Chapter 14

“Are you sure it’s getting better?” Lydia asked warily, looking at her two sisters.

They were relaxing in Alice’s bedroom—Juliet on the swing and Lydia sitting on the bed. Occasionally, she would lean back, as if almost comfortable. But then she would catch herself and bolt upright again.

“I am quite certain.” Alice laughed, feeling warmth rush through her as she gave Juliet another push on the swing.

It was a week after the ball, and her two sisters had once again come to visit. Just like the first time, though, their father had stayed behind.

“I think you are lying,” Lydia declared, getting up from her seat on the bed for the dozenth time.

“I am not!” Alice protested, a hint of laughter in her voice. “Things have changed, truly,” she continued.“We are spending more time together now. More meals, more time in the library—” She paused, her thoughts drifting to the delicious memories they’d recently made among the stacks of books. “We talk,” she murmured, ignoring the now familiar stirrings of arousal within her body.

“And has he… been a good husband?” Lydia asked pointedly, giving her a knowing stare.

Alice rolled her eyes as she gave their youngest sister another push. “That is none of your concern,” she quipped defensively.

No. They had not consummated their marriage. Yet. But things between them were changing daily. It was no longer foolish to hope that perhaps soon…

“But you just said he was a good husband?” Juliet asked, confused.

Alice was relieved she wasn’t following Lydia’s euphemism and gave her a soft smile before giving her another push. “He is,” she agreed, shooting Lydia a dirty look. “Lydia is just vexing herself, is all. Pay her no mind.”

Lydia sucked through her teeth in annoyance as the two of them glared at one another, but they were fortunately interrupted when a knock sounded at the bedroom door.

“Enter,” Alice called, dragging her eyes away from her sister and to the door.

She felt a flutter in her stomach as she saw Duncan stride in with a smirk on his lips. He was not in his usual suit today, but instead, just a white collared shirt that was left unbuttoned and a pair of black trousers slung low on his hips, his suspenders hanging off the back. His taught, surprisingly tan flesh was glistening with sweat, and his hair was soaked. His old bruises were all but gone, but, to her dismay, her eyes caught a sliver of freshly bruised flesh between his left hip and his back.

She knew now that he liked boxing. A bit too much, in her opinion. But it was a passion of his, and she tried to support it as best as she could. It was easier now that she knew his friends better. Even when it looked bad, she understood that their love for him would prevent any real harm from coming to him.

Duncan stopped mid-stride when he saw she wasn’t alone, his cerulean blue eyes quickly widening at the discovery. From behind her, Alice could hear her older sister’s soft gasp as she no doubt took in his incredibly muscular physique. Even little Juliet murmured, “Oh goodness,” as her wide, innocent pale blue eyes fixed on his torso.

Unable to help herself, Alice bit her lip as she, too, took in the sculpted God that was her husband.

“My deepest apologies,” he said humbly, his smirk turning into a sheepish grin as he took a step back and held the edges of his shirt together. “I was not aware you had company.”

Suddenly snapping out of her trance, Lydia marched over to Juliet and all but dragged her off the swing. “Come, dear, it is time we go,” she instructed, keeping her eyes on the floor as she marched toward the door.

To Alice’s surprise, Duncan stepped in front of her sister and put his hands up.

Lydia looked at him with pure fear on her face, and it instantly angered Alice. Unknowingly, she took a protective step toward him.

“Please, do not feel the need,” he insisted. “We have plenty of rooms, and I am sure my wife appreciates your visits. Stay as long as you like.”

Juliet, seemingly not at all afraid of the half-naked, half-masked man in front of her, suddenly gave a brilliant smile and began bouncing on her feet. “Could we, really?” she asked excitedly.

“Of course.” Duncan laughed, looking relieved at her reaction.

Alice caught a look of brotherly affection in his eyes as he looked down at Juliet, and something more than arousal flared within her. It was not just her that was safe with Duncan. It was her sisters too.

