Page 20 of The Duke Steals a Bride (Stolen by the Duke #5)

Chapter Twenty

“I ronstone!” It was Oliver, bounding towards Edwin and Vincent Kirkham, the Duke of Blackmoor, across the lawn, like a boisterous puppy. “I did not think you were coming to this garden party!”

“I was not intending to,” replied Edwin, rolling his eyes. “But the twins insisted…and so here I am.”

“Nice to see you, Blackmoor,” Oliver said, inclining his head toward the other gentleman. “I heard you are a new father. Congratulations.” His eyes slid to Edwin. “Maybe my good friend can give you some sound advice on fatherhood.”

Both gentlemen stared at Oliver, in a frosty way. Oliver coughed into his hand, staring at his feet.

“I think not, Browning,” growled Edwin. “I do not give unsolicited advice.”

“I was just trying to steer the conversation,” Oliver said, looking sheepish. “I know you would have been raving on about trading, ships and horse breeding, the usual riveting stuff.” He rolled his eyes. “Before we venture into those, perhaps, I ought to let you know, Ironstone, that the duchess has walked away into the woodlands.”

“What?” Edwin stiffened, his heart thumping hard.

“Yes, I saw her scurrying away on that path,” said Oliver, pointing towards it. “Only five minutes ago.”

Edwin cursed beneath his breath. Those woodlands were thick. Christine wasn’t familiar with them. She might become hopelessly lost. He felt a surge of irritation, as well as a small pang of fear.

What was she doing, running away like that?

“Keep an eye on the twins, Browning,” he growled. “I am going to look for her.”

Oliver nodded. He left the two gentlemen, striding past the marquee, where most people were gathered. He felt another surge of irritation when he spotted Nora, his former sister-in-law, among the crowd.

He gritted his teeth. He definitely wouldn’t have come to this party if he had known she was here. Now he must spend the rest of it ducking her, as well.

Damnation. It is just one thing after the other. I should never have let Isabella talk me into this.

He reached the path to the woodlands, pushing aside branches and jumping over rocks as he traversed it. His head was beginning to pound, now. He stopped, frowning deeply, putting his hands on his hips as he gazed around.

“Christine!” he called. “Where are you?”

He strained his ears, but there was no reply. He cursed again, resuming his stride. He wanted to stay irritated, but now, the small pang of fear he was feeling was starting to snowball at a rapid pace.

Where is she? Does she have no sense at all of the dangers of walking alone in unfamiliar woodlands?

He took a deep gulp, trying to fight the fear. He didn’t want to feel this way. He didn’t want to feel so protective about her—as if he might break down entirely if he discovered her hurt in some way.

Do not be ridiculous. You are naturally worried that she has become lost, as you would be worried about anyone. It means no more than that.

Suddenly, he spotted her, a flash of her primrose colored gown, against the backdrop of green, verdant leaves. He stopped, catching his breath, watching her.

She was seated on a large rock, gazing into the distance, with a faraway, wistful look upon her face. Even at this distance, he saw that her face was streaked with tears.

His heart somersaulted in his chest. Growing angrier, he marched over to her, crashing through the undergrowth. He was going to tell her off so soundly she would never pull such a stunt again.

She jumped, turning to him, with wide eyes.

“What are you doing here?” she squeaked.

“I might ask you the same question,” he snarled, advancing upon her. “I was searching for you. What on earth possessed you to come here?”

She stiffened, looking affronted. To his fury, she simply got up, walking quickly away. He raced after her, taking her arm firmly, spinning her around.

“Do not walk away from me!” He was panting with fury, now. “Why you are hiding here? What has upset you?”

“Nothing,” she cried, twisting her arm where he held her. He tightened his grip. “I was not hiding, and I am not upset!”

“You lie,” he growled, pulling her toward him, with a jerk. “I can see the tracks of your tears upon your face. And even if I could not, I would know that you are upset. I can read your face like a book now.”

“You are the liar,” she cried, glaring at him, her blue green eyes shooting sparks of fury. “You do not know me at all! You bend over backwards to keep your distance from me! You pay me less regard than you do the housekeeper or the governess!”

“Nonsense,” he snarled. “Why must you rouse me in such a way? Why are you always doing this to me?”

“Doing what?” she scoffed, a look of angry derision on her face. “I did not ask you to follow me here! You did so of your own volition!” She twisted her arm out of his grasp at last. “I wish to be alone. I will return to the party when I am ready. You may return now that you have ascertained that I have not been mauled by a wolf or a bear—or whatever other beasts lurk in places like this.”

“Do not dismiss me like that,” he barked, a flush of fury rising over his neck, staining his face. He strode the short distance between them, grabbing her by the arm again. “There are not many wolves or bears left in these woods, but you might fall and slip and strain your ankle. Have you no care for your safety?”

“I am quite able to look after myself, thank you,” she hissed, into his face, her eyes sparking again. “And since you clearly find me such a burden, I will not take up any more of your time!”

“Stop it,” he commanded, gripping her around the back of her neck, to hold her still.

Their eyes met and held. He could see the wild fury within those blueish green depths. But he could also see the hurt there, as well.

“I am holding back for your sake. But every second, you’re making it harder to be a good man. The way your body responds to me, the way you tremble when I get too close… it’s driving me mad. I want to feel you beneath me, to hear you gasp as I take everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Her jaw dropped with astonishment. She stared at him, looking dazed. His heart fell to the ground and his mouth suddenly went dry. The whole world seemed to contract between them.

