Page 21 of A Duchess to Reclaim (The Devil’s Masquerade #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Y ou understand why I am angry,” Dominic stated, his silver eyes hard as he looked at her.

“Of course I do,” Amelia replied, her fingers fidgeting as she sat across from him.

She couldn’t stop taking him in; hated that the table between them was blocking half of the view of his body. She hadn’t forgotten how handsome he was, probably never could, but after weeks apart, he looked absolutely God-like.

Though, she did notice some things. He’d lost weight. His eyes weren’t as clear as they used to be. Another one of those rakish yet sophisticated silver grey streaks and formed in his hair; streaking from his left earlobe to the back of his head.

Had he been as miserable as she had been while they were apart?

They’d spent the entire carriage ride the night before in silence; using that time instead to hold each other, kiss each other. When they arrived back at Ellsworth, Dominic had taken her hand while still in the carriage and hadn’t let go of it until he had her sealed up with him in his quarters.

Once there he’d stripped her down, then himself, but instead of making love like she’d hoped, he’d pulled her into bed with him, tucked her tight against his body, and they’d fallen asleep wrapped around one another.

It was morning, though, and it was time to finally break their silence.

“Tell me why I am angry,” Dominic demanded.

“I risked our reputation again,” Amelia replied, feeling a surge of shame as she said so. “I risked your businesses; everything that we had just worked so hard to get back.”

Dominic’s brows furrowed as he put his elbows on the table and leaned forward.

“You think that is why I am angry?” He asked.

Amelia looked at him, confused.

“Yes?”

Dominic sucked his teeth as he pushed back from the table. His handsome face twisted into a sneer that bared his teeth; making it obvious that she had given him a wrong answer.

“I am angry, Amelia, because of the danger you put yourself in!” He boomed, slamming his fist on the table.

Amelia instantly bristled against his tone and sneered right back at him.

“How was I supposed to know Roland was going to be there? That he was the one that had started it all?” She demanded to know.

“If you would have stayed here as you were supposed to you wouldn’t have had to find that at all!” He replied. “Christ, Amelia, do you have any idea how terrified I was to see you cornered in that hall like that? Did you not see the look in his eyes? He was going to-”

Dominic cut himself off, his nostrils flaring as he slammed his lips shut and rubbed his hands together

“If I had not been there,” he said eventually, his tone low and trembling, “He would have hurt you in irreparable ways, Amelia, and I would have never forgiven myself for that.”

Love poured through Amelia as she heard the utter fear in her husband’s voice. Love. She loved this man, she realized. And whether he could admit or not, it was obvious he loved her too.

“But you were there, Dominic,” she replied, “And you destroyed our threat. You only have half the facts, though, and I am sorry to tell you that your theory is wrong. I was in danger no matter where I was.”

Dominic’s frown deepened.

“You need to tell me everything. Now,” he demanded.

Amelia drew in a steadying breath, and spoke.

“These last two weeks or so, I have had this strange feeling that the girls and I were being watched. At first I thought it was because I kept hoping to see you come around a random corner and back into our lives, but the day Theo asked me to accompany her to the Devil’s Masquerade , I actually saw someone. I knew it wasn’t you, and it scared me greatly. I thought it was our father and I immediately sent the guards out to investigate.”

“Roland was here ?” Dominic snarled.

Amelia nodded.

“The guards didn’t find anyone, but after what happened, I know it was him. Roland might have decided to strike at the Devil’s Masquerade but he was waiting for any opportune moment. Whether I had went with Theo or not, he would have made a move. And I know you are mad at me for going. I am mad at myself! But if I hadn’t gone, he would have attacked at a time where you were nowhere near.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she remembered the utter fear and desperation she’d felt the night before. Roland, she realized, had never been a good man, but he had changed over the years into someone far worse than who she’d been engaged to. The look in his eyes had told her everything- he was willing to do whatever he needed to bend her to his will.

“I remembered what you taught me,” she rasped, her throat feeling tight. “About getting one good punch in. It wasn’t enough to stop him, but I hit him good.”