“I just saw Mrs. Fletcher right outside,” he continued. “I am sure she will be happy to show you to our guest rooms. You may choose whichever you wish. Anything you need, just make a list and give it to Mrs. Fletcher—she will certainly have it here for you by this evening.”

“That is not necessary,” Lydia began to say as Juliet squealed and ran excitedly out of the room.

“Do stay, Sister,” Alice insisted. She then came up behind her older sister to put her hand on her shoulders.

Lydia jumped as she did so, letting out an involuntary squeak.

“That way, we can spend tomorrow together as well. You know Father won’t mind,” Alice added.

“I-I just,” Lydia stuttered tensely, looking from the door to Duncan, then to the door again.

“Lydia, come on!” Juliet yelled from the hallway. “Mrs. Fletcher says there is a room with a sky window!”

Without another word, Lydia skittered past Duncan and flew out the door, her feet barely touching the floor as she rushed to the hallway, where Juliet and Mrs. Fletcher were waiting for her.

When the door to her outer rooms was suddenly slammed shut, Alice burst into giggles as Duncan chuckled.

“I do not think your sister likes me very much,” he said with a smile, wrapping his arm around her waist now that they were alone.

“You scared her.” Alice giggled, letting him pull her to him despite his stickiness.

He was still coated in sweat, but she didn’t mind his sweat. In fact, she felt a little ridiculous for how much she enjoyed the scent of it.

“Coming in here all sweaty, bruised, and half-naked from boxing, of course she’s going to get a little flummoxed.”

Duncan chuckled as he nuzzled her hair. He kissed her forehead then, sending shocks of pleasure through her, and walked toward the window.

“I shall apologize at dinner for my state of undress,” he assured her. “I truly was not aware you had visitors.”

“It is not an issue,” she replied nonchalantly, taking a seat on the swing.

Duncan turned to her, a sly grin on his lips as he watched her kick the swing into motion.

“You did not seem… what was the word? Flummoxed?” he asked, stepping closer to her.

Alice felt a fresh rush of arousal course through her as he took off his shirt, letting it fall to the floor.

“You do not flummox me,” she confessed, her eyes trained on the hard ridges of his chest and abdomen.

“No?” he asked, stepping close enough to grasp the ropes of the swing.

His strong grip stilled the swing immediately, and his blue eyes flashed with heat as he looked down at her. Alice swallowed hard, feeling her body begin to bloom for him like a flower as she felt his body heat seep into her.

“Not the correct word,” she managed to get out, somehow holding onto a small semblance of control.

“Do tell,” he encouraged, leaning closer.

“Entrance,” she confessed, feeling her breathing start to quicken in anticipation.

Duncan hummed in approval, sending another wave of arousal through her as he looked deep into her eyes. “I like that word.”

Alice lunged for his neck at the same time he let go of the ropes and gripped her waist, dragging her to his chest. Their mouths moved over one another hungrily, giving in to yet another moment of passion. This was how things were going for them now. Alice was sure it wasn’t normal, as her older sister suggested, but she didn’t care. What she and Duncan had created was something far more exciting than what “normal” could ever bring them—and it was satisfying to them both. That was enough, for now.

Knowing her husband, Alice let him take the lead, allowing him to strip her of her dress as she fought to pull down his trousers. The moment her dress and corset pooled to the floor, Duncan tore at the white chemise beneath, peeling the ripped thing from her shoulders before picking her up again.

“What are you doing now?” She laughed softly between kisses as she felt him step out of his trousers.

“Your swing has given me many delightful ideas,” Duncan groaned, lowering himself carefully onto the seat with Alice still wrapped around him. “It forces me to recall a particular physics lesson during my time at Oxford.”

“How studious of you,” she breathed, adjusting herself on his lap by slipping her legs through the space between the back and the seat.

Excitement shot through her as she felt his hard length slide teasingly against her quivering sex, the hardened ridges already gently nudging her clitoris. They had yet to make love, despite all their newfound play, but this was close. So close. Was this finally going to be the time?

“Don’t let go of me,” Duncan commanded, using his legs to pull the swing back a few feet.

