Page 22 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I cannot believe that you managed to swear the staff to silence,” Anthony said with a shake of his head as he dipped some bread in oil. “I thought I had them better trained than that.”

“Scared of you, you mean,” she teased him.

He scoffed. “It is not fear which keeps them in line. They are my servants, wholly aware of who pays and feeds and provides them lodgings. They ought to know better than to keep secrets from me.”She raised a questioning eyebrow at him and he grinned. “And maybe they are just a little bit scared of me.”

She laughed. “Not nearly as scared of you as they are of me, I promise you.”

“Is that right?”

“How else do you think I managed to convince them to keep their mouths shut?” She looked at him pointedly, as if what she was saying had any truth to it.

The reality of the situation was far more straightforward than what Caroline was suggesting. She had asked for help from a few key members of staff, directing them to the forest ahead of her and Anthony to set the picnic for their arrival, all but pleading with them not to tell him. They did not wish to lie to their master, so she simply asked that they do what they could to avoid him until then. That way, they were not lying. Not technically speaking.

“So, tell me,” she started. “How did I do?”

“How did you do?”

“This...” She gestured to the setting; an empty glade, the moon sitting full overhead, silence all around so that it felt as if they were the only existing people in the world. “I know that I stole your evening plans, for which I could not be more sorry.” She winked playfully. “I just hope you can forgive me.”

“I will try my best.” Where she was sitting on the blanket with her legs folded beneath her, he sat with his spread before him, leaning back on his hands while facing her. “It is perfect, Caroline. Truly, beyond anything I might have had planned.”

“All I heard was that I am perfect.” She shrugged and had another sip of wine. “And it is about time you said as much.”

The evening was going better than she could have hoped for. Gone were the days of being unsure how she felt about Anthony. And gone were the days of being unsure how he felt about her also. Now, Caroline was convinced that they were both of the same mind, their marriage of convenience a thing of the past.

That, to her mind, left just one thing for them to do. And I am through feeling guilty about it. Now, the thought excites me.

“Anthony...” she began softly, looking away because she suddenly felt nervous. “I was hoping I might ask you a question.”

“Oh?” Anthony picked up his glass of wine and had a sip. “I am surprised you are asking permission. Very unlike you.”

“That is not what I am doing.”

“It sure sounds like it,” he said with humor.

“It is a sensitive question,” she said. “And I do not want you to think that I am prying or trying to upset you.”

Anthony considered her as he had another sip of wine. “Ask me. And I promise I will do what I can to not get upset. No promises, however.”

She smiled at the joke, even if she was still nervous, for what she wanted to ask him was something that had the potential to ruin the entire evening. But she had to know.

“It concerns...” She hesitated, looking away and speaking into her chest. “It concerns your mother.”

She sensed Anthony turn rigid. “Oh? What about her?”

“You have spoken about her before,” Caroline started with caution, feeling the duke’s eyes on her. “And I could sense in that instance that you cared greatly for her. It made me think—wonder, really. What...” Her tongue felt swollen suddenly, and a lump appeared in her throat. “What people say of you. The rumors that they...” She swallowed the lump. “... that they speak.”

“What of them?” he asked stiffly.

“I think you know what...” She forced herself to look at him. Unsurprisingly, he was watching her without blinking, his expression flat, his eyes brimming with a sense that he was prepared to lash out if necessary. He rarely became truly irate. The only time she could think that he had been was when this exact topic was last breeched. “What they call you. The Cruel Duke. Is there any truth to it?”

“What do you think?”

“I think...” She hesitated, still meeting his eyes so he could see that she did not fear him. “I think they are lying. In fact, I do not think you are half the monster you seem to want people to assume that you are.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.” She nodded. “Unless I am wrong...” A nervous chuckle. “In which case, maybe being out here alone with you is not the smartest of ideas.”

“You are not what you seem,” Anthony said after some time, breaking his stare and looking away. “Although, I suppose you are. The real you, I mean, not that which you pretend to be in front of your family.”

“We are both good at pretending.”

He snorted. “And if I am not pretending?”

“I think you are,” she said bravely. “What is more, I think you like that people fear you.”

“Do you?” he asked her. “Fear me?”

“No,” she said. “And I never have.”

To that, he smiled. It was soft, a sense of relief hidden behind it. And when he looked at her again, it was done so in a way that seemed designed not for him to see her, but for her to see him. The real him. Not a monster. Not someone to be feared. Rather, someone who wanted to be loved, but had never thought himself deserving.