Dominic’s hard gaze softened almost instantly, and in a second he was out his chair, coming toward with his kerchief. He pulled her out of her seat and gently dabbed the cloth under her eyes.

“I saw,” he replied, a ghost of smile on his lips. “Even with the disadvantage of your stance it was still a mighty hit.”

A laugh broke through Amelia’s sobs as she felt her body sink into his arms.

“I was so proud of you,” he whispered, peppering her hair with kisses.

Amelia felt her heart throb with a mixture of pain and relief, and her fingers clenched around his vest.

“Please do not leave again,” she whispered. “I know I said I could handle it, but I have been miserable. I missed you. I missed you so much. We can argue every day if you want. You can growl and demand and I will hiss and fight back until we are miserable. But please don’t go.”

Amelia gasped as Dominic suddenly gripped her face and forced her eyes up to his. She saw nothing but affection pour from those bright silver orbs.

“I am not going anywhere,” he replied, his tone absolute. “And if I do, you will be right by my side. I am not letting anything happen to you ever again, Amelia.”

She felt her eyes begin to water again.

“Truly?” She whispered.

“I have tried to push away these feelings for you,” he replied, stroking her cheek, “I have tried to go back to the way I was, but you have changed me. Not in the way I always feared a woman would. But for the better.”

He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, so sweet another sob ripped from her throat.

“I love you, Amelia,” he whispered against her lips. “When you make me feel pleasure and when you have me wanting to rip my own damn hair out. I love you.”

The flickering joy she’d felt in her heart burst into a full flame and she pulled him back in for another kiss.

“I love you, Dominic,” she breathed, pulling him closer. “I love you so much.”

* * *

With their lips still fused together, Dominic cupped his hands around Amelia’s backside and lifted her onto the table. He was sure there was much more to discuss but for now their argument was over, and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to celebrate it.

Their affectionate kiss grew needy and desperate as their hands began to work at one another’s clothes, and as their tongues danced and their teeth gnashed, they undressed each other. He broke away from the kiss and tossed his head back with a gruff moan as Amelia tore his shirt from his chest. She dragged her nails down his abdomen, sending a surging pleasure throughout his body as she bit down on his neck.

He lingered in the cocktail of pleasured pain for a moment before he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head back. He took another possessive kiss, then bit and kissed down her neck until he reached her exposed breasts.

He’d missed her body so much that even through his depressed state, he had still felt that yearning desire to touch her again. He reveled in the sounds of Amelia’s moans as he lavished attention on first one breast, then the other, before he left a hot trail of kisses down her abdomen. Amelia arched her back and threw her legs atop his shoulders as he got to his knees at the edge of the table. Her sweet mons were already slick and pulsing with heat as he first licked her, and when he felt her gush against his tongue, he groaned with pleasure and began to devour her.

From the table Amelia writhed with pleasure as her fingers tangled in his hair. He reached up, grasping her ample breasts as he let her pull his head closer to her sex, then ran his hand over her abdomen, upper thighs, and finally let his fingers dig into her hips so he could hold her still.

His manhood jumped and pulsed against his navel, leaving drops of moisture on his flesh when her moans of pleasure grew more high-pitched as she reached her end. He flicked his eyes up to her as he felt her back begin to arch, and watched just in time as her release came crashing over her. He reveled in the sight of her pleasure; was grateful for it. But now he needed his own.

He rose from his knees on trembling knees and without further preamble, lifted her hips and thrust himself deep.

* * *

Amelia screamed Dominic’s name as she felt his cock surge into her hot, tight core. She had known she had missed his body but it wasn’t until this very moment that realized just how much. Something clicked into place inside of her. Some piece that had been broken when she’d left him in London, and now she was whole again.

Dominic leaned forward as he drove his hips in and out. It felt as if his hands and mouth were everywhere- and she still could not get enough.

“Harder,” she demanded through gritted teeth, digging her nails into his forearms. They could be slow and gentle later, but for now, she wanted to feel nothing but the sheer force of his powerful existence.

Dominic gave her a wickedly handsome grin as he gripped her hips. He slowed down then, taking a torturous amount of time to slowly drag himself from her sheath until his thick tip rested at her entrance. She squirmed, impatient as she looked pleadingly into his liquid silver eyes, then screamed as he suddenly slammed himself fully back into her.

