Page 4 of Garnish with a Candy Cane
I trail kisses across the thick red stripe, and she gasps, trembling under my palms.
“You’re making my panties wet.”
Alcohol must be like a truth serum with her because I’m sure someone as innocent as she is would never admit to her pussy dripping for me. “That means I’m doing it right.”
The sensation must be too much for her to handle, and she droops down. Her knees buckle and give way. Thank fuck. Otherwise I’d end up doing something I’d regret. In this life it takes a hell of a lot for me to be ashamed. Taking advantage of my wasted duchess would definitely elicit some rare guilt in my faint conscience.
I pull her next to me, allowing her to cuddle in. She seems to like the intimacy, snuggling as if she belongs in the crook of my arm. Where it feels like she should’ve been all along. She rubs across my chest and then fiddles with a button on my shirt.
“You are very hard.”
Fuck me. I don’t think she means my disappointed dick still throbbing in my boxer briefs. “I work out occasionally.”
“Me too!”
Once again my sarcasm gets past my intoxicated girl, and I kiss the top of her sweet head. I don’t know what the fuck’s wrong with me being all tender and gentle like this or with her. But I can’t seem to stop myself. “What else do you do?”
“I work at the bakery on Culver. It’s near the nursing home so I can go see my grandma on my lunch break and right after work. Then she never has to eat by herself since she hates that.”
Damn, if that’s not devotion I don’t know what is. More proof of what a good-hearted person she is to allow her life to revolve around her grandmother. “Yeah, I understand why she wants to see you too.”
“She gets lonely. Tristan always complains if I ask him to come with me. He hates old people and said it smells weird in–”
Anger fills me from hearing that bastard’s name again. I look down and grip her chin, lifting her elegant face to mine. “I don’t ever want to hear his name out of your mouth again, do you hear me duchess? He’s dead to you.”
In real life too but she doesn’t need to know that. “You never have to worry or think about him again.”
This smile is content and relaxed despite my severity. Probably from her earlier cocktails but hopefully from me too. From the promise I make that she can be relieved of any stress or anxiety he caused.
“Okay, Duke.” A deep sigh blows against my shoulder. “Just you. Just my Duke from now on, right?”
For the first time in a long time I actually hesitate. Conflicted enough with my emotion to remain silent rather than promptly responding like my usually decisive self would, I study her upturned face. She probably won’t remember in the morning what I say. Hell, she probably won’t remember any of our discussion at all, but that doesn’t make my reply any less meaningful. Even without answering, I know I’ve somehow committed myself to this girl – to my duchess – and I’m not going to be able to let her go. “Yeah, just me from now on.”
“Yay! I like that.”
Heavy lids finally slip closed with a slight smile still curving her full lips. Reflecting the scarce peacefulness she’s managed to generate in me too. I kiss her forehead, relishing the pleasure of her presence, until my damn phone pings interrupting my reverie.
Cedric:Found Heidi. UR right. She’s freaking out looking for Noelle.
I look down again at the magnificent angel sleeping in my arms. Noelle. Pretty name but doesn’t matter. She’s still my duchess.
Duke:Let her know Noelle is fine, and I’m driving her home in a little bit. Have John take Heidi home in case she’s too drunk to drive.
Damn difficult to text one handed but I manage at least enough to eliminate any issue from Heidi about me keeping duchess. Once she hears my name and directive, she won’t attempt to fight me for Noelle.
Cedric:Consider it done.
I toss my cell back onto the cushion and wrap my arms around her again. Neither of them has to know yet that I’m lying. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting her go now. Once she wakes up, then I’ll let her know too.
Idon’t think I’ve ever slept this hard in my life. Which is pretty unbelievable that I could sleep at all sitting upright and still wearing my suit. But with this gorgeous girl snuggled next to me I’ve never felt so relaxed.
She seemed pretty comfortable too. Never stirring once, not even when I sat up and shrugged off my jacket, wrapping the black fabric around her and covering her bare arms. But now I’m awake and enjoying her curled against me. Although my cock wants way more than cuddling and reminds me of his need straining in my pants with her so close. Breathing in deeply, she rubs a small hand down my chest to my stomach as she wakes up.
Now I know she’s fully awake when she stiffens, gasping and shoving off me as well as the sofa. Only makes it a few steps before she tumbles to her knees and scrambles around onto her sweet ass. Terror that I’ve only seen in men seconds from death pulses in her body. I remind myself she’s not a man, but a woman. A tiny woman waking up to a strange guy in a nightclub without her friend and the fear of what I could’ve done to her.
“It’s okay.” As much as I want to jump up too, I force myself to stay on the couch. Keeping my voice calm and level with my eyes locked on hers. “You got wasted and lost your friend so I let you hang out here.”
Of course I omit that we found Heidi and sent her home since I’m not letting Noelle go. Too soon for all that with her trembling on the carpet, her chest rising and falling with the panic engulfing her. “Where’s Heidi?”