“You are right,” he said softly. “About my mother. I loved her. It was never enough, for she deserved more than the life she was cursed with by my father. But I did what I could to show her that I cared.”

“I am sure you did...” She shuffled across the blanket, putting herself right beside where he sat with his legs spread. Then, she rested a hand on his right hand, and he didn’t pull it back.

“My mother fell ill shortly after my father died,” he continued, speaking into his chest now, his voice low as if the memory itself brought him pain. “I hated my father for that—stupid, I know. But when he passed I had hoped she might have the rest of her life to live as she always wanted. Free of tyranny,” he chuckled darkly. “But she fell ill and, being the good son I wished to be, I had her move in with me.”

“You did not force her?”

“I did,” he admitted. “But for her own good. I certainly did not lock her away as people say. Sadly, her sickness became worse by the day and within mere weeks of moving in with me, she was bedridden. Infectious too, the doctors told me, meaning I was not allowed to bring her visitors. The poor thing was trapped in her room, and I am ashamed to admit that I became distracted with my new duties as duke. I should have stayed by her bed daily. I should have been there for her always. Only...” He shook her head. “I was not.”

“It is not your fault,” she said, squeezing his hand.

“I know it,” he admitted. “And I did everything to keep her alive. For years, I managed it, forced to watch her wither, forced to keep her locked up and out of sight. The truth is, I did not even know what people were saying about me until after she passed...” Another dark chuckle. “And when I found out, I was beyond the point of caring. They wanted to believe that I had locked away my mother, and I did not see much point in correcting them.” He sniffed. “It was not as if it would bring her back.”

“Oh, Anthony...”

“I suppose a part of me liked it,” he continued, still looking away. “When she passed, the last thing I wished was to speak of it to anyone. And I found that people were less likely to ask me about her if they thought that I was the reason that she had died. A tad shortsighted, I will admit but...” He shrugged. “As I said, it changes nothing. She died, never having known the happiness which she deserved.”

“Anthony, that is...” Caroline felt her heart breaking. “That is not true.”

“It is.”

“No.” Her tone became hardened. “She knew that you loved her, and that would have been enough. You did everything for her and I know she would be proud of the man you have turned into.”

He laughed, but it was not with humor. “The man I have turned into? And what man is that?”

She shuffled in closer again so she was right beside him. Then, she reached out, resting a hand under his chin and forcing him to look at her. He was sad, she could see that in his eyes. But she saw something else. Was that relief? Found at finally having unburdened himself with a secret that she suspected nobody knew but him.

“A man...” She considered, not sure if it was the right thing to say but deciding in the moment that she was through playing it safe. She had wanted to know what kind of man her husband was. Was he cruel? Was he evil? Or was he simply misunderstood? She had her answer and in that, Caroline took a chance. “A man who I am starting to fall in love with.”

“Caroline...”

“I know this marriage did not start how either of us intended it to, but that does not mean it needs to finish that way either. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe...” She laughed softly. “Maybe I am misreading what this is—what I think we are both feeling. And if I am, tell me now because I need to know. But if I am not...” She held his stare so he could see in her eyes that she was speaking the truth. “...then I think we both know where this night ends.”

She held her breath as she waited for his response.

Her heart was open and all that was left was for Anthony to tear it out and prove her a fool... or to admit to the feelings that she knew she saw in his eyes.

He studied her closely. He licked his lips as his eyes flicked from her eyes to her lips to her body and back to her eyes. Body shaking. Breathing ragged. Those few seconds which he considered felt like minutes and she wondered briefly if she had misread him entirely.

That was when he kissed her.

She saw it coming, but it still caught her by surprise. His hand was moving to the side of her face. His lips were finding her mouth. His tongue, parting her lips and sliding inside her mouth. She gasped but then caught her breath quickly, relaxing as she gave herself over to him fully. No more fighting. No more pretending. She wanted this, and she needed him to know it.

They kissed with passion. They kissed with fire. They kissed with a sense that the world might end at any second, so they’d better take full advantage of the time they had. Both his hands were now on her face holding her, his lips and tongue devouring her as if she was life itself. This was not their first kiss, but it was the first one that they were both fully involved in. Both seeming to know that this time, the kiss would only be the beginning.

His hand moved down her body and went for her leg. She gave it to him, allowing herself to be lifted so that she was straddling him. He pulled his face back and then attacked her neck; wet kisses showering her collarbone, each one sending a pulse of pleasure through her body.

Her hands gripped him by the head, holding his face into her chest. But as much as she wished to concentrate on his tongue and his lips, she felt something between her legs which forced her attention.

