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“Oh, I am sorry…” He chuckled. “Were you enjoy that.”

“You… you monster!”

“You have no idea…” He licked his lips as he stared deeply into her eyes. Her body began to quiver as his fingers traced lightlyup her thighs. She gasped as he touched her sex… stroking it as gently as he could. “Would you like more?”

“Please…”

“Tell me what you want.”

“I want more, Your Grace. Please… give me more…” Her voice trembled as he continued to stroke her wetness.

“As you wish.” And again, he dove between her thighs.

Her body twisted and turned. Her thighs shook. The build inside of her, he could feel it coming: an explosion that he wanted nearly as much as she did. Tongue licking. Lips sucking. She dripped down his chin, filled his mouth, tasted even sweeter than he could believe was possible.

“Yes…” she panted. “There… please… please… keep going…”

She was on the brink, the edge, about to erupt for the way her body shuddered and shook about his head. She throbbed in his mouth, pulsating as his tongue continued to work. All he had to do was keep on going…

“That is enough.” Frederick pulled back again.

“No!” she sat back up, looking at him pleadingly. “You can’t!”

He chuckled coldly. “I told you that I would punish you, did I not.”

“But… but…”

“What?” He looked at her quizzically. “Did you think this was going to be all pleasure? After what you did, do you think that you deserve it?”

Her body was coated in sweat. Her chest heaved and dropped as she tried to catch her breathing. Hair messy. Face exasperated. Confused. All she had to do was ask for more, to beg for it, to give him no choice but to finish…

“You’re… you’re right,” she said, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm, as she seemed to realize what this was and how to play this game. “I don’t deserve it.”

He could not help but smile. “Ah, somebody is learning. Very good.”

“After what I did, I…” She bit into her lip, the fight evident on her face. “I am sorry. But maybe…” Her expression turned pleading. “… if I… if I am good, and I… and I do as you please?”

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But we will cross that bridge when it comes. If it comes.”

Her legs were open before him. Her chest glistened from sweat. Chest still heaving. Cheeks flushed red. Lips wet and moist andso tempting. The self-control it took for Frederick not to take her then and there as he so very much wanted to was unbelievable. Yet somehow, he pushed himself back and stood.

The time would come. He might tell himself it would not. He might convince himself that this was as far as he would err, but… well, one look at Miss Dowding, and he knew that to be false.

“Good evening, Miss Dowding. Perhaps I will see you tomorrow.” He turned and started to walk away, leaving her there wanting.

“I hope not,” she called after him. “I hope I never see you again.”

He did not rise to the bait but smiled as he stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

Was this dangerous? Was it a bad idea? Was this the very last thing that Frederick should have done? Yes to all. But did Frederick care? Not even a little bit.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Caroline was surprised to hear the next morning that His Grace had left the house early and headed into London on ‘business.’ Surprised, but not at all upset. If anything, she was glad for it.

The previous evening still sat with her, resulting in a sleepless night and a restless morning. She tossed, and she turned, unable to stop thinking about what had happened between her and His Grace. How it had happened. Why it had happened. And, most importantly, what she was going to do about it.

Oh, it was easy enough for her to say that it was a one-off occurrence, and she could not afford to let it happen again. It was the right thing to say—her circumstances demanded it!