“Never,” she whispered, feeling the sexual tension grow.

Duncan lifted his feet from the floor then, letting the momentum carry them through a natural thrusting motion. Sex to sex, the motion made them grind against each other deliciously, creating the most wonderful friction.

“Christ,” Duncan cursed under his breath, his head leaning heavily against Alice’s shoulder as they swung back and forth.

They rode these waves together for several minutes, both of them lost to the pleasure from the pressure. Anytime the swing would begin to slow, Duncan would kick his feet off the floor again, renewing the force. At one point when he did this, Alice melded into him, and it caused his mask to slip, exposing a sliver of his scars. Arousal deepened inside her as she saw more of his face, and before she realized it, she was slipping his mask off the rest of the way, letting it clatter to the floor uselessly.

Duncan stopped swinging immediately, his feet landing on the floor so abruptly that his cock thrust against her little bundle of nerves, almost sending her over the edge.

“What are you doing?” he growled, his face fully exposed as heated blue eyes burned into hers. His entire body was tense, his muscles ticking uncontrollably as he seemed to be having some deep inner battle.

“I do not care,” she panted, clinging to him closer in desperation.

It was possibly a mistake. A sin to take such a liberty. But the temptation had been too great.

“Duncan, I do not care,” she repeated urgently, her hold on him tight.

Unable to help herself, she trailed her hands over his jaw and began to pepper his scars with kisses. She felt his body tense up even more, so rigid that she feared he might shatter. But, as her lips moved down to his, and she murmured her pleas, she felt him relax again completely, and the swing once more carried them back and forth.

This time, Duncan’s legs kicked more powerfully than before, forcing the friction to become a harsh, desperate thing until they both cried out in release. Satisfaction filled Alice as she felt her release coat his erupting sex, but it was quickly replaced with longing when she saw his creamy white seed splashed uselessly once more over her lower belly.

She had hoped, embarrassingly, that this was the time that he would give in. That he would stop fighting whatever inner battle he had and finally be with her as a man and wife should be. Still, through her disappointment, she pressed herself tightly against him, reminding herself to be thankful for the small progress they had made.

“Why did you do that?” Duncan panted, still trying to catch his breath several minutes later.

He lifted her with one arm, placed her on the swing, and went to retrieve his mask.

“Because it is not needed,” she replied defensively, staring at the lifeless thing as if it were her worst enemy. “Not with me.”

“That is not for you to decide,” he stated, his voice terse as he slipped it back over his scars. “I have given you many freedoms, Alice. Many concessions. But this cannot be one of them.”

Realizing now how much she’d upset him, Alice pushed off the swing and walked over to him, her heart breaking when he caught her wrists and prevented her from embracing him.

“Duncan, don’t,” she pleaded, her eyes begging him to calm down.

“I’ll be out the rest of the evening,” he stated, releasing her. He stormed over to his clothes, pulling them on with jerking motions.

“Talk to me!” she blurted out, following him.

Duncan rounded on her suddenly, making her hand freeze just a hair away from his arm. “Alice, stop,” he bit out, looking more furious than ever.

His entire body was trembling, this time not with arousal but rage, and he seemed to struggle to take a deep breath as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Enjoy your evening with your sisters,” he forced out, opening the door. “I meant it when I said they are welcome any time.”

Duncan opened his eyes then but did not look at her before heading out. He slammed the door shut behind him, once more shutting her out of his space and his heart.

Tears pricked Alice’s eyes as she stood there alone, trying to figure out what she should do next. She couldn’t go to her sisters. Not in this state. Plus, they would not expect her to join them so soon. And how was she going to explain his absence at dinner? How was she going to prove Lydia’s fear wrong now?

Knowing she needed time to gather herself, she rang for Rebecca and ordered her to draw her a hot bath. The first thing she needed to do was wash Duncan’s alluring scent off her. It was not helping the fresh ache in her mind or body, and as much as she enjoyed it, she needed it washed off her so she could think.