Page 13 of A Duchess to Reclaim (The Devil’s Masquerade #2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I understand, Your Grace. It will not happen again.”

“Be sure that it doesn’t,” Dominic insisted gruffly as Mr. Morbate poured his tea.

“Hire a few more guards. I want them stationed around the house at all times. No more windows of opportunity for self-righteous beggars.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Mr. Morbate replied, bowing.

“That is all for this morning then. You may go. You have more important things to do than pour my tea,” Dominic instructed.

Mr. Morbate bowed again and silently left the dining room. As he walked out of the room to Dominic’s surprise, Amelia walked into it. He knew from the staff’s reports that she awoke later than he did and broke her fast well after he started work in his office.

He cast his eyes over body in approval. She was back to wearing her usual gowns. The tighter waist, the lower bodice. This one today was a startling black with a wide lavender satin ribbon wound just above her hips, showing off her deliciously delicate curves. He also took pleasure in seeing those long, wild, dark brown curls cascading down her back and over her shoulders yet again- much better, he thought, than the strict up-dos she wore when in London.

Her honey brown eyes were on him as his eyes finally flicked up to study her face, and he felt a jolt of desire within his loins.

“Good morning,” he said, his tone curious as he watched her walk to the chair directly to his right and take a seat.

“Good morning,” she replied, her voice still husky from sleep.

The sound of it sent a rather wicked shiver over the back of his neck. He took a deep inhale through his nostrils to find control, but it only damned him further as he caught her scent of lilacs, honeysuckle, and something spicy mixed in with the sweet.

It made his mouth water and his thoughts run wild.

“This is…odd,” he stated, looking her up and down.

“I thought I would break fast with you this morning,” she replied, motioning for the servant.

A plate of toast, broiled fish, and two boiled eggs balanced on silver egg cups was given to her almost immediately while another servant came forward to pour her tea.

“How did you sleep?” She asked, tapping the top of an egg with a small silver spoon.

Dominic’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. She’d left him rather coldly the evening before and hadn’t seen her since.

“Fine,” he said, drawing the word out.

“Good.” She replied.

Dominic sat down his cup and laced his fingers together before him.

“You are quite unamicable this morning,” he stated. “It’s not like you.”

Amelia’s eyes darted toward him, and he felt a comfort in seeing the fire that usually lived there.

“ I am not the one that is unamicable, Dominic,” she replied haughtily. “It is your behavior that lacks warmth, not mine.”

Dominic snorted.

“Yes you’ve been an absolute ray of sunshine, darling,” he replied, his tone dry.

Amelia looked as if she was about to throw an equally sarcastic retort at him, then she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. He tried not to chuckle, but he couldn’t help the sound that slipped from his lips.

“I am trying to thank you,” she breathed out, opening her eyes as she turned to look at him.

Dominic’s humor faded, the smirk on his lips falling as he raised a brow.

“For yesterday. For interfering with my father,” she explained.

Dominic sat up a little straighter as he heard the tinge of fear in her voice. She’d been frightened yesterday. She hadn’t admitted it, but he’d felt it radiating off of her.

Of Felton or of me? He silently wondered.

“Of course I did,” he replied, his tone serious. “You’re mine. I protect what’s mine.”

Dominic could have sworn he saw warmth and pleasure bloom in Amelia’s honey-brown eyes as she looked at him; causing a stir of something similar in his own.

He didn’t like it.

“For whatever reason, thank you,” she replied softly.

Dominic grunted, broke eye contact, then unfolded his hands so he could finish eating his own breakfast.

“I can appreciate your gratitude but it was my duty as the Master of this house,” he told her. “And unlike you, I don’t break contracts.”

“I never broke my contract,” Amelia replied coolly, “I simply found a loophole you were not wise enough to cover.”

Dominic’s gaze snapped up to her, grinding his jaw. He tried to think of a retort but he truly had none. She had been wily with stepping around his rules, and in doing so had outsmarted him.

“Will you be ready to leave by two this afternoon?” He asked, changing the subject.

“I will,” she replied, sounding strong. “Thank you for the reprieve. I feel quite refreshed.”

