Page 45 of Duke with a Lie (Wicked Dukes Society #4)

ONE MONTH LATER

R hiannon awaited her husband in her new bedroom at Richford House, wearing nothing more than a sinfully revealing night rail she had chosen with Aubrey in mind, her hair unbound and flowing freely down her back.

It was the night she had been awaiting for the last arduous month whilst Mater had plotted and planned her wedding with the same devoted joy she showed her ferns, shells, and taxidermy.

The latter had proven rather disconcerting.

Rhiannon was still bemused by her mother’s attempts to show both herself and her brother at least as much attention as Mater paid her collections.

It was heartening, however, as was Mater’s effort to get to know Aubrey despite her initial concern over the unusual circumstances that had brought Rhiannon and Aubrey together.

Smiling to herself, Rhiannon cradled the slight swell of her belly.

She and Aubrey planned to retire to Villiers House well before her lying-in so that they wouldn’t cause any undue gossip when the babe arrived.

Mater had offered to accompany them, wishing to dote over her grandbaby.

Just as long as she could bring her fern collection with her.

A light tap at the door adjoining her chamber to Aubrey’s interrupted Rhiannon’s musings then.

“Come,” she called, eager to have him all to herself after the bustle of the day. First, there had been the wedding, followed by a wedding breakfast that had gone on for hours until she and Aubrey had finally escaped.

Now, their obligations were at last at an end. There was no one but the two of them.

The door opened, and Aubrey came to her, wearing a dark silk banyan and looking so handsome it was all she could do not to throw herself directly into his arms. His emerald stare traveled over her hungrily, and her nipples went instantly stiff beneath the cool silk of her gown.

“My God, minx,” he murmured, his voice awed. “The goddess of dawn cannot hold a candle to you. You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”

“Thank you.” She smiled at him, love for him bursting in her heart. “You are the most handsome groom as well, to be certain.”

He stopped before her, taking her hands in his and bringing them to his lips to press reverent kisses on her knuckles. “If I’m dreaming, please don’t wake me.”

“It feels a bit like a dream, doesn’t it? The last month has been an eternity.”

“Three lifetimes,” he said easily. “I couldn’t wait to have you here with me, where you belong.” He released her hands and gently caressed her stomach. “Where you both belong.”

Warmth spread through her at his touch.

“I felt the same.”

“How is our little bean?” he asked.

“Quite well, I’m sure.” It was yet too soon for her to detect any movement of the babe.

“And how are you, my love? You’re not feeling ill, are you? If you would prefer it, I can leave you to rest.”

She grasped his lapel, holding him to her. “You are not going anywhere, husband.”

“As my duchess wishes.” He grinned down at her. “Besides, I’ve seen the damage she can do with a fire poker. I have no wish to be bludgeoned on my wedding night.”

His beautiful face had thankfully healed from the day Rhys had pummeled him for ruining her, and in time for their nuptials. She didn’t regret hitting her brother with the fire poker either. She would do it again in a moment.

“I’m not nearly as bloodthirsty as my brother,” she teased.

“No more talk of Whit just now, if you please,” Aubrey returned lightly. “I’d hate to have my cock wilt before I can even make use of it.”

Rhiannon laughed. “Fair enough. I have rather a lot of plans for your cock this evening.”

He groaned and kissed her. “Wicked darling. This is but one of many reasons why I love you so.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are the other reasons?”

Aubrey grinned down at her. “Your intelligence, your bravado, that stubborn streak of yours, your determination, your kind heart, the way you love me even when I don’t deserve it…”

“But you do deserve it,” she protested. “You make me so very happy, my love.”

“Ah, but I could make you happier, I think,” he teased, his lips dancing lightly over hers.

“Mmm,” she hummed as his hand found her breast, his thumb rubbing unerringly over the peak. “Perhaps you should show me how.”

“With great pleasure. But you’re going to have to get naked first, darling.”

Feeling wicked, Rhiannon stepped back and grabbed handfuls of silk before pulling her nightgown over her head and tossing it to the floor.

“Already making a mess of your new bedroom, duchess?” he asked with mock severity even as he drew her near, his hands traveling over her bared skin. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to punish you.”

Rhiannon found the buttons on his banyan and began working them free of their moorings. She quickly grew impatient and began tearing at them. A few rolled to the Axminster.