Hot liquid gushed from her core as the table beneath her began to sway and creak; threatening to break apart from the force. She didn’t care. Let it break. Let it all come crashing down so that they could finally start to rebuild something better and stronger.

“I’m going to bruise you if I don’t slow down,” Dominic panted, starting to slow his hips.

“Bruise me then,” Amelia breathed, then leaned up to lace her arms around his neck. “Bruise me. Mark me. Make me yours.”

A savage groan tore from Dominic’s parted lips as his grip on her tightened once more and he resumed his powerful thrusts. Amelia’s lashes fluttered as her eyes rolled back shortly after, and she let out a moan of pure pleasure as her second orgasm came crashing around her.

Dominic leaned down, picked up her limp, ecstasy-riddled body, and pulled her entirely into his arms. His fingertips dug into her waist and shoulder where he held her as his thrust became harder and faster, and with one more bestial growl, his orgasm followed.

They held onto another tightly for the next several moments, their bodies twitching in post coital bliss as they pressed their foreheads together. Eventually their desperate panting became even breaths, and Dominic carefully lowered Amelia to her feet.

She let out a shaky laugh as she stumbled, and Dominic smiled as he caught her- as he’d always caught her when she had been about to fall. Together they walked back to his bed, and they collapsed in one another’s arms on top of it.

“So does this mean we are done arguing now?” Amelia asked, burrowing her head into his chest.

Another chuckle broke from Dominic’s chest, the sweet sound rumbling into her ear. He stroked a hand over her ravaged hair and kissed the top of her head.

“I highly doubt it,” he replied. “We’ll no doubt have something else to argue about by tomorrow.”

“That’s fine,” she sighed, tracing the tip of her nose up his neck. “As long as you’re here to argue with, we can fight about whatever you want.”

His chest rumbled with laughter yet again, and he laced his fingers around her throat. He tilted her mouth up to his and gave her a deep kiss.

“I’ll be here,” he promised.

“AMELIA!!!”

“WHERE ARE YOU?”

Amelia groaned as she dropped her head back down to Dominic’s chest.

“What was that?” Dominic asked, looking toward the door.

“The girls,” she replied. She burrowed deep into his arms one last time, kissed the center of his chest, and then, begrudgingly, pushed herself out of the bed to gather her clothes.

“I usually join them for breakfast so they are probably worried that they haven’t seen me yet,” she explained. “I should go before they find their way in here.”

She turned back around just in time to see Dominic watching her intently from his bed, and smiled seductively. He gave a charming smile back, and rose to help her string her corset.

“I should come, too,” he told her as he tightened her strings, “They should know that their brother-in-law is officially- and permanently going to be living with them.”

Amelia’s smile widened as the word permanent was emphasized; her heart overflowing with happiness.

“Be prepared,” she warned him, “They will want to show you everything. All of their new clothes, their projects. Papa- Felton- was never good at showing them much attention. Your approval will be important to them.”

“And they will have it,” he told her, helping her into her gown next.

“Speaking of projects. How is your aviary coming along?”

“It is finished,” she said proudly, turning to face him. “The girls and I ordered the birds together and they should be coming any day. We should be receiving our first Scarlet Macaw, a Cynopsitta, a Hahns Macaw, and a Black Parrot.”

“Aside from the Black Parrot I cannot fathom what the others look like,” Dominic confessed as he dressed.

“One is red, one is blue, and one is green,” Amelia explained, grinning wide.

Dominic chuckled, and pulled her in for another kiss.

“AMELIAAAA!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!?!”

They broke from their kiss with laughter, and together, they left Dominic’s bedroom to go search for Lydia and Sarah.

* * *

“Where is he?” Dominic demanded, back to his usual gruff demeanor.

From across his desk Everett looked just as on edge as Dominic felt. It was two days later, and Everett had finally joined them in Ellsworth. Dominic had spent the last two days dividing his time between making love to Amelia, and learning how to be a guardian two young ladies. Now, though, it was time to deal with what had happened in London.

