Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

L ouise fiddled with the edge of her nightgown, her nerves bubbling to the surface as she stared at her bedroom door.

A part of her was incensed that Christian had pushed forward their agreement, but a darker, more secret part was excited by the prospect of him finally claiming her.

Looking down at her bare toes, she shivered from the low temperature of the floorboards and approached the door as though it were a dragon she must slay, wrenching it open in one movement.

The corridor outside her room was dark and empty, but there was the gentle patter of a servant’s footsteps in the distance and the clinking of cutlery from the kitchens as the remnants of their supper were cleared away.

Louise had barely been able to eat anything that evening. Christian’s dark gaze had not left her as she sat beside his mother and Marcus, making small talk.

Marcus had not stopped glancing between her and his brother throughout the meal, and her cheeks were crimson red by the time she had excused herself and hurried to her room.

She reached Christian’s door and lingered outside, her hand twitching as she contemplated what she was about to do.

She froze as she heard the sound of soft footfalls on the other side of the door. Louise scowled, sensing Christian’s presence as the handle turned and the door swung open.

Christian leaned one arm against the doorjamb, looking down at her, his green eyes twinkling.

“How nice of you to join me,” he said softly, his pose so casually seductive that Louise had to draw in a long, deep breath to calm herself.

He had dispensed with his jacket, and the line of his torso was visible beneath his waistcoat and shirt. His shirt was undone at the neck, exposing a golden triangle of flesh.

Louise adored the color of his skin, although she would never admit that to him. She was ashamed to say that she had enjoyed the contrast between her pale skin and his tanned one the last time they had been in bed together. She felt a frisson of anticipation run through her at the thought of seeing it again.

“Won’t you come in, Duchess?” he asked.

Louise slowly walked inside. As she passed him, the scent of oranges and pine trees wafted to her, and she held herself back from closing her eyes and breathing it in.

It is he who has gone back on our deal. I shall not succumb so easily.

But as she turned around, her resolve wavered.

Christian looked unfairly handsome, his dark hair swept back from his face, his full lips curled into a small smile. His expression reminded her of when they had first met. Even without a mask on, he looked like a wolf about to devour her.

“Wine?” he prompted, walking to the fireplace, where she spotted a bottle with two glasses on either side of it.

“Are you in need of courage, Your Grace?” she taunted, stalling.

“I thought perhaps you might prefer a nightcap of some sort.”

Louise could not deny that she was a bundle of nerves now. Standing before the foot of his bed and watching him move about the room in so relaxed a manner was putting her on edge.

“A glass of wine would be much appreciated, thank you,” she replied and watched his large hand clutch the bottle as he poured two glasses and handed one to her.

“I wondered if you would stay up to speak with my brother after supper,” he admitted as she grabbed the wine glass and took a healthy sip. “Whatever he was speaking to you about in the park today was clearly very amusing.”

“Would you believe me if I said we were discussing you, Your Grace?”

“I let the first one slide because you arrived on time just as I requested, but if you call me Your Grace again, I shall snatch that wine glass from your hand and ravage you right here on the floor.”

The deep rumble of his voice made heat throb between her legs, and she swallowed at his intense gaze.

“We were speaking about my encyclopedia if you must know,” she said peevishly.

“Ah yes, my brother will be the first person to read it,” Christian muttered irritably.

“I promised him many years ago.”

Christian took a small step forward while sipping his wine, his eyes never leaving hers. “And how long have you been working on it?”

“Almost a year to the day. And nothing has changed concerning our deal, I might add. I am still going to work on it for another year before we have a child.”

His lips quirked up at the corners. “I remember.”

“But you would go back on your word now? You are three days early.”

“Two and a half,” he corrected. “And it is hardly difficult to see why. I have watched you shamelessly flirting with my brother since he returned?—”

“I have done nothing of the sort!”

“—and I am not inclined to watch you laugh with other men and simper and forget about your husband. When you need a reminder of who you belong to, I will always oblige.”

Louise scoffed, before taking another sip of her wine, but she ended up draining it completely. Christian’s long fingers stretched toward her, hovering in the air expectantly as she handed him the empty glass. She felt strangely bereft when he took it, as though it had acted as a shield between them.

Christian put both glasses on the table beside the fireplace before very deliberately running his eyes over her.

“I believe I told you before how beautiful you are. I wish you would wear your hair down on every occasion. I much prefer it that way.”

“I shall do as I please,” she retorted.

Christian chuckled. “I do not doubt that, Duchess. I have never seen you do anything you did not wish to do.”

