Page 34 of Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)

Chapter Twenty-One

EARLY

Duke’s shoulders slumped with defeat in a way they rarely did as he came home. The text he’d sent earlier had prepared me, but seeing the weight of it pulling him down made my chest ache. He wrapped me up in a hug, letting me feel how tense he was.

I rubbed his back. “Hey, hon. How’s Red doing?”

Duke’s arms tightened around me. “About as well as you’d expect. His dad’s stable, but Knox needs help running the family bar. Red’s packing up this weekend.”

“Poor thing,” I murmured, pulling back to look up at my husband. “And poor you.”

“I’m fine.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re a lot of things, but ‘fine’ isn’t one of them right now.”

A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. “I hate when you see through me. ”

“No, you don’t.” I took his hand and led him upstairs. “You love that you never have to explain yourself to me.”

“Duchess, I’m not really in the mood.”

“For once, that’s not what I’m doing,” I assured him, though I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “We both know you won’t feel better until you hold me.”

He followed me upstairs without further protest, his footsteps heavy on the stairs. In our bedroom, I turned to him and lifted off his shirt.

A hint of his humor returned. “You sure this isn’t for sex?”

“Positive,” I replied, tossing his shirt aside. “Although I reserve the right to change my mind if you suddenly perk up.”

I continued undressing him with care before shedding my own clothes, then taking his hand to lead him to bed.

“Lie down,” I instructed.

Duke complied, stretching out on his back as he got in under the covers.

I climbed in beside him, tucking myself against his side, my head on his chest and my arm draped across his stomach, my leg tangling with his.

The position was warm, familiar, and comforting to us both.

He wasn’t the only one sad about Red having to move back to Wintervale. I urged him, “Talk to me, hon. ”

He wrapped his arms around me with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Start with how you feel about Red leaving.”

He tightened his hold on me. “Like I’m losing more than an employee.”

“He’s family to you,” I stated. It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah. He reminds me of Fitzy sometimes. That same stubborn streak, but with a good heart.”

I smiled against his skin. “That’s high praise coming from you.”

“He deserves it. He’s one of the rare people I can say has never let me down. I told him his job would be waiting whenever he wants to come back, but…”

“But you don’t think he will,” I finished for him.

“Family ties are strong. Once he’s back home helping Knox run Just the Tipsy, I doubt he’ll want to leave again.” Duke’s fingers traced the length of my spine. “Especially not after his dad’s heart attack. That kind of thing changes your priorities.”

I nodded, knowing Duke was speaking from experience. He’d stepped up for his own family when his mother died, becoming more of a parent than a brother to Fitzy.

“But I wish I could do more for him. I’m giving him a bonus to help with moving expenses, but it feels inadequate.”

“That’s generous of you.” I propped myself up on my elbow to look at him. “But maybe there is something else we could do. ”

“I’m listening.”

An idea had been forming since I’d read his text earlier. “What about a farewell concert? A fundraiser for Red.”

Interest sparked in Duke’s eyes. “What kind of fundraiser?”

“We could ask Iason, Levi, Ferris, Tiago, and Sal to perform at Hurly-burly,” I explained, warming to the idea as I spoke.

“All of Red’s regulars could come out to support him, say goodbye before he leaves for Wintervale.

We could donate the proceeds to help with his move or his dad’s medical bills or whatever else his family needs. ”

His expression brightened. “That could work. The guys would do it in a heartbeat.”

“And I bet Sir, Mister, and Chance would take part, too. They all adore Red. Plus, Calixto, Kinsey, and the other Faux Princes. We could do a whole thing.”

“Chance, huh?”

I grinned. “I’d enjoy watching you see him perform.”

Duke chuckled, the sound warming me from the inside out. “You’re brilliant, you know that?”

“I have my moments.”

He guided me up for a kiss, soft and appreciative. “I’ll talk to Iason about it tomorrow.”

“And I can reach out to Chance and his family. Fitzy can contact Calixto since I’m sure the Faux Princes would want to help, too.”

Duke nodded, his expression lighter now, the worry lines around his eyes less pronounced.

He tugged me back down. I went willingly, curling against him.

It was what he needed most, the solid reminder that his family was safe, that I was fine, that some things remained constant even when others changed.

“Thank you for knowing what I need without me having to say it,” he murmured against my hair.

“That’s what husbands are for.” I continued brainstorming. “What if we set up an online tip jar for regulars who can’t make it to the fundraiser but still want to contribute? We could keep it open all month since Red’s regulars will keep coming in and asking about him.”

“That’s brilliant. We could put cards on the tables with links.”

“Red would hate being the center of attention like that, but he’d appreciate the support.”

“He would,” Duke agreed, his voice softening. His large hand cradled the back of my head as he drew me up into a kiss. When we parted, his eyes were bright with emotion.

“What was that for?” I asked, a little breathless.

“For knowing exactly what to do.” His thumb stroked my cheek. “For always making everything better. ”

It was too tempting to tease him. “Look at you, getting all soft over Red.”

Duke scoffed. “I’m not soft.”

“Oh, please. You adopted that kid the moment he walked into Hurly-burly looking for a job. You’re worse than a mother hen with him.”

“I am not,” Duke protested, but his lips twitched with the beginning of a smile.

“You are. Remember when that customer tried to grab his ass, and you nearly threw the guy through a window?”

“He shouldn’t have tried to touch my staff.”

“And when Red caught the flu last winter? You sent him home with five days’ worth of homemade soup.”

Duke’s brow furrowed. “He lives alone. Someone had to make sure he ate.”

I laughed, leaning down to kiss the stubborn set of his jaw. “You big softie.”

