Page 10 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)

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A few hours later, Edwin came back into the suite where he’d left her.

In the interim, he’d summoned his staff back to Wildflower Cottage, told them his former wife was in for a visit so they could discuss Olivia’s future, that he didn’t know how long they would both be in residence, and that there would undoubtedly be arguments overheard and to not be panicked when voices were raised.

And to the cook, he told her they’d require dinner tonight, in another few hours, in fact.

By and large, the staff were quite happy to be in service again, and if he were honest with himself, he looked forward to spending some time away from London. If it would help to mend fences with Charlotte, even better.

After a peremptory knock on the door, he went into the room, and with a start, he realized his nerves were crawling, for after that first coupling, he wanted more from her and with her.

Being with her in a physical way had unleashed a need he’d thought long buried.

To say nothing of the fact that having her with him again had the power to send his existence reeling.

But he had to stay unaffected as much as he could, for they had to talk about things, air out emotions and untangle the lies.

He wanted to win those wagers from the men at the club, merely to pad his bank account, because when he won Charlotte back, he intended to keep her in style this time ‘round.

Give her everything he never could before.

Everything she deserved.

“Charlotte?”

She stood at one of the windows while wrapped in one of the sheets from the bed. “Oh, so you’re back. Interested in taking something else from me?”

One corner of his mouth tipped upward in a grin, for she hadn’t turned to face him, and she’d apparently recovered her saucy attitude.

It had been one of the first things to snag his attention years ago.

“Do you refer to your nightgown? Because that is in the dressing room, a little worse for wear, but still mostly intact.” After closing the door, he slowly prowled toward her.

“Or are you talking about that sweet fuck we shared not long ago?”

“Must you use such vulgarity?”

“I must, my lady, since I’m not part of the beau monde , you see, and neither am I a gentleman.

Your parents used to tell me that often enough.

” And it had wormed into his soul, made him feel that he wasn’t suited for her.

He put his hands on her bare shoulders, tugged at the sheet until it began to slide down her body. “You could have escaped.”

She shrugged, which helped the sheet a bit. “What is the point of that? You’d only come after me again, no matter where I went.”

“How do you know that?”

“For whatever reason, you’re quite determined to have my company.” Then she turned, but anger burned in her eyes. “Go away, Edwin. You broke my trust today.”

“Yet you enjoyed what we did together.” He roved his gaze at the edge of the sheet that clung to her moderately sized breasts. If she took a deep breath, it would completely fall.

“That is beside the point.” She frowned. “You took what wasn’t yours.”

“Except, it is. You are mine. Always have been. We spoke vows.” No one could tell him anything differently.

“They ended with the divorce.”

“Which you let your father dictate without talking to me.” Of course, everything circled back to that.

“If you are that randy, you could have slaked your need with any woman.”

Fair point. “None of them are you.” That was perhaps the baldest truth he’d ever uttered. If she wanted brass tacks, he’d give her at least that.

Surprise danced through her expression. “I don’t appreciate your rampant possessiveness.”

“Too damned bad. I tried being cordial before, but you still ignored me, so now I’m this way.” Would it make a difference?

A huff of exasperation escaped her as she flicked her gaze up and down his person. “At least you put on a shirt and boots.”

“I had meetings with the servants this afternoon.”

“It’s better than what I’ve been forced to wear.” She gestured at the sheet. “You took my nightgown.”

“Not far. Had you bothered to check, it’s in the dressing room.”

“Don’t be an arse.” Then her expression softened, very slightly. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry for what happened five years ago. You and I handled our union like it was rubbish.”

“We did.” He gawked at her, for he hadn’t expected an apology.

“Thank you.” To cover his confusion, Edwin spun her about so that she faced the window once more.

This time, the sheet fell to the floor with a whisper.

“However, you have been quite naughty being away from me and keeping our daughter from me.”

“But I—”

“Hands on the windowsill, my lady, and bend slightly at the waist. It’s time for you to accept your punishment.” Anticipation rippled over his skin. This was something they both had looked forward to when they’d been married, like a delicious secret kept from the ton .

When she glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes were rounded with anticipation. “Surely, you can’t mean to discipline me.”