“Save for marrying you, you mean?” she snapped.

His expression instantly turned into a scowl as he marched forward and gripped her arms tightly in his hands.

“Are you trying to vex me?” he growled.

“Always,” she shot back. “And you know very well that neither of us would have chosen the other as a spouse, so do not act as though this is?—”

But she was unable to finish her sentence.

He pulled her forward so forcefully that she was almost lifted off her feet, and suddenly his lips covered hers and his slick tongue plunged into her mouth, massaging hers as she let out a low moan.

Christian bit her lower lip so hard that she gasped and pressed her against him, before burying his hands in her hair. His fingers ran through the long strands as he groaned.

Pulling back, he lowered her to her feet once more. His eyes were smoldering in the half-light, all traces of humor gone. Louise panted slightly as she looked up at him.

“You are here, in my chambers,” he said tightly, “and you are my wife. That is not going to change. Whatever came before is over. You will submit to me. You will belong to me, body and soul, from this moment on. Is that clear?”

Louise found herself nodding helplessly as he took another small step toward her, looming over her as she tilted her head back.

“I want to hear it, Duchess. I want to hear you tell me that you belong to me and that no other man will ever come near you again.”

She nodded again.

“Say it.”

“Yes, Christian,” she breathed. “I belong to you.”

He let out a small sigh, as though the words had settled something inside him, and then he took her hand and led her to the side of the bed. They stood there for a few moments as he took a deep breath. Some of the tension had left his shoulders, and as he turned to look her in the eye once more, some of his anger had faded away.

“I have been thinking about the last time,” Christian mused, his voice lilting now, having lost its intensity. “I think I rather did things backward.”

Louise frowned. “Backward?”

“Mhm. It does not seem fair that I have seen you in all your glory when I did not even shed a single layer of clothing. Quite ungentlemanly. Now, I would have you sit back and enjoy the show.”

The arrogant, little smile he gave her made her blush furiously as she lowered herself onto the bed, anticipation thrumming through her.

Christian stepped back as though he were on a stage and gave a theatrical bow. Louise could not help but laugh gently at him.

He gave her another smile and then slowly began to unbutton his waistcoat.

I do not know why I torture myself like this.

Christian wanted to strip his Duchess bare and claim her immediately, but he had not missed the way her hands trembled or the way her shoulders rose to her ears as she entered his room.

He wanted her to be comfortable, and if that meant taking things slow, then so be it.

He slowly took off his waistcoat and draped it over the back of a chair. Louise huffed out a small laugh.

“What is so amusing?” he asked softly.

“Even when you are undressing, you cannot throw away your clothes. You must always be neat. Everything in its place.”

Christian cocked his head as he pulled his shirt from beneath his breeches. “It is practical. I should not wish to dirty all my clothes on the floor.”

“You are exact in everything you do. Your study is the tidiest room I have ever seen.”

Christian nodded his head in agreement, absurdly pleased by her observation.

“I thank you, Duchess. You are correct. I like things in order. Although I shall have you know, Jack has put paid to my desk. I had to tidy it twice over, with that kitten knocking my things to the floor.”

Louise smiled at that bit of information, but it faltered quickly when he pulled his shirt lazily over his head, exposing his chest to her hungry gaze.

Christian boxed regularly, rode his horse about town, and fenced better than many other men of his acquaintance. He knew that he looked very fine.

Still, seeing the lust in her eyes was something he had not anticipated. He adjusted himself through the falls of his breeches and watched her eyes track the movement.

“Are you going to help me with my boots?” he asked. “They are damnably tight.”

She leaned back on the bed, and her robe fell open, exposing the soft planes of her stomach beneath her shift. Christian swallowed.

“No,” she said mischievously, “I think I would enjoy watching you struggle.”

Christian rolled his eyes, and just to be contrary, he went to join her on the bed. He sat beside her and bent down to pull off his left boot with some effort, but once it was neatly placed beside the bedpost, he lifted his right boot to her.

She grabbed it with a put-upon sigh and pulled it off his foot, exposing his stockinged feet beneath. He rather enjoyed having her undress him, but her body was still tight with tension, and he wanted her pliant and soft in his arms once more.

His patience running thin, he stood up again and took off his breeches and drawers in one motion until he was entirely naked.

Louise stared at him, dumbfounded, her eyes fixed on his hard length, which was unapologetically jutting out toward her.

“Now it is your turn, Duchess,” he said huskily. “I would have my fill of you, too.”

