Page 17 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #1)

Chapter Seventeen

“I think you have been lying to me,” Anthony said as Caroline moved her pawn to take his knight. She had been surprised that he hadn’t noticed her obvious trap but wasn’t about to look at a gift horse in the mouth.

“Me?” she said innocently. “Never.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “When I asked if you have played chess before, I distinctly remember you saying that you were not very good.”

“Correction,” she fired back. “I said that I had not played in a long time. How you chose to interpret that comment is your own failing, not mine.”

“You implied?—”

“I implied nothing,” she cut him off, unable to hide her smirk because she was enjoying how undone he was becoming in the face of her superior skills. “You simply assumed that I would be no good, and you chose to read into my comment to confirm this fact. That I am beating you, well…” She shrugged. “Perhaps I am not so good, but you are just that terrible.”

“Careful, Caroline,” Anthony said, pretending to scowl at her. “It is not such a smart thing to insult me.”

“Is that right?” she cocked an eyebrow at him, daring him.

“I have been kind to you thus far, but I can quickly change that. If anything, I might prefer to.”

“Ah, yes,” she responded with a coy smile. “The big, bad duke. I had almost forgotten that was who I married.”

“No, not that…” He leaned over and moved one of his pawns forward. “Just that I was going easy on you. Alas, I admit it was a ploy to lure you into a false sense of comfort so you would feel good about yourself. Now that you’re acting so…” He considered. “So bold, I might have to start trying.

“Do not hold back on my account.” She moved a pawn to match his move and shot up a challenging eyebrow.

“Be careful what you wish for.”

“Wish for? If history is anything to go by, I have never once gotten what I wish. Somehow, I doubt you suddenly learning how to play chess falls within the realm of my all my dreams coming true.”

“Is that what you think?” He moved another pawn.

“It is.” She matched the move immediately.

Their second evening together—and it wasn’t going at all how Caroline had suspected. In hindsight, she supposed she hadn’t known what to expect exactly. Something romantic, perhaps? Something bold? Something personal? The type of night together that she might expect couples who were in the midst of courtship to engage in?

What she’d gotten instead was a quaint evening that was so effortlessly simple that it took her halfway through the evening before she even realized what Anthony was doing. He wished to prove how companionable and comfortable our marriage could be? This is perfect proof of that.

They had dined together, a simple supper that saw the two chat simply, no longer awkward or stilted, as they were way beyond that now. Caroline’s guard was dropped. Anthony was no longer unsure or closed off. The days of them testing one another had passed, allowing for free flowing conversation and effortless times.

Once they had finished eating, he suggested that they retire to the drawing room where they might play a game of chess. Again, such a small thing, but that was the entire point.

As a young girl, and through her teen years, she had played chess often with Daniel and Violet, finding that she had a knack for it. The duke, it seemed, was nowhere near as good as he had made out, which had her getting carried away; both in her thumping of him, and the wagging of her tongue.

“How about we make things more interesting?” the duke said simply as he moved his rook.

“Oh?” she moved another pawn, setting it to block his rook from taking her knight, as she suspected he was trying to do.

“With how confident you are, it ought not to be a problem.”

“That depends on what you mean by interesting?”

To that, Anthony grinned and the light from the fireplace caught his dark eyes, making them shine so she could see the mischief behind his gaze. They were sitting on the floor before the hearth, on a thick fur rug, perhaps a more romantic setting than she had initially given credit to, now screaming at her to understand her mistake. All this time, she had tittered to herself at the ease that she was beating him, how effortlessly he was walking into her traps. Little did I realize that it was me walking headfirst into his.

“If you are as good as you claim, it shouldn’t bother you at all,” Anthony said casually. “But I propose a bet.”

“The terms?”

He looked at her across the chess board, the trap he had lain about to be unleashed. “My terms are this. For every piece of yours that I remove from the board, you remove an article of clothing.”

Caroline gasped before she could stop herself, and her cheeks turned bright pink which had nothing to do with the fire. Heart beating quicker now, she forced herself to look at her husband in what she hoped to be a derisive fashion. “That is… very bold of you.”

“It should not be,” he said. “And perhaps I just have that much faith in your ability to beat me?”

She rolled her eyes. “I hardly think so.”

“Is that a no? I will understand if you are too scared.”

“What happened to trying to get to know one another better?” she shot back.

He shrugged. “As husband and wife, you mean. And what could be more husbandly than trying to seduce one’s own wife?”

