“Yes what?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“That’s right. I am Your Grace. I am a duke. And do you know what dukes can do?”
“N-no, Your G-Grace.”
Edward leaned in and hissed, “They can make people disappear.” He shoved Malcolm toward the door. “Now go. And if you so much as look at Kaitlin wrong, I’ll have you gelded.” His eyes narrowed. “Dukes can do that too.”
Malcolm gave a little “eep” and covered his privates with one hand, wrenching the door open with the other. He skittered out of sight, yanking the door closed behind him. As though that could protect him from Edward’s wrath.
Kaitlin gusted out a breath she wasn’t aware she’d been holding. “My,” she said. “That was impressive.”
Edward glanced at her and rolled his sleeves back down. “Was it?”
“Three threats in such a short span of time?”
“I was angry.”
“I noticed.”
Edward sat on the bed and thumbed a tear from her cheek. Odd, that. She wasn’t aware she was crying. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. “I am now. Although I thought—”
He snorted. “So did I. Thank God I came back. I’d considered waiting in my suite for you to come to me.”
“I? Come to you?”
The smile he sent her was sinful. “It is your debt.”
“I would never presume to appear at your chamber door, Your Grace.”
He tsked. “Now, Kaitlin. I thought we’d dispensed with such formality this morning.” Heat rose on her cheeks at the reminder. “However, be advised, you are always welcome at my chamber door.” He glanced at the book on the bedside table. Picked it up. Riffled the pages with a thick thumb. “So, where are you?”
She fixated on the sight. “I’m, um…Asha has just, um, cared for the Grand Vizier.”
“Has she? Did you enjoy that?”
“It was…interesting.”
“Hmm.”
“And now she is being prepared for her first audience with the sheik.”
His eyes glinted. “A charming scene. One of my favorites.” He tossed the book aside. “I fancy having you read it to me. But we’ll save that for later. Right now we have business to conduct.”
“B-business?”
“The matter of a debt of kisses. You knew I would hold you to it.”
“Yes. I knew.” She didn’t know why she dipped her head. Didn’t know why sudden shyness overcame her. She was a brave girl, a brash one at times. She was hardly an innocent.
He tipped up her chin. “How shall we proceed, Kaitlin?”
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes.” He surveyed her somberly. “I meant what I said to Malcolm. I deplore men who take advantage of unwilling women.”
“That’s not precisely what you said.”
“Regardless—you are…willing. Aren’t you?”
Heaven help her. She was. Still, she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Kaitlin?” A whisper.
“Yes.”
“Are you willing? Because if you aren’t, I will still require those kisses…” When her gaze snapped up, he smiled. It was a tender offering. “But they will all be on my sore, sore lips.”
She couldn’t help it. A laugh bubbled out. He was irresistible. And charming. And, heavens, so handsome.
He waited patiently for her answer. So she decided to make it worth his while. She set her palm on his cheek and turned his head, just so, and brushed her lips over his. “One,” she breathed.
She placed another kiss on his jaw. “Two.”
And another on his neck. “Three.”
His Adam’s apple worked, so she kissed that as well. “Four.”
When she began loosening his collar, he stiffened. Every muscle clenched. He was no help at all, so she had to undo his buttons all by herself. She drew in a gasp as his chest was revealed. It was layered with muscle and a fine sprinkling of dark curls. She loved the feel of those wiry hairs beneath her palm. During her exploration, the round discs of his nipples captured her attention. She kissed each one, whispering a “Five,” and “Six,” in turn.
By the time she reached his belly, she’d lost count completely.
Holy hell.
Edward stared at the top of Kaitlin’s head as she made her way over his torso. With her lips.
He’d never expected this. Never in a million years.
When he’d proposed the wager, he’d imagined he would be the one placing the kisses—wherever he wished. He spent the better part of the evening planning where each of the thirty would go. In excruciating detail.
This was good too.