Page 8 of Master of Games (The Duke Fraternity #4)

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tabbie woke to the feel of Ironheart’s body wrapped around hers.

She still wasn’t certain how he’d convinced her this was a good idea. But a night of hardly sleeping had left her exhausted, and sharing so much of her past had drained what little energy she’d had left.

And so when he’d tugged her toward the bed, she’d let him, knowing that if she’d gone to hers, she’d only lay awake wondering how he fared.

She’d slept so deeply in his arms, she had no idea how much time had passed.

“You’re awake,” he rumbled behind her.

“How long have we been asleep?” she asked, swiping a hand over her face.

“All of the afternoon and some of the evening,” he answered.

She tried to shift away from him, but his injured arm twitched on top of her and she stilled again. “Have you been awake long?”

“A bit.” And then he tightened his good arm around her, further trapping her in the crook of his body.

His lips danced over the back of her neck in a series of trailing kisses that tickled in a way that made her tingly and breathless. “Caden,” she chastised, though her attempt to get away was rather feeble.

“Hold still and let me taste you.”

She gasped, looking over her shoulder at him. “That is so…” She trailed off, searching for the right word. Dirty? Delicious?

“A man knows he has the right woman in his arms when she smells right. Tastes good.”

Her mouth fell open. “I thought attraction was about how one looks.”

“It’s far more than that…” His teeth grazed her skin, causing her to shiver. “It’s the way a person moves. How they act. How they feel…”

He rolled on his back, pulling her with him so that she settled on top of him, her back to his chest, her legs falling on either side of his. “What are you doing?”

“Exploring,” he rumbled in her ear. “I want to know how you feel.”

“This is what I get for napping with a rake.” But she did little to stop him as his hand slid down her torso and over her hip. Being touched felt so good. Better than she’d imagined.

He chuckled in her ear. “Indeed.” And then his hand slid to the inside of her thigh, sliding back up to cup her most intimate area between her legs.

She gasped, which turned into a moan as he pressed on the spot at the center of her aching. “Oh.”

“Turn over, Tabbie,” he growled in her ear.

She didn’t even bother to question him, she was too lost in what he was doing to her body. Quickly, she did as he commanded, her skirts tangling about her legs as she settled back on him chest to chest.

Her aching sex settled on the ridge in his breeches and she moaned at the shock of sensation that moved like lightening through her.

“Kiss me, kitten.”

She kissed a man once, a boy really, when she was seventeen on the cusp of coming out in society. It had been sweet and fun until it had gotten uncomfortable in the amorous reaction he had.

But as she dropped her mouth to Caden’s, the only words that ricocheted in her mind were that she was lit from within, her entire body more alive than it had ever been.

He slid her lips open, his tongue tangling with hers even as he used his one hand to press their hips closer together.

She cried out, the sound muffled by his mouth as her body gave the most delicious pulse.

“Caden,” she half sobbed as she thread her hands into the dark blond strands of his hair. “Oh God. Caden.”

“Rub yourself against me sweetheart. Take what you desire.” And then he dove deep into the kiss once again.

She kissed him back with an explosion of passion she didn’t even know she had. But in this moment, she never felt more connected, more alive.

And then as he pushed up against her, rubbing her exactly where she needed it, she cried out, breaking apart in the best way she could ever imagine.

* * *

Caden looked up at the woman whose face was twisted with the exquisite pleasure she’d just experienced.

She was just as he’d imagined in his wildest dreams. A woman filled with deep, explosive passion, just waiting to be awoken.

This experience had only been a taste. All their clothes on, he’d hardly done more than kiss her. But her reaction had been instant. Strong.

Wild and wanton, she’d fallen into him with an abandon he’d never imagined.

Which is why he shouldn’t have been surprised when she reached between their bodies. “Does it work the same for you?”

“I have very different parts,” he answered, even as her hand slid down the length of his shaft, straining against his breeches. “As you might remember from yesterday’s bath.”