It was through his pants that she felt it. His manhood; rigid and rubbing against her thigh. She moaned as she leaned into him, acting on instinct as she began to grind her hips into him so that he was pressed against the lips between her thighs. Her body was shuddering now. Wetness dripped from her. Caroline might have been relatively inexperienced, but she knew enough to know what she wanted next.

“Anthony...” She moaned as his hands cupped her breasts on the outside of her dress. He seemed frustrated, tearing now at her corset in an effort to open it without destroying the garment. “Anthony...”

“Caroline...” Her corset came open enough for him to pry it away from her body, both hands clasped at the neck of her dress, which he then tore down so that her breasts spilled over the top. His lips found her right nipple, and then her left.

“I want...” She breathed with pleasure, the way he sucked on her nipples making it hard to think, let alone speak. “I want you to... I want you to...”

Suddenly, Anthony pulled his lips free and looked at her. “Caroline...” He held her eyes, serious all of a sudden. “I want it too. If…” He held her eyes for a moment longer. “If you are ready.”

“I am,” she said without hesitation.

His eyes flashed with hunger and desire. She saw in them the answer, as words were no longer required. Still looking at her, his hands became busy by his crotch, and her heart raced as her eyes slowly drifted down his body, just in time to see him release his manhood for the very first time.

It was thick, swelling before her eyes, throbbing as if it had a life of its own. Despite herself, Caroline felt her mouth salivate and without even knowing what to do, she moved her hand for it, wrapping its girth and squeezing.

“Oh... God...” Anthony moaned.

“Like this?” she asked, squeezing again.

“No,” Anthony growled. His hands moved to her buttocks, lifting her in the air. “Like this.” He lowered her gently then, over his member, right on top and then down its length one inch at a time.

She gasped and her eyes widened. Her breath left her. Her entire body went stiff as if from panic... only to melt as she felt Anthony slide deeper and deeper inside. It was uncomfortable at first, even painful. But Anthony was gentle, ensuring that she didn’t take him all at once. And all the while he held her eyes so he could see how she might react, sensing her pleasure the deeper inside of her he went, keeping her steady as he stretched and filled her until she had taken all of him.

“Anth—” Anthony cut her off by kissing her. And he continued to kiss her passionately as he began to thrust inside of her.

His hands held her by the butt as he lifted her up and down on top of him. She rested on her knees, finding her own rhythm as she felt his member sliding slowly in and out of her. Up and down, she moved. Back and forth. Each time she did, it sent a pulse through her body which she felt touch at her heart.

She started to move faster. Anthony matched her pace. Still kissing, still devouring each other—it was messy but somehow perfect at the same time. The way he felt inside of her. How right it was. How explosive. Caroline thrust forward and backwards, refusing to let him from her for even a second. Up and down. Back and forth. She could feel it building with each thrust. She could feel it coming like she never had before.

“Oh...” She moaned. He took her by the back of the head, pulling it to the side as he attacked her neck with his lips. “There... Anthony... do not stop...”

“Nothing could make me.”

“Please... please... do not... keep going... oh...”

When Caroline felt herself about to explode, Anthony’s body suddenly turned stiff. He gritted his teeth and leaned back, his eyes closed, his breath rising. “Anthony...”

“I told you not to stop,” he growled.

This time, she obeyed him.

They were alone in that small glade. The lanterns burned bright. The moon shone in full. Darkness sat around them, making it feel as if they were the only two people to exist now and forever. Caroline leaned herself back, resting on her hands, still thrusting, feeling Anthony’s member begin to pulse inside of her.

“Yes...” she breathed. “Yes...”

“Don’t stop...”

“I won’t... I... I... Oh... God!”

It happened at the same time. Anthony, the noise that left his lips was a guttural howl that synced with the way that his body began to jerk. And Caroline too, screamed into the night sky, her entire body vibrating and shaking and tearing itself apart. She felt him filling her. She felt it dripping down her thighs. She felt... she felt...

My mother was wrong. I was wrong. There is nothing wicked about this. Nothing wrong or evil. This is the single greatest moment of my life. And never before has something felt so right.

Caroline might have lamented all the time she had wasted fighting these urges. She might have been upset that she had hated herself so often for what she had desired. But what was the point of that? There was none, she decided. Rather, she chose to enjoy herself. She chose to be free in ways she never had before. She chose to scream and cry out and give herself over fully to a type of pleasure which she knew would not be fleeting because she knew that this would not be the last time.

She was married to the Cruel Duke, and she was his to do with whatever he wanted. His prisoner, just as he was hers.