Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

T he night was long. Jenny untangled herself from her bedsheets for the third time this evening. She huffed as she sat up.

This is pointless.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and padded to her window. She drew back the heavy curtains and took in the moonlit landscaped gardens below. It was a nice little garden. Nothing like David's, but it was nice to look at.

Jenny groaned. David. She told herself she was going to move on, and in order to do that, she needed to stop thinking of him.

Unfortunately for her, her mind had other plans. It kept conjuring up every encounter they ever had. She hoped if she studied them enough, she would discover the misstep she took that changed his demeanor from flirtatious to loathsome.

Unfortunately, all she came away with was an ache in her heart and more frustration than she knew what to do with.

She leaned her head against the cool glass. Memories of his smile, his touch, his whispers rolled over her. It was presumptuous of her to assume David felt anything for her. She didn't even know what she truly felt about him.

Her hand rose slowly and lay over her aching, confused heart. She enjoyed his company—she even enjoyed it when they bickered.

He allowed her to express her feelings, no matter how big or small. For someone who was constantly told she was being too much, didn't he realize how much of a gift he gave her?

She pushed away from the window. She had enough of this sleepless night. It was getting her nowhere. Only one person could finally give her the closure she needed to move on.

And right now, that man was thinking that he had heard the last of Miss Jane Bennett.

Jenny looked upon his darkened door, hoping it wasn't the last time she would be standing in front of it. She knocked and shifted from foot to foot.

She tried thinking of what to say to him on the way over here, but her mind had gone blank.

The door creaked open, and the object of her angst stood in front of her. "Jenny?"

She couldn't help but grin at the surprised look on his face. He was always so unflappable that seeing him genuinely surprised was exhilarating.

She didn't give him the chance to welcome her, she just stepped inside.

"What are you doing here? I told you not to come to my residence anymore."

Jenny rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "You're not the only one in this arrangement ." She was really beginning to hate that word. "I get a say as well."

David's lips thinned, and his eyes darkened.

Jenny felt a flicker of heat in her core. She felt the rush of excitement course through her veins. This is what she craved. Someone she could go toe to toe with. She didn't want pacifying compliments. She wanted heat, passion. She wanted to feel .

"Jenny, I'm calling for my carriage and you're going home."

Jenny raised an eyebrow. "Am I?" She cleared her throat exaggeratedly.

David furrowed his brow. "What on earth are you doing?"

"Getting ready to scream. I guess it would alarm your neighbors and make them come out and see what all the fuss is about." She looked around the empty hallway. "Hmm, I wonder what would happen next. I'm thinking your staff would come running as well."

She fluttered her eyelashes and smiled. She had him.

"You wouldn't," he scoffed.

She let out a hearty laugh, and by God did it feel good to be challenged. "Do you question my intentions, Your Grace?"

"I'm questioning your sanity," he said dryly.

When she brought her hand up to clear her throat again, he rushed towards her.

"Alright, alright, you can stay. But only for a moment. And I am having someone take you home. You shouldn't be out this late at night by yourself."

Jenny huffed out a laugh as she took a seat in his study. "That's rich coming from you. All the times I came here, I came on my own."

David sat down in a chair opposite her and shook his head. "Other than the first night, no you have not."

She gave him a questioning look.

"I sent one of my men out each time to follow you here and to follow you back home."

Jenny was gobsmacked. "You what? How? Who? How did I not see them?"

David leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him. "I employ very good men who know how to trail people."

"Why do you have men in your service who know how to do that?"

David shrugged. "I'm full of many surprises, kitten."

Kitten .

His nickname for her settled over her and warmed her from the inside.

She sank into her chair, taking in the man across from her. "Yes, that you are."

"If you've come to try and change my mind, it won't wo—" David started to say, but she cut him off.

"The Duke of Dovegrove paid me a visit after our walk this morning," she said matter-of-factly.

"He—what? Who?"

Jenny picked at a button on her coat. "Harry Featherstone. The Duke of Dovegrove? He was waiting for me when we got back from our walk."

"He was there?" David's voice was thin and suspicious.

Jenny nodded. "Yes. I went inside, and Frances was there waiting for me to usher me into the drawing room."

David sat up. "What did he want?"

Jenny shot him an incredulous look. "I don't know, Your Grace, to ask me about the weather?"

David huffed out a breath. "Don't play coy with me, Jenny. Did you invite him? Has he called on you before?"

He was angry. Not outwardly seething, but his hands were balled into fists in his lap, and his foot began to tap on the floor.

"No. I was just as shocked as you are. I have never met the man, but he seems pleasant enough. He said he would call on me again. Frannie feels that this will lead to a proposal."

David cracked his knuckles. "And what do you think?"

Jenny chewed on her bottom lip. "I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if I was engaged by the end of the week."

A muscle in David's jaw ticked. His body was taught with tension. Realization dawned on Jenny, rendering her speechless.

He is jealous.

How has she never seen it before? She always thought of him as closed off, aloof, but if she were paying attention, she could see that his thoughts and feelings were on display just as much as hers. She just needed to know what she was looking for.

Armed with this new knowledge, she decided to poke the bear.

