Page 40 of To Defend a Damaged Duke
“Oh God.”Tommy almost giggled.“You believe yourself to be amusing, don’t you?”
The duke tipped his head to one side, pretending to consider.“One tries not to fly in the face of public opinion.”
This time, Tommy did giggle, a boyish, joyous sound he hadn’t believed himself capable of.
Taking his wrist, the duke oh-so-very gently circled it with his finger and thumb before he dragged it across to his hip, over where the fall of his breeches lay.His mouth wore a cocky smile, and Tommy uttered a despairing moan.
“Where has my timid duke gone?I want him back.”
His Grace’s sweet mouth met Tommy’s as Tommy’s nimble fingers made light work of the fastenings.
“He’s still here, Tommy,” the duke whispered into his mouth.“And he’s scared to death.But he’s also fuelled by brandy and a desperate want for the beautiful creature in his lap, so he’s saddling up anyway.”
“Then he must be truly courageous.”Tommy dipped his hand amongst the folds of white linen wrapped around the duke’s prick, presenting it like a gift.With his other hand, he unfastened his own breeches.
“I want to pleasure you too, Tommy,” said the duke through a hot breath, “As you pleasure me.”
“Or—” Tilting himself forward, Tommy spat on his palm, then wrapped it around both cocks.“—we can do it this way.”
“Oh, God, yes.”
More than spit slicked them both.Too many bloody layers of linen were getting in the way for Tommy to see the damned things, but he could feel the duke’s prick, rigid and scorching hot against him.
“By God, you feel good,” Tommy said.
The duke clamped his own hand around Tommy’s, and together, they found a jerky rhythm.Tommy nipped the damp skin at the duke’s neck, suckling the sensitive flesh as their pricks rubbed against each other.He pulled harder, twisting up and over his lover’s swollen crown.
“Oh,” the duke rasped.“Oh, oh yes.”
Sothatwas how he liked it.“It meets with your approval, Your Grace?”
“I don’t believe I have ever felt so hard.”
“Iron sharpens iron,” Tommy gasped.“Didn’t you know?”
The duke let out a whimper.“Then I believe that iron has fast become my favourite of all the elements.”
Both were close to spending, Tommy sensed it from the faltering of the duke’s hips, from a tiny cry, fraught and wanting, carrying him back through time.A fresh wave of heat cantered down his spine, flooding between his legs.He sped up the shuttling of his wrist, licking the duke’s neck, then sucking down hard.His lover cursed, tipping his head back for more.
“Now, Benedict, now.”
“God, yes.Now.”
They spilled almost as one, scrappily coating hands and linen.Uncaring.They spilled until the duke winced and stuttered and pulled Tommy’s hand away.He held it up to his mouth, pressing his lips to it like a charm.
Tommy’s eyes shuttered closed.He sagged, breathless and mindless, against the duke’s broad chest, swaying as it heaved.In a moment, after permitting himself a few seconds to recover his senses, he’d recover his clothing and take his leave, a habit rooted in self-protection.One never knew when a madge could turn violent.Best to be out of range and closest to the door.
He made to clamber off and away from the mess cooling between them, but the duke hauled him back again.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Nowhere, apparently.”
The duke exhaled in a lazy, self-satisfied sigh.“Good.I haven’t had my fill of you.You can stay there a while longer.”It sounded very much like a ducal order.
“If your intention is a demand for seconds, I may have to demure, Your Grace,” Tommy was still breathless.“I believe I have been bled dry.You have mastered rakery over the course of one evening.”
“I have.”The duke’s eyes danced.He held Tommy’s hand more tightly.“At least, with you.I…I feel I can do anything with you.”
