Page 21 of Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)

Chapter Twelve

EARLY

I sprawled across Duke’s broad chest in our bed. “I can’t believe I missed Chance’s first day of rehearsal. Was he nervous? Did he do well? Tell me everything.”

“He bombed the first few takes, stumbling over his lines with Rook.” Duke’s fingers carded through my hair.

“Poor thing. Stage fright?”

“More like imposter syndrome. But Rook pulled him aside and gave him some good advice.” Duke’s arm tightened around me. “Then Chance got his confidence back and nailed it. The chemistry between them was intense.”

I perked up at the edge in his voice. “Oh? Define intense.”

“You know how movie scenes are. Lots of closeness. ”

“Mm-hmm.” I hid my smile against his skin. “And that bothered you?”

“What? No.” Duke shifted beneath me. “I’m saying the kid’s got talent once he gets out of his head.”

“The kid , huh?” I traced a finger down his sternum. “Funny how you keep calling him that when we both know you’re attracted to him.”

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

I pressed a kiss to his collarbone. “It’s okay to want him. I certainly do.”

“Wanting isn’t the issue.” Duke’s hand stilled in my hair. “He’s young. Famous. This isn’t like picking up someone at the bar for a night like we used to.”

“Maybe that’s why it would work.” I pushed up to look into his eyes. “He needs people who see him as more than just Chance Prince, the rock god. We could give him that.”

Duke grunted but said nothing further.

“Come on, hon. You sounded so proud as you described him nailing that scene today.”

He shrugged. “Because Chance worked hard and delivered. That’s all.”

“Mm-hmm. And cooking him that fancy dinner? That was simply standard customer service?”

“He needed to eat.”

I grinned. “And I suppose the way he flirts with you is?—”

“Exactly what rock stars do.” Duke’s tone may have been neutral, but I knew better. “They flirt with everyone. It’s part of their image.”

“But Chance is flirting because he’s genuinely interested in both of us.”

Duke grumbled with disapproval. “That doesn’t change the fact he’s twenty-two.”

“And?”

“And we’re thirty-six.”

“Are you worried about the age gap or that you’ll actually like him?”

Duke’s jaw tightened. “I’m concerned about a lot of things. His career, his public image, he’s probably never had an actual relationship, and the list goes on.”

“All the more reason to give this a chance.” I softened my voice. “He’s surrounded by people who either want something from him or handle him like he’s made of glass. But you? You treat him as a person.”

“That’s not special. It’s basic decency.”

“Not in his world.” I resumed tracing patterns on Duke’s chest. “You’ve heard his music. There’s so much longing and need for connection there. And the way he keeps coming back to our places, seeking us out…”

“He’s lonely,” Duke said.

I kissed his chest. “Exactly. And we could help with that. We could show him what it’s like to be truly cared for, to be safe enough to be himself.”

“Or we could completely fuck up his life.” Duke’s hand came up to card through my hair.

“What happens when the media finds out? When his fans camp outside our businesses? When the age gap becomes tabloid fodder? Besides, it’s supposed to be a casual fling with a hall pass.

You’re talking like you want to keep him for good. ”

“Can you blame me? He’s adorable.”

Duke was quiet for a long moment. “You really want this, don’t you?”

“I want to try.” I smiled. “And I think you do, too, even if you’re not ready to admit it yet.”

“Duchess.”

“All I’m saying is we could be good for him. It could be great for all of us, honestly.”

Duke sighed in defeat. “Fine, I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I’m asking.” I settled back against him, listening to his heartbeat, which was a little faster than normal. “Besides, imagine how hot it would be to hear that voice of his in person while we?—”

“Don’t push it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, hon.” I traced my finger along Duke’s jaw. “What if I invited Chance over for dinner?”

“Here? At our house?”

“Where else? The restaurant and café have too many people.” I walked my fingers up his chest. “Besides, it’d be more intimate here.”

Duke caught my hand. “I know what you’re doing. ”

I feigned innocence. “And what’s that?”

“You’re trying to orchestrate something.”

“Can you honestly tell me you don’t want to have a little fun with him?” I shifted to straddle his hips. “Because that’s not the impression I got from how you were talking about him earlier.”

Duke’s hands settled on my thighs, but he stayed quiet.

“That’s what I thought.” I leaned down, pressing soft kisses along his jaw. “Please let me invite him over. We’ll make it a casual dinner and conversation.”

