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Nora hopped up and began to run to the far side of the lake.

“You know, if you keep defying me the list of your punishments will just get longer.” He countered.

Sarah’s head snapped to Charles who was now on his side, resting his head on his hand. He was the epitome of a carefree Duke and it looked good on him.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “I did not defy you. I only suggested you let her go.”

Charles shrugged and pursed his lips. “Not how I see it, darling.”

A wide smile broke free before Sarah could stop it. She shook her head and lifted a shoulder. “Promises, promises. I remember I was supposed to receive such discipline last night.”

Charles licked his lips. “What did I tell you last night? You can’t be punished if you are hurt. I was kissing you better.”

Sarah smirked. “I don’t recall being hurt there, Your Grace.”

Charles’s eyes flashed at her remark.

She couldn’t believe the words left her mouth, but he had a way of making her feel as if she could not only play the game but keep up. As the middle child, she always felt like she was one step behind Eleanor and in a different league than Beatrice.

With Charles, she felt like she fit. Well, she felt like this when he allowed her. The wall of control was still between them but after last night and now with this lunch, she felt as if they were taking his boundary down brick by brick.

Charles sat up and moved closer to Sarah. He looked around to see where Nora was before returning his hot gaze to hers.

Sarah sighed. She could stare into his green eyes forever, if he let her. She supposed most wouldn’t consider him handsome in the classic sense. His nose was a bit crooked, his expressive eyebrows were thick and he had full, luscious lips that Sarah was currently staring at.

It didn’t bother her that people wouldn’t consider him striking by classic standards. He was breathtaking to her. Regardless, she was never much for following society’s rules.

He placed an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him as he laid her back. Charles leaned over her, searching her eyes.

What she would give to get a glimpse into his mind. He looked at her as if he was cataloguing her every feature.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

Sarah moved her head slowly to the left then the right, without breaking eye contact.

“I remember when I first saw the dusting of freckles on your face. I wanted to kiss every one of them.” His words ignited a fire within her that the summer sun’s rays couldn’t match.

She arched into him, running her hands up his muscular arms and around to his back. She loved how her hands couldn’t touch around the breadth of his body. He towered over her, blocking out the sun. Instead of being scared by his size, she found security in it. Not only did she feel safe, but deliciously feminine.

Sarah looked up to him from underneath her lashes. “Is this part of the punishment, Your Grace? If so, I feel like you need too work on your disciplinarian measures.”

Charles took a deep breath and settled in between her thighs. “You test my patience, Sarah. I thought I was getting an obedient wife when I took you.”

Sarah licked her lips. “As memory serves me, you have yet to take me.”

Cheers went off in Sarah’s head. She continued to shock herself with the ease in which she spoke to him in regards to their intimacy. And by the look on Charles’s face, she wasn’t the only one surprised at her remark.

“I think you’re the only one I have ever met to render me speechless.” He said with a chuckle.

“Then perhaps I need to be praised instead of punished?” She furrowed her brow. “What would that look like, I wonder?”

A growl ripped from Charles’s lips before they crashed against hers. Their tongues lapped each other while she pulled him closer to her. He remained balancing on his arms that now laid on either side of her head. She wanted him closer.

He broke the kiss. “Do you want me to crush you?”

“I would die happy if you did.” She replied.

A laugh broke free. “That mouth. I don’t know whether to punish or praise you.”