Again with the thanks. He didn’t like how warm it made him feel. He needed loyalty, not gratitude. He needed to stop it.

“I believe you require a dance lesson before we return,” he said brusquely. “Your performance at our party was quite lacking and since we are certainly going to have to do it again, I must insist that you get better.”

Amelia tsked her tongue and scowled at him.

Ah. That’s better. He enjoyed it better when they fought.

“I can dance just fine,” she shot back.

“That remains to be seen,” he chuckled.

“I was not well, you know that.”

“You will have the same circumstances of our last dance no matter which party we go to,” he pointed out. “You will need to dance despite your nerves, I cannot whisper those dirty scenes in your ear every time you start to panic. Someone is bound to notice that eventually.”

A delicious crimson blush filled her cheeks and Dominic felt his manhood harden instantly at the sight. He’d rather liked that part of the dance, but wasn’t about to admit that to her.

“I can dance,” she insisted again.

“You will have to prove that to me,” he said with a shrug.

“And if I do?” She asked quickly.

He raised a brow; amused.

“You want to strike another deal?” He asked.

“Seems the only way to get what I want,” she answered with slight venom.

Dominic smirked, and he could have sworn he saw her squirm in her seat.

“Very well then. Your terms?” He asked.

“If I can prove to you I can dance, you will teach me how to box this evening after we return to London.”

He looked at her with surprise.

“You already offered to teach me,” she reminded him. “I am simply imposing on the invitation.”

Thoughts of what he’d done to her the last time they were near a punching bag flooded Dominic’s mind; and his already hardened manhood began to pulse and ache. He wondered if he would ever look at the sport the same again after what he’d done.

“Well, Your Grace,” Amelia asked haughtily. “Does my deal suit you?”

“It does,” he said, rising to his feet. “But I warn you, my expectations of your dancing are quite high. I doubt you’ll be able to prove that you don’t need my direction.”

Annoyance and challenge filled Amelia’s gaze as she rose to her feet as well; the smile on her face both cocky and wickedly sensual.

“We shall see about that, Your Grace,” she answered sweetly.

* * *

“What did I tell you?” Amelia asked him grinning from ear to ear.

In the privacy of their Ellsworth home she felt no tension; no fear of wary eyes, and she had danced beautifully. Her steps had been precise, her movements smooth; despite the little tendrils of excitement she felt every time Dominic gripped her or pulled her close. She had proven him wrong, and that was all she cared about.

“You do fine on the practiced steps,” Dominic admitted, walking toward the small ensemble of musicians. “But let us see how you do when the dance has not been memorized.”

Amelia’s brows dipped.

“What does that mean?” She asked as the violinist drew his bow and strings into a sweet tone.

The alluring sound made the hair on her arms raise; sent an enticing shiver down her spine. The piano came next, adding a layer to the sensual sounds of the violin. It was followed by a trombone, which laid a bass undertone softly between soprano-esque instruments.

“The question is,” Dominic replied, rolling up his sleeves with a smirk, “Can you follow my lead without already knowing where I am going to take you?”

Amelia raised a brow; instantly enjoying the way Dominic’s bare, muscled forearms looked as he rolled first one sleeve, then the other.

“We won’t be performing any such dance in London,” she retorted, “So why bother practicing it?”

Dominic’s grin was both cocky and handsome; sending that familiar combination of annoyance and desire through her veins.

“What’s the matter?” He teased, stretching out a hand to her. “Afraid you can’t keep up?”

Something competitive sparked within Amelia, and with a determined look, she took his hand. She gasped as he twirled her into him with a quickness, pushing her back against his chest; the force of the embrace making her stumble.

“Careful,” he teased in her ear as he took her other hand, “Looks as if you’re already going to fall.”

“You wish I would fall, don’t you?” She hissed, “If only to prove yourself right.”

Dominic only chuckled as his hand gripped hers harder and made his next move. This time though, she was intent on not being caught off guard. She felt his muscled forearms ripple before he turned her out of his chest. She let his subtle yet powerful movements guide her this time and she didn’t stumble.

Concentrating on his movements more than her own, she began to move with him. Giving up her control, she allowed him to sway her left, right. Another turn; a dip. Her body began to relax further as a trust for him started to form, and despite herself, she was smiling again.