"What do you think of that, Your Grace?" she asked smugly.

David's eyes narrowed. "I think it was wonderful. Congratulations."

Jenny let her lips curl into a slow, seductive smile. "Oh, why, thank you, Your Grace."

She stood up and walked over to the drink cart, letting her fingertips trail over the furniture she passed. She recalled him doing this in the library, and she thought it appropriate to put their earlier lessons to work.

"I wasn't sure how you would take the news."

David bristled. "I don't understand. Wasn't this the purpose of our arrangement? I'm sure you put all of our lessons to good use."

Jenny didn't hide her smile. He sounded absolutely miserable.

She picked up his favorite whisky and poured two glasses. She held one out to him, forcing him to come to her.

This game is fun.

She made sure their fingertips touched when he took the glass from her. She gave him a warm smile as she took a small sip.

"So it wouldn't bother you if I marry the Duke of Dovegrove?"

David took a healthy sip and licked his lips. "Of course not. If it is what you want, then I am happy for you."

Jenny took one more sip before putting her glass down. She started to unbutton her coat, slowly, watching his eyes track her slow movements.

"I'm so glad to hear that, Your Grace." She laid her coat over a chair. "You know, there was a time during our arrangement that I thought something might happen between us."

David scoffed, but his shoulders were rigid. He stood unmoving, just trailing her with his eyes. The tension rolling off him was delicious and encouraged Jenny to keep going. For once in her life, she felt in control of the situation, and it was intoxicating.

Jenny shrugged one shoulder. "I must have read the situation wrong. I guess that's all for the better. I mean, if this man will be my husband, I should be glad to offer him my body without worry."

David sputtered. When she looked closely, she could see small beads of sweat forming on his hairline. His carefully constructed fa?ade was starting to crumble.

"Offer him your body?"

Jenny laughed. "Of course, Your Grace." She walked to him as her fingertips played with the lace just below her neck. "As a married woman, I'll have to let him kiss me." She stood in front of him. "Touch me." She locked gazes with him. "Take me."

Her words were barely a whisper, but he reacted as if she shouted at him. He recoiled and took a step back.

"What is the matter, Your Grace?" she asked innocently enough, but she knew she had hit her mark.

David's chest was rising and falling quickly. His face was flushed and damp with sweat. "What is the meaning of this?"

Jenny tilted her head. "Of what, Your Grace?"

"You're trying to seduce me."

"Am I?" Her eyes grew heavy-lidded with lust, and she played into it. "Is it working?"

She watched his pupils dilate just before his lips crashed into hers. His arms crushed her to his body, and she moaned into his mouth.

All the pent-up anxiety she carried around for days erupted into a hungry need for this man. Her hands were tangled in his hair, scratching and pulling, coaxing growls from him.

David turned her and walked her backward to his desk. Without pausing his assault on her lips, he reached behind her and swiped the papers to the ground.

He picked her up and placed her on the desk, and once again her legs fell open. He fit perfectly between them. His kisses became more demanding, and she opened fully to him.

His hands trailed from her back to her front. One held her cheek, positioning her at the perfect angle for his kiss, while the other found her breast and started massaging it. Jenny's head fell back at his touch.

David trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck until he found the sweet spot at the base of her throat that had her moaning his name.

He stopped his ministrations and pulled away. His eyes were almost black with desire. "We should stop."

Jenny sat up and grabbed his collar. "You are not stopping this again. You once told me I am a woman of my own mind. I want you. I want this."

She pulled him back to her so his center was lined up with hers. She could feel him through his trousers and her dress.

She raised an eyebrow. "And you can no longer deny you want this as well."

David rested his forehead on hers. "Don't you see I'm trying to protect you?"

Jenny sighed and cupped his face in her hands so they were looking into each other's eyes. "I'm tired of people assuming I'm a lost child who needs to be looked after. I'm no longer playing a game, David. It's time I collect my prize."

She pulled his face back to hers and kissed him. She wrapped her legs around his back, locking him in place. She nibbled on his bottom lip until he gave in and kissed her back.

Her hands pulled at his shirt, untucking it from his trousers. The feel of his hot flesh sent electric shocks through her fingertips straight to her core. She couldn't touch him fast enough. She wanted to trace every inch of his body and sear it into her memory.

His fingers deftly undid the buttons on the front of her dress and pulled it down. She sucked in a breath when the cold air hit her breasts, and then she let out a moan when David's lips closed around a nipple.

Her hands flew to his head to keep him there. Her body started to rock, trying to chase a feeling she was unfamiliar with but inherently knew it was something she needed.

Her nails scratched down his back.

David hissed. "Careful kitten, those claws are sharp."

Jenny smiled coyly. "Take me, David. Finish what you started. Teach me how to be with a man."

He looked back up at her.

"Please, David."

David growled and pushed her back down on the desk. Lying on her back, she reached up to him, pulling him down to her. The way their bodies lined up made her core melt.

Once again, her body started to move in a rhythm foreign to her, yet it felt as familiar as any dance she had learned.

