Page 9 of The Cursed Duke (Wayward Dukes' Alliance #19)

July 29, 1815

Hyde Park

Mayfair, London

Giles breathed in deep lungsful of the relatively cool, clean air as he sat atop his black hunter named Storm. Dawn had broken a half hour past, and as he’d promised his wife, they had ridden out to Hyde Park, and now he was content to ride docilely beside her.

“We couldn’t have asked for better weather this morning,” he mentioned as he patted Storm’s neck. “Summer can be brutally steamy in London, and with rain on top of that, it makes for uncomfortable days.”

“Agreed.” Though she rode sidesaddle, Hannah did so with all the control of a champion horsewoman. The way she kept her seat with a ramrod straight back and barely straining with the reins impressed the hell out of him. “Let’s move deeper into the park where it’s more shaded. It will be even cooler there.”

“Lead on, duchess.” As the horses followed the bridle path, Giles studied his new wife.

Last night, they’d retired to their separate suites for slumber, but before they’d done that, he’d claimed her body in the drawing room with her bent over the curved end of a settee. Perhaps not the most chivalrous thing to do, but once she’d gotten over her shock, she’d embraced the spirit of the coupling, and he’d enjoyed watching his shaft slide in and out of her lush body.

Afterward, he’d kissed her and sent her upstairs while he’d remained in the drawing room with a bottle of brandy, wondering why the hell he thought he could have full access to her body without offering her anything of himself in return.

Yet when this morning had come, it seemed they were both early risers, and she’d greeted him with a timid smile and slow movement as if her muscles pained her. He didn’t ask her about that, but he did invite her out on a ride with him, promising breakfast afterward.

Now, he couldn’t help but grin to himself. Though he’d not yet seen her naked, he looked forward to that day, for he hadn’t lied when he’d said her body was distracting. This morning, she’d clad her form in an emerald riding habit of serge trimmed with black ribbons and buttons done in a military style. Her straw bonnet was decorated to match, but it was the smart black half boots she wore that captivated him, for her feet were dainty, like her hands, and oddly they matched the rest of her because she was nearly a foot shorter than him. Not only did that make him feel more protective of her, he was also wildly possessive of her, because he could be.

“You are uncharacteristically quiet this morning, Steppingford.”

“Am I?” He chuckled. “I rather think we don’t know each other well enough yet for you to say that.” Not that he minded. Marriage wasn’t intended to bury one’s partner in all the sins of one’s past in the first week along with their habits. In fact, one of the decent things about a union was the freedom to discover everything over a lifetime.

“No, we don’t, but I assume you’re not a man given to brooding.” When she glanced at him from over her shoulder, those eyes had the capacity to bewitch him if he wasn’t careful.

“That largely depends on the circumstances.”

When they entered a remote part of the park, Hannah led him to a gurgling stream.

“Let’s give the horses a rest.” As she said that, her horse gladly took the opportunity to drink from the stream while flicking her brown tail.

“Right.” The area was heavily wooded and a bit off the bridle path, but his wife was correct in that it was at least ten degrees cooler. He dismounted, tossed his reins over his pommel, then patted his hunter’s neck. “Take a break, boy.” After that, he walked to where her horse stood. “Let me help you.” As he spoke, Giles put his hands on either side of her waist and hoisted her downward, making certain her body brushed his as he did so.

When her feet reached the ground, she rested her gloved palms on his chest and stared up at him. “What a gentleman.”

“Occasionally.” He didn’t release her but instead kept her in a loose embrace, holding her between his chest and the side of her horse. “What would you say to popping in to Tattersalls this afternoon?” Why the devil he wanted to see her happy, he couldn’t say, but his reward was immediate.

“Truly?” Her eyes rounded and reflected surprise. “Truly?”

“Oh, yes.” The squeal she gave provoked a half grin from him. “Is that something you are interested in doing with me?”

“Yes!” Then she wrapped her arms about his shoulders, stood on her toes, and briefly pressed her lips against his. “I would most certainly like to accompany you.”

With a groan, Giles pulled her close as he crushed his lips to hers. It was insanity how much this woman managed to inflame him merely with a touch or a look, and there was no logical explanation for it, but he didn’t care. After what happened with Sita, he was leery of involving himself with another woman, yet he promised himself if he kept his heart and feelings out of it, he could enjoy the friendship.