Despite her best efforts, Caroline felt excitement at the thought of what her husband was proposing. She was dressed modestly enough, and a quick calculation told her she could lose five pieces before having to take off her chemise, which would see her be completely naked. If tonight’s game so far was any indication, things would not get that far. And yet… there was that part of her which hoped they might.

Oh, how she hated that she wanted it. That the thought of her husband seeing her naked body had her thighs tingling with desire. Why was she so weak? She had worried that she might not be able to hold out against Anthony across these five ‘chances’ that she had given him. That she would give in to her pesky desires. And if she said yes to this… even I am only so strong.

However, she also could not ignore the fact that her original reservations were no longer as compelling as they had been on their wedding night. Her distrust of Anthony. Her desire to not be trapped in a loveless marriage. Was this still a concern? Somehow, she doubted it.

And besides… she would be lying if she didn’t admit that with all things considered, a part of her wanted to lose herself to him. Again, her reservations from before felt weak and misplaced. Not something that in the moment, she felt such a need to concern herself with.

“I suppose I can agree to those terms,” she said casually, as if her heart was not racing. “But you must do something for me. It is only fair.”

“Shall I remove my own item of clothing?” he said with a growl. “I might lose to you on purpose, if that is the case.”

“You wish.” She looked at him and smirked as an idea came to mind. All evening, she had been wondering how she might learn more about her husband without letting down her guard and falling into companionable conversation; she did not want him to suspect she was interested. Now, she had the perfect means. “For every piece I take, you must answer a question I ask of you. Honestly,” she made sure to add.

Anthony frowned and she was certain she saw a hint of worry behind his eyes. “What sort of questions?”

“Whatever I like,” she said. “That is…” She widened her eyes at him and grinned. “… unless you are scared?”

His face dropped. “Done.”

And so it was that the real game began.

The mood in the room changed instantly; a growing sense of intensity, as if lives were on the line. Anthony made his first move, an obvious take that saw his pawn snatch one of hers from the board.

She snorted. “I see you’ve forgone strategy entirely.”

“Oh, I very much have a strategy,” he responded. “But it has nothing to do with winning. Now, if you do not mind…” He smiled pleasantly and his eyes drifted over her body. She looked at him flatly as she removed her necklace and earrings. “Two for one. Don’t I feel lucky?”

“Not for long…”

The next few minutes passed in silence as the two parried across the board, tactics forgotten entirely as the aim of the game changed beyond the previous goal.

“Ha!” Caroline cried out happily as she used her rook to take his second knight from the board. “I cannot believe you did not see that.”

Anthony scowled at her. “Ask your question.”

Caroline had considered what she might ask, deciding to keep things simple at first so as not to give the game away. “His Grace, the Duke of Aldworth, how is it that the two of you know one another?”

“That is your question?’ Anthony looked surprised.

“What were you expecting?”

He frowned as he studied her, clearly wondering at her ploy. “It is no great thing. We met as young lads, through our fathers, I believe it was. When you are the sons of dukes, it is a hard thing to meet other boys your age.”

“Why is that?”

He sighed. “Because my father was a mean sort. And that is putting it nicely.” He chuckled bitterly. “He believed that we should only mix with those of the same status, deeming anyone else to be beneath us. When I met Roderick, truly, I was just glad that my father allowed us to spend time together.” He shook his head. “We are friends, and I know he would say the same. Sadly, it is a friendship that most would likely not wish upon themselves.”

Caroline was surprised by the confession but tried not to make that obvious. “I assumed you and Roderick to be close?”

“We are,” he said simply. “But Roderick is much like me.” He looked at her and she frowned. “A mean old prick,” he joked. “We both have trouble expressing emotions, or feelings, or being nice to each other half the time.” He scoffed and shook his head.

“But you still enjoy his company?”

“Careful…” He pumped his eyebrows at her. “That is three questions I answered. Do not think I will fall for a third.”

“Just make your next move.”

The game continued and frustratingly, it was Anthony who again took the next piece. It was no big thing, however, as all Caroline was required to do was remove her gloves. This didn’t warrant any comment, Anthony studying the board now as if his life depended on it. A mode of concentration that worked well for him, as he took a third piece two moves later.

“Do you believe me now, when I said I was going easy on you?”

She glowed at him as she began to untie the corset holding her gown together. “It seems the only thing you were lacking was motivation.”

