He grunted and tightened his arms. “Making love would have been nicer.”
He fancied she snorted at that, so he leaned back to look at her face. “You don’t think making love would have been nicer?”
She shrugged and nestled against him. “Maybe it’s nice for men. It’s not all that nice for women.”
“It’s not?” That was news to him.
She laced her fingers over his chest and propped her chin upon them, gazing at him. “It’s quite painful,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I liked what we did this morning much better.”
He tried not to gape. Really he did. “How, uh, how many men have you been with?”
She quirked a brow, as though she were thinking about it. He didn’t like that she had to think about it. He knew he wasn’t her first, but no man wanted to follow a legion. “Does this count?”
“Aside from this.” He toyed with a skein of her hair. “How many?”
“Oh, just the one.”
Relief gushed through him. He hadn’t realized the answer would matter quite so much. Not until he heard that answer. One. Just one. “He was probably doing it wrong.”
A funny look washed across her face. “Doing it wrong? Is there a wrong way?”
“If your partner doesn’t like it, then yes, you’re doing it wrong. I should be happy to show you the errors of his ways.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Are you saying it doesn’t have to…hurt?”
“Darling, I’m saying it shouldn’t hurt.” He corrected himself. “It shouldn’t hurt like that. There are times when…other kinds of pain can be quite…exciting.”
She nodded sagely. “Like when Asha got her spanking.”
Something very feral whipped through his gut. “Yes.” His voice broke on the word. “Very much like that. But when a man makes love to a woman, it should not be painful.”
She snorted again, this time very clearly.
“What?”
She waved at his groin. “You are far too large for it not to be at least a bit painful.”
He preened. Just a little. “Why thank you. But the trick is in making sure a woman’s body is prepared for a large cock.”
She shuddered at the word. In a good way. What a pity he was drained absolutely fucking dry.
“I liked reading that part.”
“That part?”
“Yes, Edward. The part of the book where Asha was taught to prepare her body. Haven’t you read the book?”
“I’ve read it.” He tried not to laugh.
“I read that part several times. And do you know what I did?”
His amusement vanished. He swallowed. “W-what?”
“I touched myself just like the book said.”
Oh. Dear. God.
“Did you?” Why, oh why, when he was literally boneless from that magnificent release?
“Mmm hmm. All afternoon.”
She would be the death of him. Really, she would.
He pulled her down and kissed her. To make her stop. Stop talking. He couldn’t bear it.
She tucked her head against his shoulder and sighed. “Will we be doing any of this again, Edward?”
“Yes, my dear.” He drew his fingers through her hair.
“When?”
He chuckled. “As soon as I recover, darling. As soon as I recover.”
* * * * *
But they didn’t.
Instead, he fell asleep, and she too, in his arms.
When he awoke it was nearly morning and he knew he had to leave. He couldn’t be discovered in her rooms. That would be a disaster for her.
Still, he didn’t stir. He liked her warm weight on his chest. Loved the silky caress of her hair. The soft huffs of breath as she snored daintily.
He hadn’t awakened with a woman in his arm since—hell, he couldn’t remember. He did know he’d never enjoyed it before. And this, he enjoyed.
He tightened his embrace and she snuggled against him, murmuring in her sleep.
Yes. He liked this. And he liked it a lot.
Too much, perhaps.
Kaitlin was his cousin’s companion. Not a wicked widow or a working girl. She wasn’t a virgin, but she was also not a wanton. She deserved a gentle hand. A man far better than he.
But then, he reflected, he was the Dark Duke.
There were advantages to having power and money.
There were advantages to having no conscience whatsoever.
It wasn’t as though she was a highborn lady with a righteous father, a protective brother or an ardent betrothed. She was under his roof. And she was willing.
He could do with her as he liked.
Still, he slipped from her bed before the servants stirred, covering her with a blanket and tenderly kissing the tiny curls at her brow before he left.
Violet’s suite was just down the hall. It wouldn’t do for her to find him here.