the word. In a good way. What a pity he was
drained absolutely fucking dry.
“I liked reading that part.”
“That part?”
“Yes, Edward. The part of the book where Asha was taught to
prepare her body. Haven’t you read the book?”
“I’ve read it.” He tried not to laugh.
“I read that part several times. And do you know what I
did?”
His amusement vanished. He swallowed. “W-what?”
“I touched myself just like the book said.”
Oh. Dear. God.
“Did you?” Why, oh why, when he was literally boneless from
that magnificent release?
“Mmm hmm. All afternoon.”
She would be the death of him. Really, she would.
He pulled her down and kissed her. To make her stop. Stop
talking. He couldn’t bear it.
She tucked her head against his shoulder and sighed. “Will
we be doing any of this again, Edward?”
“Yes, my dear.” He drew his fingers through her hair.
“When?”
He chuckled. “As soon as I recover, darling. As soon as I
recover.”
* * * * *
But they didn’t.
Instead, he fell asleep, and she too, in his arms.
When he awoke it was nearly morning and he knew he had to
leave. He couldn’t be discovered in her rooms. That would be a disaster for
her.
Still, he didn’t stir. He liked her warm weight on his
chest. Loved the silky caress of her hair. The soft huffs of breath as she
snored daintily.
He hadn’t awakened with a woman in his arm since—hell, he
couldn’t remember. He did know he’d never enjoyed it before. And this,
he enjoyed.
He tightened his embrace and she snuggled against him, murmuring
in her sleep.
Yes. He liked this. And he liked it a lot.
Too much, perhaps.
Kaitlin was his cousin’s companion. Not a wicked widow or a
working girl. She wasn’t a virgin, but she was also not a wanton. She deserved
a gentle hand. A man far better than he.
But then, he reflected, he was the Dark Duke.
There were advantages to having power and money.
There were advantages to having no conscience whatsoever.
It wasn’t as though she was a highborn lady with a righteous
father, a protective brother or an ardent betrothed. She was under his roof.
And she was willing.
He could do with her as he liked.
Still, he slipped from her bed before the servants stirred,
covering her with a blanket and tenderly kissing the tiny curls at her brow
before he left.
Violet’s suite was just down the hall. It wouldn’t do for
her to find him here.
Duke or not, his cousin would flay him alive if she found
out he was in the process of seducing her companion.
Even worse, it would disappoint her.
Chapter Seven
Edward sat at his desk in the third-floor study, scribbling
like mad. He’d hated leaving Kaitlin’s bed, especially with a sharp morning
arousal, but he’d needed to go. Had he stayed, surely their play would have
been discovered.
He would not have been able to manage his passion.
Hunger for her burned in his gut, but he found the sting of
it spurred his inspiration. Ideas for a new story, one involving a certain
flame-haired goddess, had beset his mind. Words flowed from him at an
astounding rate.
She was an inspiring little muse.
His quill froze when the door opened. He looked up.
Ah. It was her.
He smiled. “Good morning.”
She hovered on the threshold. “Am I intruding?”
“Not a bit of it. I was just thinking about you. Come in.
Where are the others?”
“Having elevenses.” Was it that late? Gads, he’d been
writing for hours. “I told them I had a megrim.”
“Did you?” Good girl. He closed his book. “Lock the door.”
She started. “Lock the door?”
He shot her a telling look. Loved her response. A flutter of
lashes. A tiny smile. And, she locked the door. He liked that part best.
“What are you doing up here?”
“Nothing, darling.” He stood and made his way to her side.
She looked especially lovely this morning. Though her hair was all done up in
that annoying bun. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like a stone.” She put out a lip.
drained absolutely fucking dry.
“I liked reading that part.”
“That part?”
“Yes, Edward. The part of the book where Asha was taught to
prepare her body. Haven’t you read the book?”
“I’ve read it.” He tried not to laugh.
“I read that part several times. And do you know what I
did?”
His amusement vanished. He swallowed. “W-what?”
“I touched myself just like the book said.”
Oh. Dear. God.
“Did you?” Why, oh why, when he was literally boneless from
that magnificent release?
“Mmm hmm. All afternoon.”
She would be the death of him. Really, she would.
He pulled her down and kissed her. To make her stop. Stop
talking. He couldn’t bear it.
She tucked her head against his shoulder and sighed. “Will
we be doing any of this again, Edward?”
“Yes, my dear.” He drew his fingers through her hair.
“When?”
He chuckled. “As soon as I recover, darling. As soon as I
recover.”
* * * * *
But they didn’t.
Instead, he fell asleep, and she too, in his arms.
When he awoke it was nearly morning and he knew he had to
leave. He couldn’t be discovered in her rooms. That would be a disaster for
her.
Still, he didn’t stir. He liked her warm weight on his
chest. Loved the silky caress of her hair. The soft huffs of breath as she
snored daintily.
He hadn’t awakened with a woman in his arm since—hell, he
couldn’t remember. He did know he’d never enjoyed it before. And this,
he enjoyed.
He tightened his embrace and she snuggled against him, murmuring
in her sleep.
Yes. He liked this. And he liked it a lot.
Too much, perhaps.
Kaitlin was his cousin’s companion. Not a wicked widow or a
working girl. She wasn’t a virgin, but she was also not a wanton. She deserved
a gentle hand. A man far better than he.
But then, he reflected, he was the Dark Duke.
There were advantages to having power and money.
There were advantages to having no conscience whatsoever.
It wasn’t as though she was a highborn lady with a righteous
father, a protective brother or an ardent betrothed. She was under his roof.
And she was willing.
He could do with her as he liked.
Still, he slipped from her bed before the servants stirred,
covering her with a blanket and tenderly kissing the tiny curls at her brow
before he left.
Violet’s suite was just down the hall. It wouldn’t do for
her to find him here.
Duke or not, his cousin would flay him alive if she found
out he was in the process of seducing her companion.
Even worse, it would disappoint her.
Chapter Seven
Edward sat at his desk in the third-floor study, scribbling
like mad. He’d hated leaving Kaitlin’s bed, especially with a sharp morning
arousal, but he’d needed to go. Had he stayed, surely their play would have
been discovered.
He would not have been able to manage his passion.
Hunger for her burned in his gut, but he found the sting of
it spurred his inspiration. Ideas for a new story, one involving a certain
flame-haired goddess, had beset his mind. Words flowed from him at an
astounding rate.
She was an inspiring little muse.
His quill froze when the door opened. He looked up.
Ah. It was her.
He smiled. “Good morning.”
She hovered on the threshold. “Am I intruding?”
“Not a bit of it. I was just thinking about you. Come in.
Where are the others?”
“Having elevenses.” Was it that late? Gads, he’d been
writing for hours. “I told them I had a megrim.”
“Did you?” Good girl. He closed his book. “Lock the door.”
She started. “Lock the door?”
He shot her a telling look. Loved her response. A flutter of
lashes. A tiny smile. And, she locked the door. He liked that part best.
“What are you doing up here?”
“Nothing, darling.” He stood and made his way to her side.
She looked especially lovely this morning. Though her hair was all done up in
that annoying bun. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like a stone.” She put out a lip.
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