The corset came undone, and she dropped it on the floor. Still covered entirely, she noticed the way that Anthony’s eyes so very obviously lingered on her bosom, a hunger in his stare which made her flush. She opened her mouth to chastise him, but stayed her tongue, not wanting to draw attention to it. And because I like the way he stares…

She took the next piece, and she had her question ready. “You mentioned your father just now. Tell me more about him.”

“That isn’t a question.”

“Humor me.”

He sighed and she saw him curl his lip. But not at her, rather the memory of his father. “He was an old wart,” he said simply. “The kind of man who took pleasure in the torment of others.”

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she joked.

He eyed her with exaggerated warning before sighing and looking away. “He was not physically violent. He did not hit me or my mother. It wasn’t like that. It was more…” He considered the framing, withdrawing inside of himself. Caroline watched, surprised that a mere memory could humble Anthony so much. “He liked the power he had as a duke. He liked how people acted around him. He liked that…” He winced. “That he could make others do as he wanted.”

“And your mother…” she pressed.

“She did not love him, but he did not love her,” he said, despite it being a second question. “The truth is, I do not think my father was capable of love. A shame too, as my mother…” A soft smile. “She deserved so much more than he was ever able to give her.”

Caroline found herself frowning as she studied Anthony. It was amazing what a few simple questions could do, forcing the duke to drop his armor and be honest for a damn change. What was more, it didn’t escape her notice how he spoke about his mother. There was love there, which suggested the rumors about him and the way he treated her were not entirely accurate.

“That’s another,” Anthony said with glee, bringing Caroline back into the room.

“Wh—what?” She shook her head and looked down to see her own rook removed from the board. “What? How?”

“Take it off,” Anthony said smugly. “Slowly, thank you.”

She tried to glare at him, but she could not maintain the farce. Her heart was racing, her body flushed red as she was forced to reach down and shuffle from her gown. It was awkward to do, and her chemise very nearly came with it. But she managed well enough, not that this made much difference.

All she had on now was her chemise. Why did I remove the earrings and the necklace as one! The chemise was made from thin cotton, and it was a little too tight so that her curves were pressed against it. In the light of the fireplace, she was certain it was translucent too, and the look Anthony held on her confirmed this.

He did not speak. Nor did she. In fact, and despite herself, Caroline leaned back slightly, pronouncing her breasts which had Anthony’s eyes turning wide. She found that she liked the way he stared. The hunger he had for her. All this talk about him having power over her and she found in that moment that she was the one with power over him.

She made her next move.

He made his quickly, not once looking away.

She made another, followed by a similar move on his part.

This, she saw right away, presented a chance for her to take his queen! And when she did, she would ask him finally about his mother. After all, that was the reason she had agreed to this entire thing in the first place.

Only, as she moved her hand for the knight which she planned on using, she found that she couldn’t do it. For some reason, Anthony’s honesty just now had unsettled her, and she felt as if she was taking advantage by getting so personal. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted answers. Only, she wanted him to want to reveal them.

Despite herself, she did not take his queen. And this, she saw immediately, opened her own queen to being snatched from the board. In this, Anthony did not hesitate.

“And there she is,” Anthony said with clear pride. “If you do not mind…” He indicated to her chemise and purposefully licked his lips. “Again, slowly might be nice.”

She looked at him flatly while ignoring the goosebumps erupting across her skin. “I think that is enough for one night.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” It took all the effort she possessed to do so, but she stood quickly. “I am tired and…” She swallowed, her body shaking. Deep down, she wanted to do as he asked her. She wanted to drop her chemise and reveal her naked body to him. Only, she did not trust herself. Not even a little bit. “… and I think it is time that I retire.”

“That’s not the deal we made!” He was on his feet too.

“And now you know how I feel, concerning broken promises.” She raised a warning eyebrow at him.

He stepped over the chessboard and came for her. She did not step back, wanting him to take her. Perhaps even force her to remove the chemise. That way, at least, she could tell herself she’d had no choice. That she had not given in…

“I told you already, I did not break my promise. At least not on purpose.” He stopped when he reached her, his eyes moving from her bust to her lips to her eyes. He licked his lips. His hands half reached out to take her… hesitating, the effort it was taking him not to act surely on a par with Caroline’s own.

“Just as I told you…” She looked him over, lingering on his lips. Her body shook and she could feel her nipples stiffen under her chemise. “I will not go to bed with you. Nothing you say or do will change that.”

“We are not talking of that.”