“Holding back?” Her voice was a silky whisper, driving him to distraction. He watched a pulse leaping wildly in her throat. He wanted to bury his face into her sweet smelling, soft flesh, to sink his teeth into it. She stared at him. “Why is it so important to you to hold back?”

“Because it is,” he snarled, feeling something snap inside of him. “Because I can’t bear this any longer… this need for you, this desire that consumes me. Wanting you more than I want air?—”

“Then let me go,” she whispered, her eyes filled with pain. “I release you from it, if it pains you so much to want me. We will stay as strangers. Let me go !”

He couldn’t breathe. He loathed himself, fighting with the want, which was building and thickening between them like moist fog, and his reason, which knew that she was telling him what he needed to hear.

Let her go. Walk away from her. Do it now.

He cursed softly, feeling her trembling like a leaf, the desire deepening by the second, the power of his lust overwhelming him. He couldn’t stand it anymore. It was like a fever rushing through his bloodstream.

Abruptly, he pushed her against a tall tree. She looked startled and affronted, twisting against him.

“Look at me, little mouse,” he growled. “Look at me.”

Suddenly, she stopped, staring at him, with a wary look on her face. But he saw the desire there, as well, as plain as day. His loins leapt in response.

She likes it. I know that she does.

T he need for her overtook him, bursting inside him like a red-hot fire. He pinned her to the trunk of the tree with one hand. With the other, he slowly lifted the skirt of her gown, his eyes smoldering, never leaving hers for a second.

“What…what are you doing?” she whispered, licking her lips.

“Tell me to stop.” he looked straight into her eyes as he touched the inner thigh of her left leg, feeling the flesh, as smooth and inviting as velvet.

She gasped, her cheeks becoming even redder.

“Do you want me to stop, darling?” he asked, lower this time, leaning in.

She gulped, her pupils larger, darkening her hazel-green eyes.

“Christine,” he said firmly, “tell me.”

She shook her head. A smirk formed on his lips, and his hand slowly climbed higher, until he found the moist, warm folds of her most intimate place. He shuddered as he sank his fingers inside, stroking and caressing, pushing her harder against the tree.

“Oh,” she moaned, her voice filled with wonder. “What are you doing to me?”

He found the nub of her feminine pleasure, flicking it, and she moaned louder this time.

Suddenly, something inside him snapped. He couldn’t wait another second.

“I must taste you,” he breathed.

“Wha—” she responded, but gasped as he slid down her body, burying his face into her sex, tasting her ambrosia for the first time.

Heaven . It was like encountering heaven.

“What is—” Christine cried, her knees buckling.

His arms tightened around her as he licked and sucked, lost in the motion, feeling her body tense and tighten beneath his touch and tongue. He quickened the motion, his tongue flickering over her hot flesh, burying his face deeper into her.

She was an oasis, a lush, forbidden haven, and he was the parched man who had wandered through the desert for far too long. Every part of her tasted like salvation—sweet, intoxicating, and irresistible.

Her soft, heated skin was like water on his tongue, and he reveled in the way she trembled beneath him, each gasp of hers like a cool breeze over scorched earth. He had thirsted for her for so long, fought against the need burning within him, but now, with her beneath him, all his restraint had crumbled.

The longer he tasted her, the deeper his hunger grew, pulling him further into the abyss where nothing existed but the warmth of her body and the sound of her breath.

He had been starving, not just for her body, but for the very essence of her. And now that he had her, he couldn’t get enough.

“Oh,” she cried, gripping his head so tightly he momentarily flinched, before resuming the motion, quicker and defter than before. “Oh…”

He felt her tense, quite tightly, before she spasmed, shuddering against him, so strongly that he was forced to grip her tighter again to prevent her sliding down the tree. He rode the wave with her, gently lapping at her now, as her shudders started to slow down, before stopping entirely. And then, he felt her slump against the tree, completely spent.

He pulled himself away, getting to his feet, and pulled down her skirt, holding her gently.

He was full to bursting, wanting to sink himself into her and take her at long last, but he managed to restrain himself with difficulty. Tenderly, he touched her face, smearing her lips with his thumb, trying to ignore the stab of lust as her lips parted beneath his touch.

“You taste so sweet, wife,” he whispered and leaned closer into her ear, “When I do take you, it will be like thunder and lightning splitting the sky. Like nothing within this heaven and earth.”

He pulled back, gazing into her eyes. She was still flushed with desire, but looked entirely spent, as if she might fall onto the forest floor and fall into a deep sleep. As if she might turn into Sleeping Beauty with the vines of the forest floor overtaking her, entwining within her limbs and her hair.

A deep tenderness overtook him, unlike anything he had ever felt before. He wanted to scoop her up and carry her back to the party, cradled in his arms.

“We should get back to the party,” he said, in a husky voice, sounding more abrupt than he intended. “Someone will come looking for us very soon. And the twins are there…”

“Of course,” she said, looking a bit shamefaced, taking a step back smoothing the creases in her gown with trembling hands. “Let us return.”

They started walking slowly back on the path. She didn’t look at him. He frowned, resisting the urge to reach out and take her hand. He cursed softly beneath his breath.

He had told her he couldn’t lose control. And now, he could feel himself starting to slip. He had already slipped further than he intended.

How was he going to keep her at a safe distance now, after what had just happened?