David bunched her dress so the entirety of the material pooled at her midsection. His eyes raked over her body. Everywhere he looked, Jenny felt as if she was on fire. She craved his hands on her. She wanted to feel his touch everywhere.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was raspy with need.

"Do you know how gorgeous you look when you want something?" David's fingertips grazed her thighs.

Jenny's breath came out in a groan. "No, but if you don't do something soon, I'll smack you."

David chuckled. "I love it when my kitten gets feisty. It's when you're the most beautiful."

Jenny whimpered as his fingers moved lower. He was so close to where she wanted to feel his touch the most. She had no idea what she'd feel if he touched her there, but instinct told her it would satisfy the growing hunger inside her.

"David."

"Shhh, kitten. I'll take care of you." His fingers trailed up to the apex of her thighs before returning to her knee.

Jenny was shaking with need and excitement. His teasing touches consumed her, but still, she moved her body in the hope of having him connect with her center.

David kneeled down before her and leaned in to kiss the spot that was demanding attention. Jenny arched her back as pleasure shot through her body. Her hands tangled in his hair, trying to hold him there.

"Ah, does my pet need some attention?" David asked in a dominant voice. She no longer had control of the situation, and she was absolutely fine with that.

She shook her head vigorously. "Whatever you just did, do it again."

David nipped her bud, coaxing a cry from her. "Bossy," he teased.

His mouth devoured her in the most salacious and wonderful way. Pressure began to build in her lower stomach and climb its way up her spine. Her thighs tightened around his head as he continued to lap at her. The wet noises he was making and his satisfied moans pushed the building tension to a fever pitch.

Jenny thrashed against his mouth while he held her down.

"You're so wet for me, kitten. So wet and so damned delicious," David spoke in between his licks, bites, and kisses.

"David. David. David." She chanted his name, hoping it would bring her relief from the growing tension in her core.

With one final suck on her nub, David sent her over the edge and into ecstasy. Her head spun as colors danced behind her eyelids. Her heart felt as if it would burst right out of her chest.

David kissed his way back up her body, leaving a trail of fire she was sure would be burned into her skin forever. He nibbled on her neck before giving her a last chaste kiss on the lips.

Jenny opened her eyes, blinking quickly to regain her focus. "That was… that was…"

David laughed lightly. "Are you speechless, Miss Bennett?"

Jenny sat up. "You seem proud of yourself," she noted.

David smiled, but this time it did not reach his eyes.

The elation Jenny felt evaporated almost as quickly as it came. "What is it?"

David stood up, adjusting himself and putting his shirt back on. "Well, now you know what you should feel when you lie with your husband."

Jenny's racing heart stuttered and then stopped. She felt her cheeks flushing. "What?"

"Jenny." He sounded resigned. "This is as far as it goes between us. I must say, you have taken our lessons quite well to get me to do that. Although, I do recall telling you that by the end of our lessons, you'd have the man tripping over himself to kiss you. It seems I am quite the teacher."

He nodded towards the desk and the papers scattered on the floor.

Jenny yanked her dress up to cover herself and the embarrassment that was settling over her.

"You think I seduced you only because I could? Is that what you think of me?" She was repulsed. "I came here because I can't stop thinking about you." She pushed her arms through her sleeves and stood up. "I came here because I know you feel something too, and I wanted to prove it to you. And I did."

She had to fight to get the words out. Her eyes were filled with tears she refused to let fall.

David walked over to where she discarded her coat and picked it up. "You didn't prove anything to me." His voice was flat.

Jenny's eyes widened in disbelief. "You wouldn't have done that"—she pointed to the desk—"if you didn't feel something for me."

David fixed her with an unreadable look. "It wouldn't be the first time that I have done that with no feelings behind it, Miss Bennett. Do not confuse lust with something more."

Jenny flinched as if she were struck. Her eyes searched for some clue that he was lying. He always hid the truth behind his aloofness. She had seen cracks in his veneer before—there had to be some now.

As he stood there staring back at her, her world fell apart. She saw no signs of what she was looking for.

"So, you are perfectly fine with me returning to the Duke of Dovegrove and marrying him after what we just did?" she choked out.

Her chest was constricting, causing her breaths to come out in short bursts. She thought she saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but it was gone quickly.

He simply shrugged and said, "I think you two will make an excellent pair."

Jenny stood there, shocked. Crushed. Heartbroken. He truly did not care. He never would. It all was just an arrangement for him.

She grabbed her coat from him and left his home.

From his study window, David watched as she walked straight past his carriage and off into the night. He motioned for the footman to follow her one last time.

He sat at his desk, looking at the wrinkled and torn sheets of paper that now littered the floor. He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a miniature portrait of him with his sister, Heather. He traced her features with a finger.

The portrait was painted just before their father passed away. Both he and Heather looked so young, so happy.

"Tell me I'm doing the right thing, Heather. I cannot have someone so pure of heart be attached to me again. I will not break another spirit like I broke yours. She deserves so much more. She deserves a family, a man who will protect her. I can't give her either of those things."

David sat with the portrait in one hand and his tumbler in the other. One day Jenny would forgive him and move on. The truth was, he didn't know what hurt worse, knowing he would never have her or knowing she would move on.