Louise slowly stood up, and he stepped back and watched with a hammering heart as she removed her robe. She would have never had the opportunity to learn the art of teasing, but she seemed skilled at it regardless. Her movements were achingly slow, ratcheting up his need beyond anything he had ever felt before.

As she pulled her nightgown over her head, baring her glorious figure to him once more, he sighed contentedly.

“Exquisite,” he whispered, and she blushed prettily.

He stepped forward and placed his hands on her waist.

“I will have you tonight just like this if you will allow me.” He watched her eyes travel upward to meet his. “Will you?”

Louise shivered, amazed by how ready she felt for him to do just that. She was desperate for him to do as he pleased with her, but her nerves were warring with anticipation, muddling her mind such that she could not speak.

She could only nod her head.

Without any delay, he gently pushed her back toward the bed, where she sat down. She looked up at him as he lowered her to the mattress and lay beside her.

She could feel his hard length poking her thigh, and she closed her eyes as his hands roamed over her body, cupping her breasts reverently.

“I would have you ask for this, Duchess. I would have you beg me to touch you, and I will give you pleasure you have never experienced before.”

Louise took a shuddering breath as his fingers pinched her nipple, and she let out a moan as he took her other nipple in his mouth. He sucked on the hard tip as his hand trailed down her belly, flirting with the place she needed him to touch the most but never quite reaching it.

Then, he pulled himself on top of her, and she groaned as she felt his arousal press against the heat between her legs.

“Beg me,” he demanded, and this time, she could do nothing but obey.

“Please,” she whispered. “I want you to take me just as you wish.”

He smiled and lowered his face to hers, sucking her lower lip into his mouth and kissing her gently before moving down her body.

His hands ran down the outside of her thighs and then pushed her legs up as he lowered his head and lapped at her hot entrance.

She remembered this sensation from the carriage, but now, watching him do it while he was naked was a new and delightful pleasure she had not expected.

She could not suppress her moans as his tongue pushed inside her, lapping desperately at her folds, the sensual drag of his teeth sending shivers through her.

She plunged her hands into his hair shamelessly and ground her hips against his mouth, allowing him to worship her with his tongue until she felt a shocking pressure as he slid his thumb inside her.

Her back arched off the bed as she cried out. Christian moved back, sliding his thumb in and out of her as she moaned and writhed beneath him.

“I have never wanted anything more than to watch you come apart for me,” he purred as he replaced his thumb with two long fingers.

He moved slowly and steadily, gently adding pressure, waiting for her cues to keep going as she shuddered beneath him.

“All right?” he asked when both fingers were inside her to the knuckle.

“Yes,” she gasped as he curled them upward, and her hands came down to clench the bedsheets beside her hips.

He continued his ministrations for some minutes, using his fingers, his thumb, and his tongue to make her fall apart beneath him.

She could barely breathe by the time he pulled himself up from the bed and stood back, staring down at her with blazing need in his eyes.

“Are you ready for me, Louise?” he asked, her name on his lips, sending a fresh pulse of delight through her.

“Yes, Christian. I want you,” she said, reaching for him.

Christian gripped her hand briefly before kneeling on the bed. He pushed her knees back so that her thighs were pressed against her chest, and she felt pressure at her entrance as he notched his length there.

“Tell me if it hurts, and I will stop.”

The care with which he said those words made tears well up in her eyes as, inch by inch, he gently slid inside her. She gripped the sheets again, feeling the blunt pressure building.

There was a burn and a sharp pain as he slowly moved inside her, but he went so slowly that she could breathe through any discomfort. She looked up at him in wonder as she felt their hips finally connect.

“My God,” Christian groaned, squeezing his eyes shut, “you are perfect.”

He pulled back and slowly slid into her again, and Louise closed her eyes, panting underneath him as each thrust lit her from within until she could not tell where he began and where she ended.

After several tentative thrusts, he grew bolder. His hands came down on either side of her shoulders as he hovered above her and then thrust his hips forward.

They both cried out as their pleasure began to build, and Christian groaned as he pounded into her over and over again. He bent down to take her mouth, kissing her at the same rhythm as his movements, making her whole body come alive with a desperate yearning for completion.

“Oh!” she cried out desperately, pulling away. “I cannot?—”

“I want to feel you, Duchess. I want you to grip me tightly as you find your release.”

At those words, she screamed, arching into him as she crested a wave of desire she had never experienced before, her walls tightening around him just as he had asked.

Christian growled low in his throat, but then he let out a quiet curse as he hastily withdrew, spilling his seed on her stomach as he stroked himself.

He let out a long, contented sigh and then collapsed on the bed beside her.