Page 47 of Dukes All Night Long

W hen she didn’t arrive at Club Knight for the masquerade ball, Charlotte half expected Nathaniel to send a note, flowers, or something in the days that followed.

Now, another sennight had gone by, and the night of the ball was upon them again; she didn’t believe she could stay away this time.

The past few days had been torturous for her, but she had no one to blame but herself.

She wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

She stood before the looking glass as Lucy put the finishing touches on her costume for that night.

Tonight, she dressed as a princess, wearing a regal, royal blue and gold ball gown, with a matching cloak.

Her hair was long and loose, topped with a tiara.

Her gold mask was adorned with fake sapphire jewels.

She looked alluring and she knew it. But would Nathaniel think so?

With bees buzzing in her belly and her legs trembling, she exited her townhouse, climbed into her carriage, and tried to calm down during the ride across town to the club.

When she arrived, she was greeted by the same doorman she had met on her two previous visits. “Card.”

As with the other two times she had visited, he inspected the card and returned it. He opened the door, and she was welcomed by a butler who took her cloak. “All masquerade rules apply tonight.”

“Thank you.” Her voice quivered along with the rest of her body.

As she eased her way into the ballroom, her eyes squinted in the dark, trying to find Nathaniel.

When she couldn’t see him from that vantage point, she strolled around the ballroom, observing each gentleman dancing or standing and socializing.

Her heart sank when her eyes couldn’t make contact with him.

Sighing, she took a glass of wine from a footman’s tray and sat down on the same settee as the other night.

As with the other night, she hoped a note would be forthcoming.

Time ticked by, and she stood, her eyes roaming the room in the hope of spotting him.

After an hour or so, two glasses of wine, and six dance offers she politely refused, she finally made her way to his study.

Her stomach was knotted up tight. She needed to know if he was here, avoiding her, or if he wasn’t in residence.

As she walked down the hall where the card and billiard rooms were, she glanced inside each room quickly, disappointed when she didn’t see him.

Once she reached his closed study door, she knocked several times and tried the handle.

It was locked. She took a moment, leaning against the wall to fight the tears pooling in her eyes and the ache in her chest.

“Mrs. Beauchamp,” said the man she’d been searching for all evening. She hadn’t even heard him approach.

She stayed against the wall for support and turned her head toward him. “Your Grace.”

He moved to stand exceptionally close to her; she felt his breath brush against her lips, and she shivered in a good way.

“What brings you to Club Knight, my dear?”

You. You’re all I think about. “It was time.”

He positioned his hand under her chin and compelled her to meet his dark gaze. “Time for what?”

“Time for us.” There, she’d admitted it. She wanted him and didn’t want to wait another day.

“You must be very certain about your decision to move forward. I was mistaken about you once before and would hate to be wrong again.”

Her lips trembled, and she wet them with her lips. “I panicked last week.”

“You have nothing to panic about regarding me. I am yours to command.” He stepped back and bowed. When he straightened, he extended his hand. “Will you come with me?”

She took his large, warm hand in hers and whispered, “Yes.”

They walked upstairs and entered the upper-floor bedroom, the same space where he had taken her the first night they met. She hesitated for a moment, and he noticed it immediately.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I suddenly feel uncomfortable being where you take women to bed.”

“Don’t be,” he said as he closed and locked the door, then lit several candles, brightening the room, which she thought odd. “I have never entertained any lady in this room. This is the room I sometimes sleep in when I’m too tired after a long night to go home.”

“I appreciate you being honest with me.”

“I always try to speak the truth.”

“Thank you.” He now stood before her, a serious expression on his face. At least she believed it was, since she could see nothing but his mouth and chin. The mask he wore tonight covered up both sides of his face.

He took her hands in his. “There is something I need you to see before we share a bed again. Because I want to be perfectly clear that once I bed you this second time, I expect us to marry.”

Her throat made a sound much like a gasp, and she quickly said, “Forgive me. That was rude. Though to be honest, I couldn’t have stopped the sound even if I’d wanted to. I’m just surprised that you want to marry me without getting to know me better.” She squeezed his hands. “You want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

It was his turn to groan. “Because you make me feel things I’ve never felt before, not before my injury or after.

When I’m not with you, you are all I think about.

I realize we hardly know each other, but inside here,” he took one of his hands from hers and covered his heart, then touched his head, “I know you inside my heart and mind. It’s as if Hugh knew it and threw us together.

I can’t explain how two strangers can know each other, but we do.

” He paused and looked right into her eyes.

“I hope it really is we and not just...”

“It is,” she interjected. “I felt the same way about you from the moment you spoke to me the first night I came here. Your voice wrapped around me and made me feel safe and at home.”

“Before you agree to marry me, you need to see what I look like.”

*

Nathaniel stood, his feet glued to the floor, as a shudder coursed through him. Perhaps he was making a mistake? She need never witness his hideous face.

He could wear his mask whenever they were together. However, deep down, he knew he couldn’t live like that. He didn’t want to hide any part of himself from her.

“Can I remove your mask?” she asked as her fingers gently touched the sides of it.

He cleared his throat and said, “Yes. But I warn you, it’s not a pretty sight.”