“Are we not?” she shot back, pushing out her chest as she did, stepping in closer as if she was standing up to him, when really she just wanted him to feel her body pressed into his. “What happens next? If I remove my chemise?” A raised eyebrow. “We laugh together and call it a night? Somehow, I doubt it.”

Anthony’s body was visibly vibrating. Standing this close, she could feel him tremble. And his eyes, the way they looked her over, not to mention his hand half extended for her, she could see just how much he struggled to control his urges. It was enough that Caroline considered pushing him further, forcing him to break… I am a wicked sort. The most detestable type of person. Yet right now, I do not care.

“And as I have repeated time and time again, I am not simply trying to bed you. I wish for an heir.”

“Which will amount to the same thing.”

“And if it does? What does that matter—?” He caught his tongue, his anger rising. A deep breath and he forced himself to calm. But not by much. “I know what you fear, Caroline. I know you worry that once you give me an heir, I will forget about you. That I want such a thing.”

“Do you?”

“Do you?” he shot back. “I have been nothing but courteous since you arrived here. I have done everything I can to prove otherwise. Yet you are the one who continues to distrust me. Such that I cannot help but think that regardless of what happens between us, the result will be the same. You want to be alone.”

Caroline leaned back as if struck. “I… I do not.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I…” Caroline did not know what to say.

Anthony’s words struck her harder than she had expected, because there was truth to them. All this time, she was so concerned with what Anthony might do with her that she hadn’t stopped to consider that she might be the cause of what she feared the most. By remaining distant, by refusing to trust her husband, what was left for her, other than abandonment and loneliness?

“I do not want to be alone,” she said, her voice dropping as if from shame. She looked away with embarrassment.

“What then?” Slowly, Anthony reached for her. He took her hand and it sent a pulse through her body. A warmth taking her. A tingling that rolled down her chest and to her thighs. Her heart began to pound in her chest.

“I don’t want to be used,” she said, her voice still soft. “I don’t want to be used once and then forgotten.”

“You won’t be.”

“How can I know that for sure?” she said, snapping her head up and meeting his eyes. “You say the right things. But your actions…” She gestured to what she was wearing, where they were, what they were doing. “Is all this just a ploy to lure me to your bed.”

“Not at all.”

“But how can I know for sure?”

Anthony considered the question. Still holding her hand, he bit into his lip, his brow furrowing as he considered what to do.

For a moment, Caroline thought she had pushed too far. That in a bid to prove to her that he was not what she thought, that he might agree that the night was over and leave her be. My big mouth . Despite her reservations, there was still that part of Caroline that wanted her husband. She wanted him so badly, while terrified of what that might mean at the same time.

How to reckon with that? How to find a middle ground?

As it turned out, Anthony had the perfect answer.

“I will not take you to bed,” Anthony said gently as he reached up, cupping a hand under her chin. “But if you think I possess the self-control to let you leave here looking like that…” His eyes flashed hunger. “Even I am only so strong.”

Her heart caught in her throat. “What… what does that mean?”

He answered her with a kiss. Not their first kiss as man and wife but easily their most passion filled. Dressed only in her chemise, Caroline felt her entire body catch fire as he held her by the face with one hand, and squeezed her other hand with the other. Then he dropped her hand and took her waist, pulling her in close. She gasped and caught her breath as his tongue slipped inside of her mouth and explored her.

“You…” He moaned as he pulled away, eyes shut, breathing her in. “You don’t know what you do to me.”

“I have an idea,” she said, following his lips with her own.

They kissed further. Harder. With more fire. Caroline felt her body erupt. She felt her will to resist him breaking. She felt a spike of fear, worried that he might try and take it too far and there was nothing she would be able to do to stop him. She felt… his hand reach for her chemise.

He lifted it hastily about her knees. She gasped and his other hand had since moved to her waist, wrapping around her and holding her body into him. She pretended to struggle, moaning as she did so he would know she liked what he did. And still kissing her, she saw the grin on his lips.

That was when he pulled back. He stared right at her, his gaze piercing as his hand moved up her chemise and his fingers began to stroke her thighs. It sent a ripple across her bare skin, her body shuddering, knees almost collapsing. And as his fingers traced their way further north, she just about cried out.

“What are you...?”

“Do you trust me” he asked, his fingers now finding their way to the edge of her lips.

“I…”

“Do you trust me?” he asked again, leaning in so that his lips traced her neck. “I made you a promise, and I will not break it.” His tongue licked her neck, and she moaned. “So, I ask again. Do you trust me?”

