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" I want you, Anthony" she whispered, her tone sultry. That was it. Anthony lost his precarious hold in his self control and all hell broke loose.

The next moment, he dragged her to his body, slanted his mouth over hers and proceeded to kiss her senseless. She had been prodding the beast, she definitely deserved to be devoured.

ChapterTwelve

Victoria was shocked not by the force of the Duke's kiss but by her body's response to him. She felt liquid flames roaring through her blood and didn't even know when her hands moved to bury themselves in his hair, pulling and marveling at its softness.

She moaned when he nipped her lip and opened when his tongue prodded her mouth asking for entrance. His tongue slid into hers and she could taste the whiskey he seemed to favor on his tongue.

He was a patient teacher, going slowly to help her adapt to something new and then increased his pace when she couldn't take his slow pace any more, chuckling deeply.

"You are oddly impatient." He laughed, kissing the corner of her mouth. "I find it odd because you do not even know what comes next."

"I know well enough she answered stubbornly." Folding her arms.

His eyes shot downward briefly as he admired her breasts then returned back to hers.

"Oh?" He asked with a critical brow. "I am not to expect to be the one claiming your maidenhead?"

She blushed but regained herself.

"That is not what I meant." She explained hurriedly. "I have never been with a man."

"Then how is it you know so much."

He pulled her gently to him, his hands running a slow tortuous path up and down her body.

She tried to speak but his hands were stealing the breath from her body.

"I..." She stuttered trying to recall what she wanted to say. "I read a lot."

"Is that so?" He asked teasingly. "So you also favor romance novels?"

"I...I do." She answered biting her lip.

He was teasing her with his questioning, visibly trying to distract her from the fact that he didn't want to consummate their marriage.

"Are you trying to distract me, Your grace?" She asked.

"Hmm. Why?"

"Because." She answered pouting. "You haven't taken me to bed yet."

He laughed long and low and her eyes widened at how beautiful he looked being so carefree. When last had anyone heard him laugh?

His eyes finally opened and met hers and whatever he saw there stopped him. He cleared his throat and fixed his expression.

"There's more to consummation than what happens on the bed, Victoria." He smiled. "Besides, the night is long. Would you rather have me rush the deed and be done?"

"No. I guess not." She answered honestly. "Thank you for being considerate of me. You're very kind."

His eyes widened in surprise then he nodded.

There was a pregnant silence between them that she wanted very much to break so she could come to know the man she had married but on the other hand, she still wanted very much to know what went on in the marriage bed.

Now that she was finally here, she would be damned if she let him go.

"So...may we continue where we left off?"