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Duncan nodded towards Morgan’s hands, still ensconced in his fitted black leather gloves. He had told the others that he had grown too warm and needed a walk in the brisk air. But the real reason he still wore them was because his fingers were still covered in Helena’s juices, and he was not ready to wash her away. His gloved fingers tightened around his glass before he brought it back to his lips.

“I have decided to call it an early night,” Morgan stated after draining his drink. “I just came in for one last drink and farewells.”

“Alone?” Barbara chuckled, glancing over at him. “And so early?”

“I do not take a lady home from every function I attend,” Morgan drawled.

Ambrose turned to him with a raised brow; the others at the table following suit. He attempted to produce the jester spirit his friends all knew but what he found instead was a craving for more of Helena. He fought the grimace on his face, forced a sarcastic smirk, and clapped Ambrose on the back.

“Good night, all,” he said as cheerily as he could.

As he crossed the room to leave, Morgan could not help but glance once more at Helena. She once again felt the pull of his gaze and turned to him. He nearly stopped in his tracks, pride and desire filling him as he absorbed the determination in her eyes thathehad instilled in her.

A sensual smile grew on his lips as he bowed his head, and he felt his body tingle with satisfaction as she imperceptibly raised her glass towards him.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Get ready quick.

We shan’t be late.

Arrive by the tenth, knock at the usual gate.

XX,

H

Helena disliked the third red letter that was now a pile of embers and ashes below the fire. It was short. Vague. No instructions on how to dress or prepare herself other than to be there by ten. She waited for the tenth toll of the bell to knock upon the gate and begin her third lesson.

“Always so punctual,” Morgan praised, swinging open the old gate. He smirked down at her, his dark eyes glittering with excitement.

“Is that not what you wanted?” Helena snapped. She had been short-tempered ever since she had received his brief summons. She had spent the last two days in peace prior to receiving the missive. Following the last ball, Ambrose had given her a reprieve from her husband search. Her mind had welcomed the freedom to repeatedly replay her night at the ball with Morgan.

“Such a fierce little kitten this evening,” Morgan chuckled.

Helena was about to retort with a sharp comment when she suddenly felt his hand snake around the back of her neck and turn her into his arms.

“I had something else planned for tonight,” he mused, switching his hold to the front of her throat, “but if I need to make this evening more about the study of punishment, I will happily change our itinerary.”

Curiosity and humiliation flooded Helena’s features as she listened to the way Morgan had darkly and suggestively enunciated the wordpunishment. What could he possibly mean by punishment? Morgan’s eyes raced across her face, reading her every tell, and he smirked at her as his fingers stroked the column of her throat.

“Ohh,” he purred, stepping closer. “You are curious, are you not, my little one?”

Helena began to tremble as Morgan gently pulled her towards him and began depositing light kisses on her temple.

“What could that word mean to you? How does itfeelto you?” he whispered seductively, his lips traveling to hers.

Helena closed her eyes as his tongue licked delicately at her earlobe and his teeth nibbled at the flesh. She sank into the hold Morgan had on her, and let her head tilt back as his kisses continued down her neck. Suddenly he pulled back, releasing her, and Helena stumbled as she felt the cool night air occupy the space where he had just been. She glared at him as he chuckled.

“You gave me no indication what you had planned tonight,” she bit out, “That is why I am out of sorts. I had no idea how to dress or how to prepare myself.”

“Youdoyearn for the instruction, do you not, little one?” Morgan interrupted, his tone thoughtful.

Helena felt her cheeks heat at his question and the sound of her pet name. She liked it when he called her Persephone, but something warm and delicious bloomed in her lower belly when he called herlittle one.

“When you do so in your own particular way, yes,” she confessed, taking a step away from him.

Before she could get any farther Morgan’s arms were around her, his hand once more laced around her throat.