Page 49 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“Yes?” she asked, letting go of the doorhandle and meeting the duke’s eyes. “Is there something else?”

He groaned as if from pain, shutting his eyes and taking a moment. When he snapped them open, she understood perfectly what was on his mind. And thus she understood the true reason he had asked her here to see him. Not that this made things simpler. It only complicated them.

“There was one more thing that I need to point out.”

“Just the one?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“A few moments ago, when you were speaking with Lord Mildenhall, I was across the room and even then, my conversation was cut short by your laughter.”

“My laughter?” she scoffed, knowing that he would enjoy the rebuke. “Surely, you are joking?”

He looked at her flatly. “You know that I am not. It was loud and shrill, unbecoming and surely something that might give a man like Lord Mildenhall reason to pause.”

“Oh no…”

He sighed as if with regret. “You need to learn to control it. As you have done so well tonight with your other more…” He took a deep breath as his eyes roamed her body. “… tempestuous habits, you forget yourself sometimes.”

“What should I do?” She was looking at him, her eyes pleading because she knew where this was going and oh how she wanted it.

“Another lesson, I think…” He growled as he spoke to her, taking another step closer so that he was right on her. “One you are sure not to forget.”

She licked her lips and she felt herself moisten between her thighs. “What… what sort of a lesson?”

“As I said…” He reached up with his right hand, resting his fingers under her chin so that she was forced to look at him. In those eyes she saw the hunger, the lust, the want that he held for her. It made her entire body shake. “A lesson you will not soon forgot. And where I hesitate to use the word punishment, I will let you decide.”

“That is fair…” She puckered her lips, expecting him to kiss her. Needing him to.

“No,” he said, seeing what she was expecting. “As I said…” His hand dropped her chin and snatched her waist roughly. She gasped and he stepped further, forcing her back so that she was pressed against the door. “Not that sort of lesson.”

Her heart raced. Her mind searched.What does he mean to do? Not that I care. There is nothing he could do right now that I would not want.“You best teach me then,” she purred. “For I am a slow learned, and I dare say that if the point is not made…” She shrugged and then breathed. “I will likely err again, for I am a very bad girl.”

He groaned and squeezed her by the waist. Eyes shut, his breathing was ragged as if he was trying to control himself. She watched him, waiting with impatience, needing him to do as he wished to her.I might scream if he does not.

Then his eyes snapped open, and he met her. “Turn around.”

She bulked. “Excuse me?”

“Turn around,” he growled. “I will not ask again.”

Her beating heart spiked inside her chest. A moment of panic for she had no idea what he intended. But Aurelia found in that moment that she trusted the duke completely. And whatever it was that he was going to do to her, she knew that she would enjoy it.

Without question, she turned around.

The duke stepped into her immediately, pressing his body against her and pinning her to the door. Both his hands moved down and wrapped around her butt, squeezing it. He moaned with pleasure as his lips wrapped around her right ear. “The next time you even think of laughing loudly or doing anything that draws attention in a way it ought not to, I want you to remember this. Is that understood?”

“I am a slow learner…” Her body was shaking with excitement. “You best make it a good lesson.”

He chuckled as he pulled back. Then his hands slid further down her butt and grabbed at her dress. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt him lift her dress higher and higher until her bare butt cheeks were exposed.

On instinct, she stuck them outwards, presenting them. This had the duke moaning again and she could picture on his face the look of abject desire that she knew he was wearing.

His hand began to stroke her bare skin softly. Rubbing it as if in admiration. She frowned, not sure what he was doing or how this was meant to teach her –

He pulled his hand back and spanked her! A sharp crack. A spike of pain flaring across her skin. She cried out and might have screamed but he was quick to wrap his other hand around her mouth to keep her from making too much noise.

“I do not want to do this,” he growled into her ear, his body once again pressed against her. “It is for your own good. Understand?”

She nodded but could not speak for his hand was covering her mouth.

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