“Let me decide for myself.” Her fingers lifted the mask slowly until it finally slid through his hair and landed on the floor behind him.

Then she removed her own mask. Her eyes fixed on his face, her facial expression neutral; she didn’t so much as wince or breathe.

His heart pounded against his chest, feeling as if it might burst. Her fingers traced the scars on his cheek, and he so wished he could feel her touch.

“Does this hurt?”

“It’s not painful any longer, but it is sensitive.”

Her fingers trailed up near his eye and asked, “Can I remove the patch?”

He swallowed loudly. “Yes.”

“Can you see out of it?”

“Yes.”

With the soft touch of a feather, she removed the eye patch.

“It’s a miracle you can see out of this eye.

” Her fingers continued to his forehead and stopped at his hairline.

Most of his hair had been singed off, but it had grown back.

Fortunately for him, the skin on top of his head wasn’t damaged, nor were his ears. Miracles did happen.

When she stood on the tips of her toes and pressed kisses onto his damaged face, tears dripped down his cheeks, which she wiped away. “You are beautiful. Both sides of your face are precious to me.”

“There’s more.”

Her brows rose, “There is?”

He stepped back and removed all his clothing while she stood and took him in. “Well?”

“As I expected. A fine specimen of a gentleman.” As she spoke, she proceeded to undress. “Muscular arms, wide chest, narrow waist, and large thighs. You are perfect for me in every way.”

Nathaniel’s legs almost gave out. He had imagined spending his life alone until his death.

He had never believed another could look upon him and feel anything but repulsion.

He truly believed now that Hugh had sent her to him from beyond the grave.

How else could this be explained? He closed his eyes.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my friend.

When his eyes slowly opened, he took in every inch of her naked form, causing his member to swell. “I’m going to make love to you now, Charlotte. Do you have any objections?”

Her musical laughter echoed through the small room. “None,” she breathed out as she lay on the bed.

Before he joined her, he snuffed out all but one candle.

Even though she’d seen every inch of him, he preferred to make love to her in the closest thing to darkness.

The bed dipped as it took his weight. He covered her with his body and sighed with relief as he took her mouth in a demanding kiss with no barrier between them.

No mask, no clothes, and no more secrets.

Her hands fisted in his hair as her mouth devoured him.

Breaking the kiss, his chest rising and falling with each gasp, he placed feather-light kisses down her neck and chest until he took her pebbled nipple into his mouth and sucked hard, while his other hand traveled down her side to the juncture between her thighs.

He could still remember how she tasted. But right now, it was more about their bodies joining as one. His fingers found her curls wet and her channel slick and ready for him. He positioned his cock at her entrance and entered her with teasing slowness.

“Nathaniel,” she cried out, her hands cupping his arse. “You torture me.”

He chuckled and thrust deep inside her warm heat and nearly climaxed. He had to pause and breathe to fight it. “Your body welcomes me with warm tightness.”

Her legs wrapped around his hips, pulling him in deeper when he didn’t think it was possible. “Keep going.”

And so he did, smiling at the sound of their bodies coming together, and their moans creating a melody in the darkness of the room.

When he was close, he took her lips and kissed her with everything he had inside.

When they climaxed simultaneously, the room exploded, and he saw shooting stars dancing on the walls and ceiling.

He rolled onto his side, taking Charlotte with him.

She felt perfect as his body curled around her from behind.

The softness of her skin, the lavender scent of her hair, and the overall way she felt in his arms made him experience contentment and ease.

It was something he hadn’t felt in forever, and he owed it all to her.

She saw him—the real him—made him feel whole again, not half the man that he usually was.

Inhaling, he said, his voice vibrating, “Now that you have seen the monster that I am, will you marry me?” He tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head.

“I know I’m not worthy of you, but I promise to cherish you and love you until the end of my days.

There is no one besides you who can be my match, my duchess, the mother of my heirs. ”

*

Being wrapped within Nathaniel’s arms, her body satiated and content, had a smile on her lips.

She could not imagine being with anyone else after the first night they met and shared intimacy.

This man, this wounded, beautiful man with the heart of gold, wanted to marry her, to love her and make her his duchess.

He expressed that he wasn’t worthy of her, that he looked monstrous, which wasn’t true at all.

His scars only made him more interesting, and they were worthy of each other.

Their initial connection proved that. She inhaled, spun around so she faced him.

Cupping his face in her hands, she kissed his lips.

“It will be an honor to marry you. And know that I will also love and cherish you until the end of my time. I pray we are blessed with sons who are like their father. Strong, loyal, and handsome as the devil.”

He kissed her lips. “I hope we have at least one daughter who takes after you.” He paused and chuckled. “Although, if we do have a daughter, I imagine I’ll be chasing the young bucks away with my sword, protecting her reputation.”

Charlotte pushed his chest with her hands, making him lie on his back, and she straddled him. “Perhaps we should try to make a baby tonight.” Her hand traveled between their bodies and cupped him, causing him to moan.

“Yes. I want that, and tomorrow I’m getting a special license and marrying you.”

“Do you promise?” She leaned down and nipped his bottom lip.

“With all my heart.”

The End