Duchess by Chance(85)

“Come, sweetheart, let’s go home.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We need to be in our own home tonight,” Daniel said, leading her down his grandmother’s front steps and into the waiting carriage. They were silent on the journey. He held her close to his side. She stared out the window into the darkness and Daniel wanted to tell her how proud he was of the way she had gotten through the evening, yet knew now wasn’t the time. First, they would have to discuss the duel.

“I will say goodnight, Daniel,” she said as soon as they entered the house. “I am in need of sleep. Therefore, I shall see you in the morning,” she added in a tight voice.

Daniel admired his wife’s slender ankles as she picked up her skirts and ran from him up the stairs. If she thought she would be spending the night alone, she could think again.

“Will you require anything further, your Grace?”

“That will be all, Wernham,” Daniel said, following his wife. His valet helped him remove his clothing and then Daniel dismissed him. After washing, he slipped on his dressing gown and moved to the connecting door between their rooms.

Pushing the door open, he saw Eva lying on the bed, still dressed in her gown and slippers, with the puppy nestled under her arm. Closing the door behind him, he watched her eyes widen as he stepped up to the bed.

“I want to be alone,” she whispered.

“I think not, now get up and I will help you undress.”

This time it was her turn to say no.

Daniel lifted the sleepy puppy and walked back into his bedroom, where he placed him on his bed and then closed the door. Eva had moved as far to the opposite side of the bed as she could. Leaning on the mattress, he grabbed her ankles and tugged her gently toward him.

“Daniel, your shoulder!” She tried to wriggle free from his grasp.

“My shoulder is fine,” he said taking her hands and pulling her to her feet before him.

“I want to be alone. I-I need time…”

“Time for what?” Daniel said, undoing the buttons at her back and pulling the dress from her shoulders.

“To…” She struggled to put her thoughts into words. “To come to terms with what happened tonight.”

“I don’t remember needing isolation when you were nearly killed in that carriage accident.” Daniel unlaced her corset and manfully tried to ignore the generous swell of her breasts. “In fact, I needed only you that night.”#p#分页标题#e#

“You should not have fought that duel!”

Now that was better, Daniel thought. The look of terror had left her face to be replaced by the flush of anger. Sinking to his knees, he untied her stockings and rolled them down her thighs.

“Would you have had me thank Huxley instead for mauling you and trying to kidnap you, or perhaps I could have taken off one of my gloves and slapped his face?” Daniel now stood before her. She was gloriously naked, and his body fired to life.

“I would have you live, damn you!”

“As I do.” Daniel removed his robe.

“But I will not allow you to fight a duel every time someone challenges me.”

“It was more than a challenge, Eva, as you very well know. Huxley hurt and terrified you and let us not forget that he also shot at our carriage.”

The bandage around his arm drew her eyes and he saw the terror as she remembered the moment he got it.

“I-I could have lost you,” her fingers shook as they traced over the cotton.

“Never.” Daniel hauled her into his arms, then tumbled them onto the bedcovers. Covering her lips with his, he kissed her hard. She struggled against him but Daniel held her closer and deepened the kiss until he felt her resistance flee. Only then did he ease back.

“You gave yourself to me, Eva,” he whispered against her neck. “Body and soul,” he added, running his hand over her breasts in soft strokes. “And I will protect you with my life if and when I believe it is necessary.”

She shuddered as his fingers moved over her stomach. Daniel watched as she arched toward him as his they delved into her silken core.

“You are mine as I am yours, Eva.” Daniel moved down her body, kissing and licking until he reached his goal. “Do you understand what that means?”

He ran his tongue down the dew-drenched folds between her legs, tasting her essence.

“I-I understand.”

He sucked on the hard little bud between her legs until he felt the pressure build inside her. Only then did he climb back up her body and drive himself deep inside her slick heat.

“We belong, Eva,” Daniel rasped as he withdrew and pushed slowly back into her.