“Nothing’s casual with you,” he pointed out as his hands slid up to my hips.

I nipped at his earlobe. “Are you saying you’re not attracted to him?”

Duke’s grip tightened. “You know I am.”

“Then say it.” I rolled my hips against him, letting him feel my growing arousal. “Tell me you want him.”

“Fuck,” Duke groaned. “Fine. Yes, I’m attracted to him. Happy?”

“Ecstatic.” I captured his mouth in a deep kiss. “We could have him right here, between us. Those pretty sounds he makes when he sings? Imagine what other noises we could draw out of him.”

I enjoyed watching the play of emotions on Duke’s rugged face. A storm of desire brewed behind his eyes as I ran my fingertips along the defined planes of his chest, mapping his contours with careful reverence.

“Still trying to convince me, Duchess?” His voice was low and gravelly.

“I don’t think you need much convincing.” I leaned in, kissing his broad chest, lingering over his collarbone.

He groaned. “Damn it, you’re not making this easy for me.”

“Because your body knows what it wants, even if your mind won’t accept it.”

“I hate it when you’re right.” He gritted his teeth as his hardness strained against me.

It was tough not to gloat. “Which makes it even more enjoyable.” My lips caressed his torso, trailing kisses down his flawless form. He groaned when I teased his nipples with the tip of my tongue, then lavished attention on his pecs.

“You’re killing me here.”

Kissing my way lower, I relished the intoxicating taste of his skin, stopping just above his waist. Every inch of him was a masterpiece under my lips. “Good,” I whispered against his taut muscles quivering beneath my touch. “That’s the idea.”

I might have been torturing him a little, but who could blame me when it was so much fun? When every twitch of his body was a victory, a reminder of the power I held over my mountain of a man?

It was fun to linger there, tormenting him with the possibility of what was to come next.

Hot, deliberate exhales ghosted over his skin, raising goose bumps in their wake.

The muscle in his jaw tightened as his fingers curled into the sheet, fighting his impulse to grab me and drag me where he wanted me.

“Always such a tease,” he rasped, his gaze burning into me.

“Guilty as charged.” I grinned as I let my words caress him. “But I know you love it.”

Duke’s dick was thick and long, already tipped with precum. I traced the curve of his erection with a featherlight touch. Gently stroking him, I savored the length and girth of him, loving how it jumped when I circled the sensitive head.

“Fuck,” he hissed, his hands knotting in the sheets, restraint evident with each clench of his jaw.

I flicked my tongue out to taste him, letting the heat and dampness of my mouth tease him from base to tip. The salt-sweet flavor of his precum made my erection throb with anticipation.

“Stop torturing me and put that mouth to work,” Duke growled.

As fun as it was to torture him, I was also trying to get him to agree to my plans. I let him slide in, my lips closing around the head.

“That’s it,” he sighed. “Drink me down.”

I lowered my head, taking him deeper, my tongue gliding along the sensitive underside where he was most responsive.

It never stopped thrilling me to turn Duke into a mess of stutters and demands.

Watching him lose all semblance of his steely composure was the ultimate high.

His vulnerability was a gift he gave only to me.

He gripped the sheets tighter, his broad shoulders shaking with the effort to stay still, to not thrust wildly into my willing mouth. I stroked the base of his cock with my hand, my tongue painting lazy circles around the head to tease him as I got him wet.

I let more of his length slide deeper, taking him down my throat, thanks to my nonexistent gag reflex. I hollowed my cheeks as I sucked with a moan.

He trembled, fighting to keep from giving in completely. Duke’s nature was to always be commanding, but in the dim light of the bedroom, with my mouth wrapped around his length, I was in full control. Here, he was utterly mine.

My erection ached with a need to be touched, but I stayed focused on making my husband come undone.

I sped up my rhythm, my hand keeping the pace as I sucked him harder, pulling every delicious sound out of him, never wanting to stop.

He was at my mercy, submitting to the pleasure I drew out of him.

When he reached out to entangle his fingers in my hair, I knew I was making progress.

The gentle tug against my scalp sent sparks of pleasure down my spine as he guided me, no longer able to resist taking part.

He thrust into my mouth as I kept his pace with my grip on his base, my tongue working him in tandem with my hand. It was obscene. Beautiful. Perfect.