But as he moved slowly, sensuously over her mouth, teased her lips apart with the tip of his tongue, he wondered how long he’d be able to keep that vow to himself. Seconds later, he dueled with that organ for control of the embrace, but his wife was apparently a quick study, and she bossed him with impressive authority that set his blood on fire.

When her horse shifted position, the animal bumped into them, which ended the kiss. With regret, he pulled away, and to his surprise, he was slightly breathless as he peered down at her. “Hmm, is it the thought of seeing horses at auction that has excited you or being on this outing with me?” Truly, it was difficult to tell.

“Does it matter?” she asked with an elevated eyebrow.

“It does not.” Not wishing to end their time together, he led her around the equines to a wide tree stump at the side of the stream then encouraged her to sit. “You’ve told me about the ways you think you’ve failed as a society lady, but what do you excel in, besides sitting a horse like you were born to it?”

A blush lightly stained her cheeks. “I enjoy drawing. Sketching, really.” A giggle escaped, and he immediately wanted a repeat of that joyful sound. “I was quite vexing for my father’s coin, for I went through a whole notebook cover to cover each month.”

“What sort of subjects are your favorites?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Life is interesting to me; there is beauty and fascination in everything, even the ugly.”

“I’m convinced there is nothing ugly. It is we who should shift our perceptions.” He knew of what he spoke, for no one had ever called him a handsome man.

“That is true to a point. However, there are some people out there who have ugly souls, and nothing they do will change that, and those roots will always manage to seep through.” For long moments, she remained silent. Then she sighed. “In any event, sketching helps to quiet my mind and allows me to escape reality for a time. Most folks assume I’m ignoring them, and I am to a point, I suppose, but over the years, I’ve found I prefer my own company, for then I’m never disappointed.”

With every new thing he discovered about her, he realized they had more in common than he thought. “I understand that more than you know. Many times in India, I was by myself, and I didn’t mind that at all.”

She nodded. “Neither did I, but Mama, my sisters, and some of my friends took exception. Said I was giving off airs.”

“Well, your life is your own now, and you’ll not have such censure from me.”

“And I apologize in advance if I go off into my own world instead of paying attention to you. It’s nothing personal.”

“Very well. I apologize for the same. It will be an adjustment for us both.” Were they too accustomed to being alone that it would affect their marriage? Only time would tell.

Later that afternoon

Hannah hid a yawn behind a gloved hand as she settled on a well-squabbed bench in Steppingford’s closed carriage, for it had begun to rain. It had been a long afternoon but an exciting one, and the auction site Tattersalls had been everything she’d hoped it would be.

All the noises from the people, auctioneers, as well as the horseflesh had overwhelmed her. To say nothing of the smells, many of which were attacks on the olfactory senses. By and large, the attendees were male, and she’d been doubly glad that she’d dressed like a young man. Of course, she’d had to borrow clothing from one of the footmen—her husband had arranged that—but the garments were clean and the ease of movement from the breeches was amazing in its simplicity and freedom.

One of the highlights of the afternoon had been toward the end of the auctions when a beautiful thoroughbred mare had come onto the block. She was dark brown with a shiny coat, but it was the two white splotches—one on her forehead and one on her chest—that were in the shapes of rough stars that had endeared the animal to her. When she told Giles that fact, he’d nodded, but said nothing… until he began to bid on the horse.

Several men in attendance, perhaps motivated by her husband’s interest, bid against him, but when all was said and done, Giles bid six hundred pounds, and no one challenged him at that point. He’d won the mare, and then he’d turned to her with a slight grin and told her the horse was hers, that he would ask that the animal be delivered later in the week.

And she had been both flabbergasted and shocked. Though she’d not been allowed to tour the stables or pet horses, she’d been satisfied to just be there, and her admiration for her husband had risen.

When he joined her inside and sat on the opposite bench, he asked the driver to go home. Then he met her gaze. “Unless you had another errand?”

She snorted. “Looking like this?” After she removed the slouch-style cap, Hannah tossed it to the bench beside her. “I do not. In fact, I would much rather return home for tea.”

“You are fetching in those clothes.” His gaze roved over her body to linger at her breasts that were covered by a lawn shirt and a plain gray waistcoat.

