Page 51 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

Her big, round butt sticking out. Skin so creamy white. The way she pushed it back, wiggling it as she teased me. And the noises that escaped her each time I struck it…

He was losing his mind. His senses. His self-control! Gerald needed to focus. He needed to forget what had happened between them. He needed to remove Lady Hawkins from his thoughts, from his life before she undid him completely. But then he would look at that door again and the memories would return…

“Gerald?”

“You were speaking of Mr. Montague,” Gerald ventures, forcing his gaze from the door and back on Victor. Victor was frowning at him, annoyed it seemed, at being ignored. “And the debts he owes us.”

“Oh, well done,” he said dryly. “Do you care to comment on what was said? How much he owes? The interest! And how long overdue he is in making payments?”

“Ah…” Gerald swallowed. “Why don’t you remind me?”

Victor groaned. “As I have just done, you mean. Honestly, man! You refuse to come to the office, insisting that I make the trip out here. I do so, thinking that you might at least do me the courtesy of pretending that your head is on your shoulders. The least you can do in return is –”

“I am sorry, Victor,” Gerald spoke over him. “I am just a little distracted.”

“Clearly,” Victor scoffed. “Care to tell me to what this distraction pertains? Or do I need to guess?”

Again, Gerald looked at the closed door and his blood began to pump red and hot through his veins.

It had not meant to go that far with Lady Hawkins. And it very nearly hadn’t. Gerald had invited Lady Hawkins to his office precisely to prove that he would be able to control himself. To pay her a compliment and insist upon her relationship with Lord Mildenhall. If he was able to ensure that their budding relationship worked, then he would be free of her completely, which was what he wanted.

But he had found himself growing vexed to hear her speak of Lord Mildenhall. He had found himself not wanting them to be together. Undone and having lost complete control, Gerald gave in to his most base desires.

Worse than all of that, he could not say for sure if he was presented with the exact same set of circumstances, he wouldn’t do so again.What is happening to me?

“What are you looking at?” Victor caught the look in Gerald’s eye, turning to look at the empty doorway. “What is going on?”

Gerald baulked, unsure what to say, knowing that if he tried to lie then his friend would see right through him. Lucky that he was saved from such a thing as the door suddenly flew open.

“Brother.” Rosalind stood in the doorway, her expression set and brimming with determination. “I need to speak with you.”

“Ah, Lady Emerton!” Victor sat up. “This is a most pleasant surprise.”

Gerald glared at his friend before fixing that glare on his sister. “Now is not a good time, Rosalind. I am with company.”

“This will only take a moment.” She walked into the room without waiting for invitation. “I just wished to let you know that Aurelia and Violet have invited me to go shopping with them today, and I must leave at once if I plan on being on time.”

“You… what?” Gerald stammered.

“I will be out for the rest of the day.” It was not a question. “And I thought you ought to know.” She smiled politely and then turned to leave.

“Wait one minute,” Gerald called after her, rising from his chair. “Where do you think you are going?”

“I just told you,” she responded with innocence. “Do not worry, it will not be a long day. And I fully intend to be home by supper.”

“That is not the point,” he said angrily. “Not only do you come in here and make demands of me – to which you should know better. But…” He scowled at her, although she was not who he was angry with. Not really. “It is who you intend to spend the day with that I am forced to question.”

“Aurelia and Violet?”

“Lady Hawkins specifically.” Gerald did not care that she was spending time with Lady Hawkins. At least not as much as he pretended. The truth was, he knew Lady Hawkins to be more than what he had once thought, a true friend and someone who his sister could even learn from. But he was confused. Ashamed, also. He needed Lady Hawkins removed from his life, which meant that he needed her removed from his sister’s life as well. “You know how I feel about her and the two of you spending so much time together.”

She scoffed. “I know what you claim. But your actions suggest otherwise.”

Gerald felt his cheeks redden and his eyes widen, and he had to force himself not to look away as if he had been found out. “What… what does that mean?”

“Did you not invite her here two nights ago? And did you not allow me to attend her sister’s drum last week? You tell me not to spend time with Aurelia, but you continue to insert her into my life. It cannot be both, brother.”

“She has you there,” Victor chuckled.

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