“Oh, but I do, and I will.” As his confidence surged along with his ego, he moved into position by standing at her side.

“It’s quite needed, especially since you tattled about me to your father, which ultimately took you away from me.

” While he spoke and she did as he asked, he wrapped his left arm about her waist and with his right, he smacked one of her buttocks with his palm.

The sharp sound of flesh meeting flesh was quite satisfying.

A gasp from her followed. Charlotte’s knuckles turned white as she grasped the windowsill. “Oh, God.”

Tiny tingles of victory twisted through his gut. Interest shivered down his shaft when he spied the blush in her cheeks and on her arse. Spanking her always enhanced desire for them both. “You are quite the willful woman these days.” This time, he brought his palm down on her other buttock.

An almost inaudible moan escaped her. “Perhaps I have merely matured.”

“I would tend to agree, except you are letting Danville court you.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. “Terrible choice, that. Horrid judgment on your part.”

She snorted. “I married you, and you are much worse, I’ll wager, and at least he has a title.”

Hot annoyance spiked through his chest, for he suspected she’d only said that to needle him further.

“Which, in your eyes, makes him better than me?” Again, he brought his palm down on her buttock, and when she made a soft sound of pleasure in her throat and her eyes fluttered briefly closed, he gritted his teeth against the painful and insistent press of his erection at the front of his breeches.

“Do I honestly need to answer that question for you?”

The thought that she’d entertained his enemy in her bed brought him teetering on the edge of jealousy and anger.

With a rougher grip than he’d intended, he yanked her around to face him.

“On your knees. You can employ your smart mouth by pleasuring me.” He met her flashing eyes with a slight grin, for they both knew she adored teasing him in such a manner.

Or at least she had years ago.

“ You haven’t matured over the years, I see,” she said as she kneeled before him. “Somewhat disappointing.”

“Yet which one of us is on their knees?” God, he was a prick, but unfamiliar emotions threatened to tear him apart. He wasn’t used to that, and if he wanted to win her back, he’d have to go through them.

“I am only doing this because I enjoy it, not because you ordered it. Or I might just bite your shaft and squeeze your stones until you yelp. Shall we find out which way I’ll decide?

” With fingers that trembled and a flush in her cheeks, Charlotte slowly worked each button from its hole of his frontfalls and then encouraged the placket down.

When his hardened shaft sprang out, she smiled.

“Mmm, I’d forgotten how lovely and large you are. ”

“Yet I fucked you earlier with this same shaft.”

“I wasn’t in my right mind, and it had been quite some time since I was last bedded.”

Did that mean she hadn’t shared that intimacy with Danville? Curious, Edwin remained as still as he could. “Are you still pleased with that discovery?” Vain? Perhaps, but he wanted to know.

“Oh, yes.” With a continuation of the soft smile, she traced a fingertip along the side of his member. “Shall I proceed?”

The light touch paired with her tart mouth and inquisitive nature made her irresistible. “God, yes.” For a few seconds, he watched her through the gloomy illumination from the rain.

“We have certainly gotten up to greater scandal than this, hmm?” She wrapped her hand about his stiffened length, but it was her words that made him more randy than he’d been in a while. “Not exactly proper but all the more thrilling.”

“Yes, well, we did rather excel at torturing each other carnally.”

“Oh, indeed. Still do, apparently.” Then she held him more firmly and drew her curled fingers up and down his shaft.

Bloody hell. He sucked in a sharp breath, for her strokes and caresses had awareness and need shivering down his spine. At this rate, he wouldn’t survive.

“No popping off early, but let’s see how long you can withstand the torment.

” Soon she was stroking his flesh, and each pass reminded him of all the times they’d been together over the years.

Of how that connection had never failed even if other areas of their relationship did.

Up and down her fingers went, and at the tip, she gently twisted her wrist and flexed her fingers that had heated reaction streaking through his member and into his stones.

Just when he suggested she stop, the cheeky woman cupped them in her other hand, squeezed them with a firm insistence that had his eyes ready to cross. “Should I go further?” she breathed as she glanced up at him with shining eyes.

“Yes,” he managed to say through a tight throat.