He pushed into her touch. “But if you touch me like that, just like you, I will receive my satisfaction.”

He didn’t need to say more. Her hand slid up and down his stiff rod, testing, teasing, until she seemed to understand exactly how to please him.

Intelligent women always made the best lovers. And Tabbie was not only smart as hell, she was eager.

He flexed his hips again, wishing he could get more, take off his breeches, but this was enough. For so many reasons, he’d keep his clothes on.

He could feel his pleasure building, her small hand moving over him with increasing confidence as his breath came out in short gasps, his body so tight, he knew he’d break soon.

“Tabbie, luv, just like that,” he pushed out.

And then she leaned over him, claiming his mouth in the kind of passionate kiss that sent sparks lighting off behind his closed eyelids. It was the push his body needed to send him over the edge, his seed spilling inside his clothes.

He groaned out his finish, his hand coming over Tabbie’s to keep her connection to his body. Even with this satisfaction, he knew he wanted more from her.

This was just the first taste.

She looked down at him, their eyes locked together, hers wide with her surprise. “That was…”

“Exceptional.”

Her brows lifted. “You can’t mean it.”

“I do.” He uncovered her hand to wrap his arm around her waist to pull her closer.

He wished he had the use of his other arm, but he didn’t, so he gave her a tender kiss instead.

Because along with her strength, his Tabbie was insecure, and she’d need a great deal of reassurance from him that she was just as beautiful as any other woman.

More so, he thought, but it was going to take some time for her to believe his words.

He'd have to use all the kindness and a little patience, and he was certain he’d be able to accomplish the task. Every moment of it promised a great deal of fun.

“Caden.”

He splayed his hand out on her back. “You are special, Tabbie. In every way. Don’t forget that.”

She softly shook her head and then pushed up and off him. Between the injury and the recent orgasm, he couldn’t quite hold her to him as she climbed off the bed, crossing the room. “Where are you going?”

“I’m hungry. You?”

He slowly pushed himself up. “Are we eating together?”

“If you’d like.”

“In that case, I’m famished.” Food would certainly help him build his strength.

She pulled the bell cord, a servant appearing a few moments later. She requested a tray, and then closed the door, moving to stoke the fire.

He knew when he was being ignored, but he let the silence settle around them. She’d just experienced something that was new and unexpected.

The tray arrived laden with food, and a bottle of wine sat open on the tray as well.

“Do you always have wine with dinner?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Sometimes,” she turned to him. “Is it a problem that they’ve added it to the tray? I know you’ve given it up. I can send it back.”

“No, not a problem at all.” Alcohol had ceased calling to him. “But you do have to promise that you’ll kiss me with wine on your lips. That would be an experience.”

Even in the darkening room, he saw color flame in her cheeks. “Caden.”

“You say my name with so much chastisement, but I have to confess, I quite enjoy it.”

Her jaw dropped. “What does that mean?”

“I didn’t have parents who loved me all that much. Perhaps exasperation is as close as I got to real affection.”

“I know what you told me about your father, but your mother…”

“She didn’t hate me like he did,” he answered, slowly pushing himself up from the bed. “But she was busy carrying on her affairs, and she had the real heir to raise when she wasn’t busy with a lover.”

“Wait. Heir? But you’re…” She stepped up to him, reaching for his hand, tension pulling at the corners of her eyes.

“My older brother was the one person I liked in this world who liked me back. He died when I was fifteen, he was racing his Phaeton when he crashed and died instantly.”

Her free hand flew to her mouth. He hadn’t talked about Christian in so long. “I wasn’t there to try and save him. And the disappointment my father felt that I’d take over the dukedom was known far and wide.”

She squeezed his hand. “I see.”

She didn’t. Not entirely. But his biggest weakness was a secret he’d share as they moved deeper into their relationship.

His deformities were held on the inside, but she might find them repulsive nonetheless.

Whether she ultimately rejected him, he couldn’t say. But he knew one thing for certain, after what she’d given him, a second chance at life, he’d help her heal.