“Oh.” Heat moved through her cheeks, for he continued to regard her as if he didn’t know quite what to do with her. “You didn’t have to buy the mare for me. That was a king’s ransom that you paid for one horse.”

“It was nothing.” He shrugged. “My father’s estate was rather large, and what else would I do with the coin?”

Since she had no idea what his coffers or finances were like, she had no answer. “I appreciate the gift. I’ll name her Starfall or perhaps Princess. I haven’t quite decided yet.”

“Your imagination must be an amazing place,” he said in a low voice. “I particularly like how you gravitate toward fairy stories.”

“I often think they were the more romantic age.” Though they had been married all of two days and she knew next to nothing about her husband, there was something compelling about him that she couldn’t ignore. It might have been due to him buying her a horse merely because she said she liked it or that he was adamant she discover what it was she wanted to do within the mantle of duchess, but it motivated her to break out of her shell. Before she could change her mind, Hannah left her bench to join him on his.

Then her courage left her, for she hadn’t much confidence when it came to all things carnal. Yet.

He gave her a quizzical glance. “Is there something you want, Lady Steppingford?”

“Y… yes.” She nodded. “Might I kiss you?” At any given time, he was far too intense and a bit unapproachable.

“You needn’t ask permission, but yes.” Then he surprised her by hauling her into his lap so that she straddled him, and his eyes darkened. “Is that all?”

“Oh, this is an interesting position, isn’t it?” With her hands on his broad shoulders and his intense brown gaze holding hers, a shiver went down her spine. She swallowed hard to encourage moisture into her suddenly dry throat. “And no, that isn’t all I want,” she admitted in a barely audible voice.

“Mmm, then let’s start with a kiss. The drive from Hyde Park to home won’t be long.” Then he put his lips to the shell of her ear. “Then I’ll treat you to something quite naughty.”

A host of tingles went through her lower belly, but she had no time to respond, for he shoved the fingers of one hand into her hair, made a fist, and when he tugged to force her chin upward with just enough force to make her pay attention but not enough to bring pain, he claimed her lips with a gentle intensity that sent a throb into her core and longing into her soul.

A rap on the roof of the coach broke the budding connection. “Approaching, Your Grace.”

Giles peered into her eyes as the vehicle rolled to a stop in front of his townhouse. “I want you.”

“Why?”

“You somehow soothe the demons within.”

“Oh.” Another interesting fact about him. “Will you tell me?”

“No. And if you didn’t hear me clearly, I want you. Now.”

A thrill went down her spine, for she would never be accustomed to hearing those words and knowing that a man truly meant them. She nodded. “Unless you want to perform in front of your driver and the rest of the neighborhood, I suggest you at least wait until we’re inside the house.”

A soft chuckle issued from him, and when he allowed a faint grin, the delicate skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Perhaps you are correct, but then, if I did, that would be a duke’s prerogative, hmm?” But he eased her off his lap. “I suspect we won’t make it upstairs.”

“Why not?” The coach rocked as the driver climbed down from his perch.

“If you continue to look at me with that sort of hunger, I’ll take you right here against the side of the coach, propriety be damned.”

“Well, you already made a sensation at the wedding breakfast. Why wouldn’t you continue in that vein?” she asked as the door swung open. “Besides, it’s not as if I don’t look the part of scandal… again.”

Another chuckle escaped him, and she rather enjoyed the deep, rich sound. “Indeed, and what sort of man would I be if I didn’t stay true to myself?” Once the driver put down the stairs, Giles left the coach and then turned to offer her a hand in assistance.

Hannah shivered as anticipation twisted down her spine while she went up the short walkway toward the black-painted front door.

Then, her husband said, “Everyone can go hang. I’ll live my life on my terms or not at all.” Before she realized what was happening, he’d once more picked up her and threw her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing.

“Steppingford, how dare you!”

“I will dare anything, for what do I have to lose?” That voice rumbled in her chest as he sailed past the butler at the door.

She met that older man’s eyes, and he gave a shrug as if to say he couldn’t control or predict what the duke would do. Beating on her husband’s back with her fists had absolutely no effect, for he strode down the corridor without apparent care.

Since the library door was open, he stormed into that room then slammed the wooden panel closed with a booted foot.