“That’s it,” he coaxed, his deep voice gentle, “Let your body feel it out.”

He spun her back into him again, hand laced tight in her own as he pressed into her abdomen. Hypnotized by the moves he was leading her into, Amelia laid the back of her head on his shoulder, and let her hips sway with his.

“You actually can take direction,” he whispered devilishly into her ear, “I am so surprised.”

For a moment Amelia went rigid as she was ready to turn around and quip back. But then Dominic’s free hand traced down the arm of her free hand; sending delicious sparks into her flesh, and she melted into him again. His slow, tracing touch traveled from the top of her shoulder down to fingertips, where he then laced his fingers through hers.

She felt like warm liquid as he guided her arm to up and to the back of his neck. Amelia let out a breathy whimper as he pressed her palm to the warm, naked flesh nestled behind his thick, black hair, and as he released her fingers, she couldn’t help but tighten her own into those silky tendrils.

She heard Dominic’s husky rumble in his chest just as she felt the vibrations of it into her back, and her smile turned sensual. Feeling the power begin to shift a little, she moved her hips in a slow circle, and was rewarded with a sudden hard object pressed into her backside.

Dominic let out a dark chuckle; as if knowing immediately what she was trying to do.

“Vixen,” he rasped.

He trailed his free hand back up her arm, pulling her fingers from his hair and with a sudden push, Amelia was spinning out of his embrace. He then twirled her again, even using her skirts to keep her in motion, and then dipped her. For a moment her body rebelled at the sudden shift in movement, but knowing that’s what Dominic wanted, she closed her eyes and calmed herself, letting her body bend like melted sugar back into the hand holding her lower back so far that the ends of her curls brushed the floor.

She opened her eyes just enough to look at his face, and she smiled as she saw his face was tense with both frustration and desire.

“You’ll have to try better than that,” she whispered, teasing him as she batted her lashes.

A soft growl escaped from Dominic’s chest as white sparks shot behind his silver eyes, and suddenly she was pulled up to her feet again, being guided into a flurry of circles and twirls. When the song ended, they were both panting and warm from the movements; caught in one another’s gazes. Even the sound of someone clearing their throat didn’t have them looking away from one another.

“What song shall we play next, Your Grace?” A voice asked.

Chest heaving, nostrils flaring; Dominic looked more beast than man as he kept his eyes pinned on Amelia. The hungry, possessive look sent a deep pleasure shooting through her veins; and she couldn’t help but smirk as she stared right back in challenge.

I am not afraid. Not of you.

It was a fact she had struggled with the night before. She’d stayed up late wondering if she was an absolute dolt for not being more fearful of him. But now, she realized why. He was the physical representation of the strength she wanted inside herself.

“Leave us,” Dominic commanded.

Static seemed to form between he and Amelia as the musician made quick work of gathering their instruments and swiftly left the room.

“I win,” Amelia whispered, tilting her chin slightly as her smirk grew into a sensual smile.

Pure white light seemed to blaze through Dominic’s eyes as she made the statement, and in the blink of an eye, his body was wrapped around hers. She gasped as his hand fisted in her hair and drew her face to his as the other locked him to his waist. His mouth descended on hers before she could even take another breath; devouring her like a man starving.

This time instead of mewling and melting into him, Amelia’s hands funneled into his silky black hair and she kissed him back with equal fervor. Their lips and teeth gnashed against one another savagely; each trying to claim the other.

Then just as quickly as the kiss started- it stopped. Dominic pulled away from her with a ragged breath, making her world spin as he let her go.

Amelia blinked, trying to fight the lust-filled haze that had filled her mind. She drank in the positively ravaged look of her husband; no longer appearing as a man in total control; but one on the brink of losing his humanity. It gave her a wicked glee, and she gave him a vulpine smile as she fluffed her hair and straightened her skirts.

“It’s almost two,” she told him, still breathing heavy herself as she began to walk to the door. “Shall we go?”

“What?” He croaked.

She looked at him over her shoulder, tossing her curls.

“To London,” she replied. “You owe me a lesson.”