“I put him on a ship booked for the Americas myself,” Tristan reported. “I had to pay him off a bit.”

Dominic bristled.

“You rewarded him for assaulting my wife?”

“Trust me it wasn’t a reward,” Everett said, his deep tone assuring. “Old Rollie and I had a chat before he departed. The reason why he made Amelia a target again was because he was quietly disinherited for crimes he committed in Italy. Had some sort of blackmail plan I could not quite follow. He hasn’t been off vacationing in the sunny valleys. He’s been in prison, and his family has been paying everyone off to keep it quiet.”

“For what?” Dominic demanded.

Everett raised a brow.

“What do you think?”

Dominic didn’t have to say a word. After what Roland had try to do to Amelia, it was obvious.

“I gave him the money- which was a pittance, I might add, because he was threatening to go to the constable over what you did to him,” Tristan explained.

“With everything you and Amelia just dragged yourself out of I did not think it would be prudent to have an investigation regarding you two going on. Besides, with him being in America we won’t have to worry about him coming back. Getting out of prison. Or making any more messes. He is simply gone.”

Dominic would have preferred to make Roland disappear another way, but he had to admit that what Everett’s plan was solid.

“Thank you,” he said, reaching across the desk.

His friend leaned forward as well and the two shook hands.

“How is Amelia doing anyway?” Everett asked, walking toward the drink cart.

“Roland hadn’t been able to do much more than shake her around a little bit,” Dominic replied, “Thank you for asking about her.”

“Well she is completely and surely your wife now,” Everett sighed. “I suppose I need to get to know her better.”

“And the children,” Dominic pointed out. “You will need to get to know Sarah and Lydia. I suppose you shall be there honorary uncle now.”

Tristan grimaced.

“Children,” he repeated slowly. “I do not have much experience with those.”

Dominic chuckled.

“Me either, old man, but we have to grow up at some point.”

As if they knew they were the topic of discussion, the door of Dominic’s study burst open and the two girls came running in. They both screeched with joy upon finding Dominic, and flew to him; wrapping their arms around his waist. Everett balked at the sight and took an almost intimidated step away from the obvious show of affection.

“Is your meeting over yet, brother?” Lydia asked. She stepped away from him and fluffed her light brown hair. She then turned to Everett and rose a curious brow.

“Who is this?” She asked next.

“Yes, I suppose it is,” Dominic replied, then waved a hand toward Everett. “Girls, this is your uncle Everett.”

“Uncle!” They both shouted in unison, and flung themselves onto Everett.

Everett positively paled as he threw his hands upward while the girls wrapped their arms around his waist. Dominic could not help but laugh at his friend’s obvious discomfort.

“Um…children,” he answered awkwardly.

He tentatively reached down, as if they would somehow burn him, and patted their heads in two quick taps. Everett then looked up at Dominic with a confused look.

“Are they always this tiny?” He asked.

Sarah immediately pulled away from with a deep frown.

“I am not tiny,” she retorted, obviously offended.

She tossed her hair again and crossed her arms.

“I am fourteen, Uncle Everett, and I shall soon be a lady.”

“Noted,” Everett grumbled, then pointed to Lydia.

“I like the smaller one better.”

“Ha ha!” Lydia teased, sticking her tongue out at Sarah.

“Girls,” Amelia chastised, walking in just as Sarah looked to fight her younger sister. “What are you doing in here? I told you you mustn’t bother Dominic when he is in his office.”

Dominic felt his heart swell with joy as he saw his wife walk toward him, and he immediately reached for her. Since his return he’d found himself unable to keep his hands off of her when in the same vicinity. Her smile made his breath hitched as she went into his arms, and he couldn’t help but grin as she rose on her toes to kiss his jaw.

“Apologies, darling,” she whispered.

“It’s fine,” he whispered back, kissing her forehead.

“They were done anyway,” Sarah replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

“We wanted to show Brother the birds,” Lydia added.

She let go of Everett’s waist only to quickly snatch up his hand.

“Come, Uncle Everett, you must see them too,” she insisted. “They are so very lovely!”

