Page 73 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

When they got back to York, she would work out a way for them to be together but, for now, she would enjoy the duke one more time.

Margaret parted her lips slightly as the duke slipped his tongue inside. She ached at that moment for him to slip something else inside of her, but she would take all that she could get. The duke’s tongue languished against her own, and her senses were overwhelmed by his smell, taste, and touch. She closed her eyes and pressed her head forward, tightening the bond their lips had, and taking his tongue fully in her mouth.

She breathed more fervently, running her hands up to his warm neck, and then into his hair. She gripped onto his head in fear that he would recoil back from her. She pressed her tongue to his, feeling the familiar warmth of the supple serpentine muscle. And, that was not the only thing she could feel. There was a rise from the crotch of the duke, and that only excited Margaret more. She wanted to make him feel things again, remind him of how good it felt when they were together.

It was only a kiss, but she had dreams of them practicing the act so that they could get straight back into it should they have a girl. In fact, she found herself hoping that they did have a girl, so they could go through it all again. She found herself wishing for a proper future with the duke.

The noise at the door startled the two of them. There was a slight grinding as the key was turned, and they both pulled back, panting heavily and faces beet red. Margaret burst out laughing. The duke chuckled too, shifting himself from foot to foot, and Margaret could not help but look down at the bulge in his trousers. It might have been foolish, but his stiffening member gave her hope for more when they got back to York.

“I apologize, Your Grace,” said the butler as the door was opened. “I have no idea how the door was locked in the first place, nor what happened to the key, but I will investigate the matter and get to the bottom of it.”

“No need,” said Arthur. “We are free now, and there was no harm done.”

“I will leave you to your work,” said Margaret. She turned and gave the duke another look before she left the room. “I thoroughly enjoyed our talk.”

CHAPTER35

Feelings Are Finally Realized

Arthur walked along the tree-lined street. He had walked this same street many times, but it was as if he was seeing it for the very first time today.

The trees looked some taller than they ever had, and the trunks of the birch trees were a more vivid silver than he remembered. The leaves were different too. It was the height of spring, but the leaves were like sparkling emeralds and not their usual bright green.

And the breeze carried with it a fresh scent that meddled with his mind. He knew that he was smelling freshly-cut grass and the flowers that were starting to break free off their buds, but the smell brought something else too. It brought with it a fresh hope for the future—something that he had never felt before.

Arthur raised his hand and waved to Parker, who was waiting at the entrance to the small green space at the end of Carnival Avenue. He embraced his friend when he got to him, patting him on the back eagerly.

“I got your message to meet you here, but why could we not meet at the house? You have graciously put us up in there,” said Parker.

“I had thought about that, but I wanted the walk to clear my mind, and I wanted to talk this through with you privately before I make a final decision.”

“Take it through with me?” asked Parker.

“Yes. I feel as if I am finally seeing the future in front of me for the first time in my life, and I want to make sure my judgment is not being clouded, and that I am making the right decision. That is where you come in.”

Arthur walked into the park, and Parker quickened his step to catch back up.

“If you are talking about what I think you are talking about, then I am behind you all the way. You have finally decided to leave the past in the past and have a future with Margaret? Is that it?”

“I think that is it,” agreed Arthur.

“I knew my threat would work,” said Parker. “All I had to do was promise I would move to York, and your mind was changed.”

“Yes, that was what it was,” said Arthur with a laugh.

“I don’t think I have seen you like this,” said Parker. “It feels as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.”

“That is exactly what it feels like,” admitted Arthur.

The green space was a small explosion of color as the flowers that Arthur could smell on his way there started to present themselves. It felt silly to even think it, but this perfect day felt like the first day he was really living, or the day everything would change, or something like that.

“So, what was it?” asked Parker. “What really convinced you that this was the way to forge ahead?”

“I don’t truly know,” said Arthur. “I think I have always known that this is the path I should take, and I am only just realizing it. Margaret is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I still have some fear in my heart going forward, but it feels manageable with her around. No, not just that. I feel that I can conquer it with her by my side.”

“You have to be sure,” reminded Parker. “You can’t go into this hoping that you can change. That would not be fair to Margaret, or to Elspeth and me when we move to York.”

Arthur gave a short laugh. “I am sure. And the staff are sure too.”

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