Page 11 of Best Duke Ever

Had she been thinking clearly.

Had her brain not been frazzled by the mind blowing pleasure she had just received at the hands, mouth, and cock of Edward.Her best friend.

But her brainwasfrazzled from the mind blowing pleasure she had just received at the hands, mouth, and cock of Edward.Her best friend.

So shewasn’tthinking clearly.

So shedidn’tunlock the door and just leave.

Gabriel stood up from the chair he had been slouched in.Was that a book in his hands?She watched him return the unidentifiable object into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“Um…” Where were the words she needed when she needed them?

“Yes?”He took a step closer.

Her feet were working faster, though not necessarily smarter than her mouth, and they sidestepped Gabriel’s approach.

Now she stood near the middle of the room while his back was to the door.

“What are you doing here?”He asked none too gently.

“I-I…”

“I asked you what you’re doing here.It’s a simple question.”

Yes.It was.It was of the simplest variety, yet her brain felt like it was wading through mud.And all she could think was, what were words doing buried underneath all that mud?

Gabriel reached out his hand toward her.In hindsight, he was probably making some small gesticulation to prompt her to answer the aforementioned question.But in the moment, Lenora’s heart turned to fire.Fire claimed by Edward, and she wanted no hands on her except his.So when Gabriel—in all probability with exceptional innocence—started by calling her name, “Lady—”

She misunderstood and shouted.“No!”

It took less than a second for the door to crack open with a loud bang.

“Lenora!”A disheveled, sweaty, glowing, and altogether too handsome Edward bellowed at her.

He turned toward Gabrial and drew back his fist.

“Wait!”

But it was too late.Edward threw the punch and the unsuspecting Gabriel fell back a half step, rubbing his jaw.

“Edward.Wait.”She tried again.“This isn’t what you think.”

“I’ll say,” Gabriel muttered.

“She’s mine,” Edward growled.“My betrothed.Don’t even think about laying a finger on her.”

Slowly, Gabriel brought his hands up in defense.“Upon my honor, I had no intentions—”

“I don’t want to hear another word from you or your honor.”Edward’s words charged ahead while he turned around to find Lenora.

“My love, are you alright?”The panic, vulnerability, and love in his eyes was overwhelming.

This was her man.Her best friend.Her calm.Her thrill.Her everything.In that split second it was all clear to her.

She had loved him all along, as her best friend.And now knowing this other side of him—this passionate and possessive side—there were no hurdles to fall further in love with him.

“I’m f-fine,” she stuttered.“I’m more than fine.”She threw her arms around him.“Edward, I love you.”

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