Everett looked to Dominic with a silent plea for help, but Dominic only chuckled as he shook his head.

“They came already?” Dominic asked, looking down at Amelia.

She nodded, smiling up at him.

“We did order them a while ago, you know,” she replied, her tone teasing.

“Come, come!” Sarah urged, growing impatient.

“Must I?” Everett grumbled to Dominic as Lydia began pulling him out of the room.

“Afraid so, old boy,” Dominic muttered under his breath.

He was still getting used to having children around, and the truth was it wasn’t always easy to deal with their urgency. One thing he kept in mind, however, was just how neglectful their father had been with them. How little they’d received attention or affection once Amelia had left their home. Such knowledge had dampened his impatience quite a bit, and he found himself making leniences for their behavior every day.

With Amelia wrapped under his arm, and Lydia’s hand wrapped like a vise around Everett’s hand, Sarah lead them out of the office, through the house and toward the back patio, where the newly finished aviary stood in all its glory. He had doubted Amelia’s vision for it at first, but now that it was complete, Dominic had to admit that it truly was a beautiful addition to the grounds.

“We must be careful going in,” Sarah warned, approaching the door. “They can fly rather fast and we do not want them getting out. And do not forget the gloves. We have them hanging up just inside.”

“Gloves?” Dominic asked.

“Sister has been reading to us from her books about large birds,” Sarah explained, “Their claws are very different from the small sparrows that flit about. They can slice your arm in an instant if you don’t have the gloves. Especially since they are not quite tame yet.”

“This is starting to sound like an awful idea,” Everett said. “I am not sure that I-”

“Oh, don’t be a baby, Uncle Everett, you shall be fine!” Lydia cut him off, pulling him toward the door.

Everett looked back at Dominic and glared.

“These children are monsters. Are you sure they are not yours?”

Dominic laughed as he reached forward and pushed Everett along, and as a group, they all stepped quickly into the aviary. Inside, Dominic and Everett stepped toward the high walls while Amelia, Lydia, and Sarah fearlessly pulled on the thick gloves and moved to stand in the center of the domed structure.

From above, the large, brightly colored birds let out strangely beautiful and oddly human like sounds as they flittered from one large beam to the next.

“Come my darlings!” Amelia called up to them, holding one gloved hand up high while the other held up a walnut.

“Come Sarah! Come Lydia!” Sarah fearlessly called next, following her big sisters actions.

“You named them after yourselves?” Dominic asked as the red macaw and the large, bright blue parrot flew down to perch on Sarah’s glove. She quickly gave them each a walnut, and reached out to stroke their heads.

“Amelia is the bluish- purple one here,” Sarah explained, “They do not know their names yet. Lydia is the red one, and Sarah is the green one. You’re the black one.”

“Sister thought it was most suitable,” Lydia stated as the large green parrot landed on her glove.

Just then, a shadow passed over from above, and Dominic looked up to see the large black bird swoop down from its perch. Its silver eyes flashed at him as it landed gracefully on Amelia’s gloved hand, and Dominic felt something stir in his heart.

“You handsome,” Amelia cooed to the massive bird.

The thing daintily took the walnut from Amelia’s other hand in its large, powerful beak, and the sound of the nut cracking filled the air. Dominic watched, fascinated as it used its long talons to pick the meat from the shell and eat it.

The bird was large and intimidating, and yet it seemed so gentle. It let out a strange purring sound as it finished eating the nut, and then, to Dominic’s amazement, it walked up Amelia’s arm. Worry laced through him as he saw those sharp talons move from the protective glove to the fabric of Amelia’s dress. He could see how easy it would be for it to rip through the silk and shred his wife’s arm.

But Amelia stayed calm and unbothered as she whispered words of praise to the large bird until it reached her shoulder. When it did so, the bird nuzzled its head to Amelia’s and made that strange purring sound again.

“I thought you said that these birds were not yet tamed?” He asked, taking a cautionary step toward her.

“They are not,” Amelia replied, turning her gaze toward him. A small, mischievous smile graced her lips.

“But I discovered I am quite good at calming wild beasts.”