“So good, Duchess,” he panted.

I worked him harder, faster, driven by the intoxicating power of reducing such a beast to trembling need with only my mouth and hands.

His hips jerked, thrusting once, then twice, before he released with a guttural cry, his cum painting my tongue and the back of my throat.

Satisfaction rippled across his face as he gave in to the throes of climax, and I continued working him through it, loving the way his dick pulsed against my lips, the taste of him explosive.

I licked him clean, savoring his salty essence before I crawled back up his body to kneel over him. My erection stood proud, flushed, and desperate for attention.

“Your turn, hon,” I murmured, stroking myself for some much-needed relief.

He smirked. “I thought you were supposed to be convincing me.”

I gave him a charming smile I knew he could never resist. “This is you rewarding me for doing such a good job.”

Duke’s gaze flickered from my lips to my cock, debating the most efficient means of breaking me apart. It delighted me to see how his restraint crumbled in the face of his desire to make me beg. His hunger was palpable, a living thing between us.

“Come here,” he whispered, gesturing for me to move closer.

I pressed my dick against his full lips, eager to bury myself in his wet warmth. He licked the bead of precum off it before he opened enough to let me slide my erection into his mouth.

My fingers curled against the headboard to steady myself, the wood creaking under my grip. His slow, deliberate teasing drove me wild with anticipation. I wanted to beg for more, but I wasn’t about to give in so easily. Pride kept my pleas behind gritted teeth.

But he wasn’t about to make it easy on me. He reached out and guided me to move deeper into him, letting me slide down his throat. I gasped at the tight, wet heat enveloping me as he made art out of every movement, using enough suction to draw a whimper from me.

Arousal flooded my senses when his tongue swirled over my tip, teasing the sensitive ridge with maddening precision. My hips jerked in response, pushing deeper into his heat. I groaned, unable to hold back the sound of pleasure that escaped my lips. “Fuck, your mouth was made for this.”

The headboard creaked when I gripped it harder as I fucked Duke’s mouth, knowing he could take it and wanted it as much as I did.

His hands trailed up my legs to grab my ass and force me deeper.

I got louder, especially when his nails dug into my ass to give me that bite of pain I loved, that perfect counterpoint to pleasure that made everything sharper, more intense.

Duke’s tongue swirled and danced, his sucking becoming more frenzied as he pushed me to my limits. I panted and moaned, my nails digging into the headboard as I rode his mouth with every ounce of my passion. Sweat beaded on my brow, my thighs trembling as I struggled to stay in control.

My eyes fluttered shut as I focused on the sensations, on the feel of him taking me deep, the heat of his mouth, the scrape of his stubble against my sensitive skin. It was too much, too good. My body was on fire, my need for release building until it was almost painful in its intensity.

His fingers dug into my thighs as he urged me on, his eyes locked onto mine, challenging me even as I neared my peak. He made me feel powerful, as if I were in control, but the truth was he owned me, possessed me as completely as I did him.

“Yes,” I cried out, my voice high and strained, breaking on the word. “Fuck yes!”

My balls tightened before my orgasm hit me like a shockwave as I shot down his throat. He milked me for every drop, swallowing around me with greedy enthusiasm. But he wasn’t finished yet. His tongue relentlessly worked me as he lapped up my cum, the overstimulation making me whimper and squirm .

I repositioned to bend down to kiss Duke, our mingled tastes bursting across my tongue as I deepened the kiss with demanding hunger.

He pulled back with a knowing smirk. “You like how we taste together, Duchess?”

“Always.” I nipped his bottom lip before sprawling on top of him, nuzzling his neck to breathe in the scent of sex and sweat and us . “Everything about you drives me wild.”

His strong arms wrapped around me. I snuggled close, savoring the solid warmth of him beneath me as his hands traced lazy patterns along my back. The quiet contentment of the moment washed over me, satisfaction humming through my veins like a gentle melody.

“You can invite Chance to dinner,” Duke murmured, his voice soft but certain.

“Really?”

“Against my better judgment, yes.” His fingers caressed me with love. “But nothing has to happen.”

Joy bubbled up inside me as I peppered his face with quick kisses. “You’re the best! I’ll ask him when he stops by Brewhaha tomorrow morning for coffee before heading to the set.” I snuggled back down on his chest, enjoying the warm glow of getting my way.