to the front of his trousers. She could not see what he was doing, but she heard him undo them and she heard them dropping to the floor. Then, his hand took her right hand and guided it down...

... what it found was thick and hard and pulsing. She wrapped her hand around it and the duke’s body stiffened and he groaned. He pulled his mouth away, eyes closed, jaw clenched, soft moans escaping his lips as she gently squeezed.

“Like... like this?” she asked as she began to move her wrists.

“Just like that... oh... God...” His head fell onto her shoulder and he just about collapsed. “Do not... do not stop.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” she purred as she continued to stroke his member.

Diana enjoyed it more than she thought she would. Not just the feel of his manhood in her hand. Not just the way it made his body shake. But the power she got from it. The control she had over her husband in that moment. She moved her wrist faster, her grip tightening, relishing how his entire body spasmed.

“Diana,” he groaned. “Right there... right... oh... right...”

“Your Grace!” a voice cried suddenly from the other side of the hedges.

Diana froze. As did the duke.

“Your Grace!” it was the voice of one of the staff, sounding panicked.

“Do not move,” Magnus commanded in a whisper. Diana still held him in her hand, he was still pressed against her, and oh how she wanted to finish him, even if it meant getting caught.

“Your Grace!” the voice cried. “Please! Your Grace! It’s your grandmother, Your Grace! The Dowager Duchess! She is here, Your Grace! She has just arrived!”

The duke turned soft in Diana’s hand. And Diana too, all sense of arousal left her as if it had never been. She looked at the duke, saw the panic in his eyes, and despite herself, she began to laugh.

“What?” he said. “This is not funny!”

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