Forbidden to Love the Duke(77)

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome.” He strode up to her, raking a hand through his hair. “Tell me about last night.”

“You had a nightshirt on, with that hideous poultice dripping down your legs. You lumbered down the hall like a wounded beast. Yes, Cook stood guard at the stairs so that you wouldn’t break your neck. Mary saw everything.”

His gaze turned inward to a self-torture Ivy could feel. She looked away, wishing she hadn’t told him. He would despise her, however, if she hid the truth. At last he gave a rueful laugh that broke the tension.

“I apologize,” he said. “Wendover tried to tell me this morning, but we were interrupted. Is that the worst of it?”

“As far as I know. I was locked out of your room after that.”

She looked up. So much for self-torture. He was sprawled out across the bed in complete disregard for his effect on her senses. Enough light entered the room that she could make out the blistered skin on his right arm, his muscular thighs and the rigid organ that he made no coy effort to conceal. He was incongruously magnificent on the floral counterpane, a lion in a field of roses and poppies. But she was not the least bit easy standing before him with every dimple and flaw exposed. His eyes raked her with raw desire.

He smiled. “You still look uncomfortable.”

He looked utterly dangerous while she stood suspended in a sensual daze.

“Ivy, lie down beside me and close your eyes.”

She did, her blood quickening at the request.

“Is that better?” he asked, caressing her back until she gave a deep sigh.

“Yes.”

“There are three conditions I will require of you from this day on.”

“Hmm?” This was certainly the sweetest day of her life. He had survived the night. He wanted to marry her. The past five years of grief, shame, and deprivation would be erased.

“Anything,” she whispered. And she meant it with all her heart.

“First, you will never drug me again, no matter what the physician says, no matter that I might be taking my last breath. I want to be aware at all times. Do you agree?”

She sighed. “I don’t know that it’s a wise choice, but, yes.”

“It is a wise choice, believe me. I became quickly addicted to opiates after I was injured. It was hell to break their hold on me. I don’t want that to happen again. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the willpower the next time.”

“I didn’t realize that. I apologize for forcing it on you.”

“Second, you will always tell me the truth, no matter how embarrassing or how unpleasant it might be. I should have told you before about my addiction.”

She had always given him the truth until now. She would before the day ended. “And the last condition?”

“We take pleasure in each other whether it is dark or light, whether others approve of what we do or not. Do you agree?”

A pulse throbbed deep in her belly, responding to the sexuality in his voice. Her body agreed. Her mind had a few doubts, but they were swept away as soon as he started to kiss her, and all that mattered were the hands moving over her in persuasion and her need to belong to the potent male who was proving to be every bit as dangerous and delicious as he’d looked a few minutes ago.

“One more thing,” he whispered, squeezing her nipples until she didn’t care if the ceiling flew off the roof.

“What?”

“Don’t expect proper behavior from me in the bedroom.”

And next he proved exactly what he meant.





Chapter 28


He was in heaven, determined to ignore the pain radiating down his arm. He stretched out beneath her, drawing her down between his legs. She was warm and supple against the desperate hardness of his body. The filmy light played upon the curves of her breasts and generous hips. He wanted to see, to claim every inch of her.

“Come here. Move up closer. You’re going to ride me if I stretched you enough last night.”

He let her catch her breath before he grasped her bottom and lifted her over his engorged cock. “Ivy?” he said in hesitation. “Promise me you aren’t going to faint?”

“I’m not made of china,” she whispered, breaking into a smile.

He smiled back, his heart hammering. He was thick and throbbing to push inside her, but he guessed she’d be tender from last night, too tight to use without some restraint. If he could hold back. He slid his hands up to her breasts and teased her nipples again until she shivered and arched her back in supplication.

“I’m right here, sweetheart. You’ll feel me very soon.”

“I can feel you now.” She gazed down at him, her eyes half-closed in expectation. “Why are we waiting?”