“More mess,” she said breathlessly. “Perhaps you ought to tie me to the bed.”

“Fuck,” he growled. “You make me wild for you, woman.”

And then he clawed off his banyan the rest of the way before taking her up in his arms and carrying her across the room. He laid her gently on the mattress, his rigid cock a temptation she couldn’t resist stroking. He was hot and thick in her hand, a bead of moisture seeping from the slit.

He made a low sound of approval, allowing her to explore him.

But that wasn’t sufficient for Rhiannon. They had spent the last month apart, and she was ravenous for him. Her delicate condition had left her in a state of perpetual yearning.

“Lie down on the bed,” she urged him, changing her mind about what she wanted.

“Minx,” he protested.

She gave him a meaningful look. “Do it.”

He growled and did as she commanded, arranging himself on the center of her bed. She moved to him on hands and knees, between his legs.

“You don’t need to,” he murmured.

“Oh yes,” she returned, kissing the tip of his cock. “I do.”

Tentatively, she took him into her mouth, the salty taste of him on her tongue.

“Just like that, love,” he praised. “Suck me.”

His low words spurred an answering ache between her thighs.

She was already wet for him, desperate. Tending to him like this only served to heighten her need.

She took him deeper, hollowing out her cheeks as she did as he directed, sucking and licking as he moaned beneath her, his hips pumping.

She was lost in him, loving everything about this new intimacy, from the sounds he made to the way his body moved restlessly beneath her.

“Harder,” he urged, his voice thick with desire. “Take me down your throat if you can.”

She did what he asked, taking him deep, as far as she could until tears stung her eyes and she feared she would gag.

“Fuck yes,” he groaned. “You look so beautiful, your gorgeous mouth full of my cock.”

She moaned and continued, her saliva making her lips and chin wet, his cock glistening in the lamplight as she thoroughly licked and sucked him. It was the most potent aphrodisiac, this powerful man in her mouth. She was giving him pleasure as he had done for her, and she loved it.

But just when she thought she had him at the edge of losing his control, he gently moved her away.

“Enough. I want to spend in your pretty pussy first, and if you carry on, I’ll never make it.”

“But I wanted you to spend in my mouth,” she protested, wondering if such a thing were possible.

He groaned again. “Next time, my darling.”

So it was, then. Rhiannon smiled, thinking she would like that very much indeed. How good it was to be married at last. To be free to be with him in every way.

Aubrey helped to arrange her so that she was astride him, and together, they guided his cock to her soaked entrance.

She sank down on him as he thrust upward, and they met each other in the middle, finding a rhythm that had them both hurtling toward bliss in no time.

Aubrey took her nipple into his mouth as he fucked her, and she came helplessly all over his cock, a rush of wetness bursting from her as stars exploded before her eyes.

He cried out her name and filled her with his seed.

In the aftermath of their mutual release, she collapsed atop his chest, listening to his heart hammering fast, matching her own. He sifted a hand tenderly through her hair and kissed her crown.

“I love you, Aubrey,” she said, thinking of the miracle they shared.

The miracle of love, of the new life within her. The miracle of how they had found each other, two souls who made each other whole. The miracle of how, even though they had been torn apart and all had seemingly been lost, they had found their way back again.

And here they were, husband and wife.

Her heart was so happy.

“I love you too, minx,” he said, his cock already beginning to stir within her again. “I’ll always be your grasshopper.”

She smiled and kissed his chest, teasing them both by moving up and down on him ever so slightly, testing the waters. “And I’ll be your goddess of the dawn.”

“Again?” he asked with great interest as he thickened within her.

She sat up and met his gaze, smiling, feeling thoroughly wicked and utterly wonderful. “Again, darling.”

And they made love slowly and thoroughly a second time before they fell into a deep and sated sleep, tangled in each other’s arms.

Thank you so very much for reading Duke with a Lie ! I hope you adored Rhiannon and Aubrey’s rather scorching path to happily ever after as much as I loved writing it. Brother’s best friend is one of my favorite tropes.

More Wicked Dukes are preparing to fall. For a sneak peek at the Duke of Riverdale and his mysterious duchess (Lady Blue, is that you?) do read on for an excerpt of Duke with a Duchess .