“Were the theatrics necessary?” Hannah asked with heavy annoyance in her tone as he set her on her feet. “The servants are probably talking. Again.”

“Let them. A lion doesn’t ask the opinion of sheep.”

“Ah, arrogance. We can add that to the list of your crimes.” Though it was a short list since she didn’t know him all that well.

He flashed another half-grin. “If only you knew, little rabbit.”

It was the endearment—or insult—he’d used that first night she’d met him, but before she could decide how she felt about it, he walked her backward until her back met a wooden ladder at one of the shelves and her arse rested on one of the wooden treads. “What are you…?”

“I already told you that I wanted you. So here we are.” Trapped between his arms and the ladder, Hannah’s pulse pounded as he peppered her nape with feather-weighted kisses. “And I can’t wait to have those breeches of yours off.”

“I…” Each time his lips and fingers glanced over her skin, she shivered. This man was beyond intimidating and frightening, when he wasn’t doing unexpected things like buying her expensive horses, but on the other hand, she felt oddly safe and secure with him. “This isn’t an appropriate venue.”

“I beg to differ.” After removing his gloves, he slowlydrew off her half-boots while nuzzling into the crook of her shoulder. “Carnal play can happen anywhere. One doesn’t need a bed.”

Oh, dear.

“But I thought…” As always, when he explored her body with his fingers and lips, all the words in her head turned to mush.

Do better, Hannah.

“Don’t pretend you don’t want this, duchess, for your eyes fairly begged me for this in the carriage.” In a thrice, he pulled the borrowed breeches off her hips and down her legs, leaving the stockings and garters she’d worn beneath them intact. The relatively cool air in the room wafted over her exposed bits to add a contrast to the heat in her blood. “But if you’ve changed your mind?”

Drat him, she couldn’t lie, at least not about this. “I haven’t.”

“Good.” As he leaned into her, he claimed her lips while sliding a hand between her trembling thighs. Those talented fingers furrowed through her feminine curls to glide along her flesh, back and forth in a rhythm designed to ensure insanity as he worked to further arouse her. “It seems you’re all too ready.” He tsked his tongue. “One would think you enjoy carnal games.” Before she could utter a response, he’d coaxed her swelling nubbin out of hiding for one reason only—to bedevil it and toss her to the brink.

“Oh, goodness.” With each pass of those fingers, shivers of raw need fell over her, fracturing throughout her body into every nerve ending. Once again, he showed her how much in control of the situation and her that he was by bringing her that close to the edge without much effort.

Not that she minded, for she was beginning to understand him in that way.

Over and over, he worked that tiny bundle of nerves, and when she couldn’t hold back a moan, he grinned, his lips sliding against the side of her neck. “Tell me you want me to do wicked, unspeakable things to you, little rabbit.”

“I… I do,” she managed to gasp out and curled her fingers around the side of the ladder merely to keep herself upright instead of melting into a puddle at his feet.

“Let me hear it.” Then he lightly bit her earlobe, and she squeaked as a rush of heated longing shot through her body.

Her heartbeat accelerated. “Please do unspeakable things to me, Your Grace.” At the last second, she addressed him by his title merely to aggravate him.

“Giles, damn it.” Just when she thought she’d break from the exquisite torment, he withdrew his hand.

“Oh, I’ll wager you are already damned.”

He snorted, and once more he pinned her with his darkened gaze. “I do refer to myself as cursed, so there is that.”

“I will want to know more about that.”

“Later.” Then, with a wicked grin he dropped to his knees. “Will you enjoy this, I wonder?” Then he gripped her inner thighs and splayed her open, looked his fill at her private parts while heat burned her cheeks.

Anticipation battled with dread in her belly. Her mother or married sister had never told her about this. “I’m not sure about this.” Yet she buried the fingers of one hand into his hair, and the tresses that were longer than current fashion demanded were soft to the touch. “I don’t—” Her voice cut off in a squeak as he touched his mouth to her button.

He chuckled. The vibrations sent her into another level of delight and wonder as he began the next stage of his seduction.

“Merciful heavens.” From the moment he employed his lips and hot tongue to her button and folds, Hannah slowly lost the last vestiges of her sanity. “This… You…” She couldn’t catch her breath, for with each nibble, every nip, all the swipes and strokes of his tongue, she was hurled higher and higher into pleasure where she’d never gone with him before.

