Page 32 of Alone with the Beastly Duke
With that, Axel stepped out of the pool. His wet trouser clung to his body, and Jasmine could see the outline of his muscular thighs. She looked further up and saw the outline of his manhood.
She blushed and looked away. Oblivious to what his wet body was doing to Jasmine, Axel dried his body with a towel.
Jasmine looked again, memorizing every curve she could see from the outline of his manhood, the length of his manhood, and the girth of it. She imagined what it would look like. From the looks of the outline, it would be thick, just like other parts of Axel’s body.
“What do you say, My Lady?” Axel’s voice snapped her out of her daydream.
“I’m afraid I did not hear you,” she replied.
“I was asking what you would like to do later today,” he said.
“Oh, I would probably read just like I used to do at home,” she told him. Her face fell when she realized that most of her books had been packed for the trip. “Though I guess I might not be doing a lot of reading here since I did not have any books here,” she sighed.
“I have a library here. It belonged to my father and his father before him. I spent a lot of my childhood in the library, reading voraciously. Remember how you tried to fight me over a book on our first meeting? I am certain you will find many of the books delightful since we seem to like the same kinds of novels,” he suggested.
Jasmine’s ears immediately perked up at this, and she smiled. She had never heard him speak of his childhood before, so it pleased her incredibly that he was so open to her.
“I cannot wait to see this library you speak so fondly about,” she replied.
They both headed back to the house. Axel briefly changed his clothing, and they both settled in for breakfast. They ate in silence for a while before Axel spoke.
“About last night,” he started.
Jasmine squirmed in her seat as she remembered how she had cried and told him so many things about her. She felt embarrassed beyond words.
He probably thinks I am some crybaby.
“Oh, all I said yesterday was not exactly the truth. I was simply terrified, and I said some things I should not have,” Jasmine lied.
“What?” Axel seemed surprised.
“All I said about my parents neglecting me and feeling lonely is not entirely true. I mean, I was indeed alone sometimes. However, I do not feel lonely, not even in the least,” she lied.
Axel smiled. “Your secret is safe with me,” he said. “You do not have to be embarrassed.”
Jasmine’s jaw dropped.
How did he know that I was embarrassed?
“I…I am not embarrassed…” she muttered under her breath. She was even more embarrassed now that he knew she was mortified by her actions and words of the previous night.
Thankfully, the discussion ended before she could die from embarrassment as Axel’s butler entered, bringing with him a wad of mail.
“This one is for Lady Jasmine,” he said, giving one of the missives to her.
“That is surprising,” Axel said, “I just sent the letter yesterday, and I do not suppose they have received it just yet.”
“I do not think this letter is a response to your letter to them. They probably sent this letter when they realized they had left me behind,” Jasmine said.
“Indeed, My Lady,” the butler confirmed, “the mailman was to deliver the missive to the Thornhill residence. I, however, told him that the recipient of the letter currently resides here, which was why he delivered it here instead.”
“Thank you. You can take your leave now,” Axel told his butler.
Jasmine hurriedly tore the letter open and quickly began to read.
Dear Jasmine,
We realized only too late that we had made the unimaginable mistake of leaving you behind in London. The past day has been an absolute terror as we can only imagine the amount of distress you must face from being left alone in the house.