He sighed, his defenses finally lowering. “I’m going to miss him. He’s been with me for so many years that I can’t imagine the place without him.”

The honesty in his voice made my heart swell. Duke rarely showed this kind of vulnerability, even with me.

“I know, hon.” I settled back against him, letting him hold me close. “He’s special.”

“When my mom died, it felt like someone had ripped out part of me. There was a hole that nothing could fill. I’m relieved Red’s dad is still alive. That he doesn’t have to go through that heartbreaking loss yet.”

“You’re a good man.”

“I’m trying to be,” he whispered, his voice thick with old grief.

My chest ached with how much I loved him, how his gruff exterior hid such depth of feeling, such capacity for care. “I love you,” I said, the words inadequate for the emotion swelling in my chest.

His gaze softened as he looked at me. “I love you, too, Duchess.”

I stretched up to kiss him, expressing my gratitude for his big heart. His hand came up to cradle my face, his thumb stroking my cheekbone as he kissed me back with equal fervor.

What had begun as comfort shifted into something more heated. His other hand slid down my back to cup my ass, pulling me more firmly against him. I could feel him hardening against my hip, his body responding to our closeness.

“I thought you weren’t in the mood,” I murmured against his lips.

“You have a way of changing my mind.”

I shifted to straddle Duke, looking down at him. Desire replaced the grief in his eyes as he took in the sight of me above him, my naked body on full display.

“Let me take care of you tonight,” I said, rolling my hips against his growing erection .

Duke’s warm hands settled on my waist. “I thought that’s what you were already doing.”

“Nah, I’m only getting started.”

I kissed my way down his neck, savoring the steady beat of his pulse beneath my lips. His chest rose and fell with quickening breaths as I worked my way lower, tracing the defined muscles of his torso with my tongue.

Duke’s fingers tangled in my hair, not guiding but connecting as I moved down his body.

I took my time, mapping the familiar expanses of his body with my mouth.

I showed him through touch what words couldn’t express about how much I cherished him, how proud I was of his compassion, how lucky I was to be his.

When I wrapped my lips around his cock, I maintained eye contact as he watched me, his pupils blown wide with lust, his bottom lip caught between his teeth.

“Duchess,” he breathed, my name a prayer on his lips.

I worked him with deliberate precision, hollowing my cheeks as I took him deeper, swirling my tongue around the sensitive head on each upstroke.

His thighs tensed beneath my hands, muscles jumping with each flick of my tongue.

Right before he reached the edge, I pulled away, his cock slipping from my mouth with a wet pop .

I crawled back up his body. “Please, I need you. ”

Duke’s hands framed my face as he looked up at me with such open emotion that it stole my breath. “You have me. Always.”

He reached for the nightstand drawer to retrieve lube.

I maintained my position, straddling him as he coated his fingers.

The first cool touch against my entrance made me shiver, but his careful attention soon had me pushing back against his hand, begging for more.

His eyes never left mine as he prepared me, adding a second finger, then a third, stretching me with patient devotion.

When I sank down onto him, the initial breach made us both gasp. The familiar burn and stretch as he filled me sent pleasure radiating through my body. I braced my hands on him as I set a slow, deliberate pace, savoring the fullness and the intimate connection.

Duke’s hands roamed my body, touching every inch he could reach. His fingertips traced my ribs, thumbs brushed my nipples, before his palms skimmed down my thighs. His gaze locked on mine with such intensity I felt it like a physical caress.

“You’re everything,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Everything I need.”

The tenderness in his words, in his touch, made my heart flutter. I leaned down to kiss him, our bodies still moving together in perfect rhythm. His strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close as we rocked together, the pace increasing as our need grew more urgent.

When Duke shifted his hips, he nailed my prostate with unerring accuracy. He repeated the motion, his hands guiding my movements to maximize my pleasure with each thrust.

“That’s it,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. “Let me hear you, Duchess.”

I couldn’t have held back if I tried. Every rock of my hips built toward an inevitable explosion of pleasure. Duke’s hand slipped between us, wrapping around my neglected cock, stroking in time with our movements.

With each hard bounce, my climax rushed toward its peak. “Shit, I’m close.”

He increased the pace, driving up into me as I rocked down to meet him. It drew my climax as I painted his stomach with hot streaks of cum.

Duke followed moments later, his body tensing beneath mine as he buried himself to the hilt and emptied inside me.

I pulled off him before collapsing onto his chest, both of us breathing hard, our skin slick with sweat and cum.

His arms encircled me, cuddling me closer as his release trickled out of me.

I nuzzled against his neck, inhaling his scent, content in his embrace.

“Feel better?” I asked after a while, my voice muffled against his skin.

Duke’s chest rumbled with a soft laugh. “Much. ”

“We’ll make sure Red knows how much he means to everyone,” I promised, brushing my fingers through his hair. “And to you.”

Duke nodded, his clean hand coming up to brush my hair back from my face. “Thank you.”

“For the sex or the fundraiser idea?” I teased.

“Both.”

I laughed, settling back against him. “You’re welcome.”

We lay in comfortable silence, Duke’s fingers tracing idle patterns on my back. The weight of his concern for Red had lifted somewhat, replaced by the determination to do something meaningful for him.

“I’ll call Iason in the morning to see if he and the guys are available for the fundraiser,” Duke said after a while.

“And I’ll talk to Chance, Sir, and Mister,” I replied, already organizing the event in my mind. “Between all of them, we’ll put on one hell of a show for Red.”

Duke kissed the top of my head. “He won’t know what hit him.”

I smiled, already imagining Red’s embarrassed but pleased reaction. “It’ll be perfect.”