Wild sensation coursed through her body and through every nerve ending. She shook from it. Tears unashamedly fell to her cheeks for the feelings were too big, too much, too overwhelming and all at once different from anything he’d previously done to her. Never once did Giles shy away from his work. He was a man bent on tossing her over the edge, and she hovered there, trapped, waiting with held breath and a hammering heart for him to release her into that dark void.

Yet blessed release didn’t come.

The wicked man kept her poised on the razor’s edge, pinning her there again and again with every penetrating stroke of his tongue, each calculated nibble, every new torment of suction on that swollen button until she openly cried out for him to stop. Oddly the pressure of his fingers on her thighs kept her grounded and in the moment. She curled her hand into his hair alternately to shove him away and cease the exquisite torment but also to hold him to her tighter exactly where she needed him.

And he continued with his work as if she were no more annoying than a gnat.

Fearing she’d expire from the need threatening to tear her apart, Hannah squirmed, but he gripped her thighs that much tighter to keep her in place on that ladder. “Giles, please.” Tears of pleasure rolled down her cheeks as her back arched, which put her deeper into his care. “I can’t survive this torment.”

“You will, if only to experience the ending,” he said against her sensitive flesh.

“I…” When he didn’t appear to have heard her, she clutched the sides of the ladder above her head. “I need— Ah!”

Something broke inside her. She shattered in spectacular fashion, fell into that black void full of the most wonderful bliss as her inner walls convulsed with a violent release. She threw back her head, opened her mouth, and at the last second, she clamped a hand over her mouth to partially stifle a keening cry.

The duke glanced up, but she was barely aware. “You are beautiful in the throes of passion,” he whispered. “But I’m selfish and a cad, so come again for me.”

“No, I can’t again…” Despite the fact her body shook as if she’d shoot right off the ladder, Giles continued to worry her swollen, hypersensitive button. When he inserted two fingers, pumping them in and out of her shuddering passage and she imagined that they were his impressive shaft, Hannah bucked against his hand.

“You will.” Then he sought to apparently kill her, for he twisted those digits in order to massage a spot on her spasming flesh that completely crossed her eyes.

“Giles!” The word was long and drawn out in a pleading wail that would probably embarrass her in front of the servants.

But she couldn’t care, not while she hurtled over the edge into a violent release that stole her breath and saw her collapsed against the treads of the ladder. Her thighs trembled in time to her racing pulse, while flutters ran riot through her core as strong contractions rocked her body. Finally, he withdrew, and she hung onto the sides of the ladder, completely shattered and broken but with a sense of freedom she’d never appreciated before.

“I adore seeing women as they come undone, and you, my dear, have done it exceptionally well.” A certain smugness threaded through his voice as he met her gaze. “Bravo, duchess. Next time I shall make sure you scream louder.”

Heat went through her cheeks, but she hadn’t the strength to deny it. “You are sometimes a horrible rogue.” And she’d only known him two days.

“You have no idea.” The duke removed a handkerchief from an interior pocket of his jacket. He watched her as he wiped the shiny moisture from his face. “If you can manage to not expire, shall I ring for tea?”

Despite the acute embarrassment she felt knowing the servants must surely be talking about them, Hannah nodded. Then her heart fluttered when he bent to apply the handkerchief to her private parts in an effort to clean her.

“Yes, please.”

He chuckled. “Mmm, I do like it when you beg.”

“Do shut up, Steppingford.” But she grinned as she left the ladder. Her knees were decidedly wobbly, much to the duke’s amusement. “Dear heavens, my legs don’t work.”

“Well, then, I’ve pleasured you correctly.” But to his credit, he helped her over to a low leather sofa and handed her the breeches he’d removed earlier. “While we enjoy tea, I’m happy to read to you from a favorite book if you can find one. The bulk of my collection is at my country estate.”

At that point, she was too exhausted to form a protest or even an erudite reply, so she nodded and donned the breeches before falling, nearly fainting, onto the sofa.

What was she going to do with this man who made her body do impossible things, this man who she didn’t love but who bought her a thoroughbred and sneaked her into Tattersalls? That was clearly a puzzle for another day.