“I… I… I am not sure I do…” She was teasing him, sensing that was what he wanted to hear.

“You…” He ran his tongue up her neck and toward her ear, biting down on her earlobe. She gasped and he tore his teeth back, breathing into her ear again. “I can stop, if you like.”

“No!” she gasped.

“Tell me then. Tell me that you trust me, or I will.” His fingers still traced her lips, stroking gently, sending her thighs to quiver and shake and melt.

Caroline found in that moment that she trusted him fully. A marriage she was forced into. A promise broken by accident. A new arrangement made. None of it was Anthony’s fault and he had tried from the beginning to be reasonable. Now, it was her turn to do the same.

“I trust you,” she whispered into his ear. “I trust you.”

“Good girl.” That was when his fingers slipped inside of her.

Caroline had never felt such pleasure. It truly was indescribable. Caught between fear and excitement, not sure if she should scream or moan, her body collapsed and then went immediately rigid, a gasp escaping her lips and then her breath catching as she felt him enter her.

He was surprisingly gentle. His fingers, they traced her lips and then dipped inside of her. They pressed softly against her walls, testing her to see how she moved and how she breathed. Her eyes were shut tight, imagining now the way he held her and forced himself on her, picturing the snarl on his lips and the hunger in his eyes. Those fingers started to move in and out, quickly now, and she could feel her wetness coating them.

“Oh... Anthony... that... stop...” she moaned, her body spasming as waves of pleasure rolled over her. “Stop—don’t. Don’t stop...”

“Now you want it,” he growled, his fingers still working her.

“I… I do,” she forced from her lips. “So much.”

“Do you want more?” he whispered in her ear as his fingers slipped from inside of her, finding their way to the small bud at the top of her womanhood. It was a center of nerves, and pleasure erupted as if from an explosion the moment he touched it.

“Yes.”

“How much more?”

“All of it,” she stammered and gasped. “All of you.”

He groaned as he continued to stroke her. The hand on her waist moved to her throat; not tight, but forceful. He held her pinned against the wall, nothing she could do, his to command and do with as he pleased. If he wanted to take her then and there, he could. Nothing would stop him. And Caroline, despite her protests, knew she would let him. Dammit, I want him to. God, how I want it...

“No” Anthony said finally, his voice tinged now with a sense of frustration which only served to arouse her further. “I made you a promise, remember.”

Still pinned to his body, Anthony continued to pleasure Caroline with his fingers. His stroked her. He slipped his fingers inside of her. He pressed against her walls and curled his fingers and moved them to the rhythm of her breathing. The way her body shook! Soon enough, Caroline could feel it coming inside of her. Like a flower opening to the light. Like a fire devouring through kindling. Like a keg of gunpowder lit by a fuse. It came on strong and when it did, it was all she could do not to explode.

“Oh... oh... oh...” Her body went stiff. Her breath caught. Her heart seized. Anthony held her against the wall as her body rebelled. Sweat broke from her pores. She turned hot then cold then hot again. And when she screamed, it was so loud she was certain that even her sisters would be able to hear her.

Then, just as quickly as it had started, it was over.

Anthony stepped back from her and she opened her eyes finally. He wore a coy smile on his lips, pleased with himself. Although, there was something else there… a look she couldn’t quite discern.

“Is something the matter?” she asked through heavy breathing.

He gave his head a shake. “Not at all. Just… just pleased to see you enjoying yourself. It’s about time you did, I think.”

She tried to roll her eyes but ended up blushing furiously instead. And then, most surprisingly, she laughed. It caught her by surprise. And Anthony too, who flinched and leaned back, before joining in himself.

Deep down, Caroline felt that she should be ashamed of what had just happened. It was not sex, but she had still given in to Anthony, getting lost in such pleasure that a small part of her felt dirty—as if she had done something wrong. Only, she also found that she did not care.

I can’t help but feel that I have been lied to all this time. What my mother told me about sex, made out to be the worst and most shameful of things, something to be avoided at all costs.

That didn’t seem to be the case at all. Anthony stepped closer to Caroline and took her by the hand. She squeezed it back, meeting his eyes and smiling for him. A smile that he returned. There was no sense that he was upset that they didn’t go any further. And certainly no indication that he would up and leave her now that they were done. In fact, she felt closer to him now than she ever had before. A marriage of convenience, slowly transforming into so much more.

A marriage that I am starting to enjoy, even covet, as unbelievable as that might have once sounded.