Page 22 of The Duke’s Hellion (Duke Dare #3)

W here was she? She was supposed to be waiting by the fence where he left her.

From the distance, he could see she wasn’t there.

Panic ripped through him. The rain was pouring.

She was alone with Rex. He trusted the dog, knowing nothing would happen to Mimi, but he couldn’t stop envisioning her stiff body back at the house party when that dog had been barreling toward them barking.

She was absolutely frozen. How could he be so foolish to leave her alone with Rex? What if she had fainted?

Sam was running now toward the fence, gaining in meters as he approached. “Mimi!” His shouts were lost through the downpour. “Mimi!” He tried again. His vision was blurry and his heart was a mess. He couldn’t see Rex either now. Where the deuce had they gone? And together?

He trudged around the fence and then hopped over the fence.

There was no way Rex escaped, was there?

But what would have prompted Mimi to enter?

Or had she returned to the house? Impossible.

He would have seen her. And she wouldn’t have taken off in a different direction with the imminent rain clouds.

He couldn’t imagine the two together. But if Rex were alone, he probably would have taken shelter in his doghouse.

Perhaps Rex could help him find Mimi. Sam jaunted over to the doghouse and bent down.

To his utter disbelief, he saw Rex curled around Mimi with his head in her lap while she stroked his head.

“Mimi, are you all right?”

She had tears down her cheeks, but she didn’t appear to be afraid. “He got hurt. I-I had to help him. He was stuck and whimpering.”

At this point, Sam was crouching as far as he could into the small space, his head ducked under the shelter. His heart felt inflated, full. Overflowing. This woman.

“Mimi,” he leaned in and brushed a hand across her cheek. “You must have been terrified. Why did you do it?”

“He’s your dog. You love him. I had to help him.” Her voice was trembling yet still strong. Because she was strong. She was brave. To face her fears, her paralyzing fears, for him. Her courage was inspiring. Humbling. Captivating.

“My God, Mimi. I love the dog, but I—” He stopped himself.

He knew what he was going to say, and his lips were shocked into silence.

How long had his heart known how it felt?

At what point had it made up its mind? And why had it taken so long to send the message to his head?

She had always been so vexing to him, was that only because he thought he couldn’t have her?

Shouldn’t have her? He never trusted himself to love someone until her.

It had all happened so fast, one minute he thought her irritating, and the next she had been irresistible.

There was no turning back. She was beyond incredible.

“What?” Her lips parted, and he wanted to kiss her.

“I love you more.”

“You do?” The hope in her eyes told him what he hadn’t acknowledged, but what he had longed to know. He was desperate to know how she felt about him.

“I do.” He reached in and pulled her out of the doghouse.

He swept her up into his arms and spun around, nuzzling his lips into her hair as the rain dripped down on them.

This woman was the most fearless, most beautiful, most lovable hellion he had ever known.

Acting his most reckless, he had almost dueled over her.

But that was because he thought he could lose her.

There was no way he would ever lose her. He would love her senseless before that ever happened.

“I should have done this earlier,” he mumbled into her neck.

“What? Tell me you love me?”

“If I had known that earlier, I would have told you. But I also mean this,” he spun around again, “hold you in my arms, spinning you around. When you won the tournament. I should have celebrated you more. I will celebrate you every day for the rest of our lives.”

She leaned in and kissed his mouth. Pure delight soaked through him.

“I can’t believe you love me.”

“I can’t believe it either. But I do.” He smiled at the love of his life. His forever.

“I almost trapped you as part of the duke dare, but I knew I couldn’t do that to you,” Mimi said with her hand on his chest.

“What duke dare?”

“The one my sisters and I agreed to. We would each find a duke this season to marry.”

“Well, you found one, and technically you did trap me.”

“Not intentionally.” He could see the honesty in her eyes, and he loved her more for it. She was not the kind to be manipulative.

“That’s good to know. It makes a difference.”

“It makes all the difference in the world. I would never do that to you, Sam. You’re a good man. One of the best, in fact.”

His feelings felt like clotted cream. She thought he was a good man? One of the best?

Then again, that’s what Mimi did. By being the best version of herself, she called out others to be better.

If they answered the call, they would rise with her.

Just like in the archery tournament. She didn’t let up.

Even though she was a lady, and it was expected of her to be meek.

No one would have faulted her if she missed the target altogether and giggled away her actions.

But no, not Mimi. She stood tall, focused, determined to win.

And then she did. She gave her all, and bested them all.

And when they danced in the rain, yes many guests had run inside, but several had turned back and stayed outside and danced with them. Each savoring the moment. Because of her.

By being her best self, others became better.

That’s what she was doing to him.

“And how do you feel about me, Mimi?”

“I love you, Sam.” Whenever Mimi spoke quietly like that, it reverberated through his bones, as though he felt the words and didn’t just hear them.

“If you love me, you would be dramatic about it. You would shout it at the top of your lungs.”

She grinned, dropped her head back and shouted into the rain, “I love you!”

Not to be out done, he bellowed, “I love you more!”

And perhaps they would have stayed and danced in the rain again, this time knowingly in love, but a soft bark sounded from the doghouse, causing them both to laugh.

“I’ll grab Rex. Then we can run inside and warm up.”

“The race is on,” Mimi shouted playfully. And he had never felt so light. So happy. Playful and competitive. Passionate.

He grabbed Rex, doing a quick check on his injury, and then turned to chase after Mimi toward the house.

The rain was still dripping but the sun had come out while they laughed their way inside. Sam gave Rex a quick kiss and handed him to Bixly, the butler. “Call the veterinarian. He looks all right now, but Mimi said he got hurt. I’ll check in on him shortly.”

Mimi was ahead of him, going up to their room, dropping wet clothes all the way up the stairs. With each layer removed, he grew desperate to take his lover into his arms.

Thankfully the onlookers (namely a footman or two, Bixly, and her lady’s maid) only stifled their chuckles at the sight of him chasing after Mimi. They had always been loyal and kind. He was good to them, and they had always been good to him.

“Mimi,” he called out just before entering their room.

“You had better be naked by the time I close this door—” He didn’t even need to finish his sentence.

She stood in all her curves by the fire.

Hair dripping wet down her shoulders. Breasts perked up to see him.

And her hands on her thighs, where he could already imagine how wet she would be.

“God, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

“Is that so?” she teased him.

He nodded slowly, advancing toward her while peeling off his own layers.

“Are you just saying that because I’m the better archer?”

“Mostly,” he smirked at her, now naked from the waist up.

“Well, you’re pretty amazing as well,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Are you just saying that because I beat you in an arm wrestle?”

A velvety laugh erupted from her and she ran toward him. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Let’s agree that we’re both amazing.” She dipped her eyes to his lips.

“Agreed.” He claimed her mouth with his.

Within a few steps he had her near the fire to get them dry and warm. “I’m going to lay you on the floor and make love to you, Mimi.”

“I want you to take me everywhere.” She reclined back on her elbows, propping her bosom up and on display. Her knees were up, gathered to a point.

“Spread your legs for me,” he instructed in a husky voice.

Gradually, she released the hold her knees had on each other and slowly parted her legs. Her eyes remained steady on him as he dropped his breeches.

She gasped at the sight of his cock and licked her lips. When he laid down on his stomach, head between her thighs, he whispered, “Don’t move, my love.”

Beyond words, she hummed her acquiescence. With soft movements, he parted her slit and unleashed his tongue on her sweet nectar. “Mimi, you’re my favorite dessert.”

Her head had dropped back, and her mouth was parted. With each lick, each press, each suckle, her breaths grew shorter and shallower.

“Sam,” she whimpered.

“That wasn’t loud enough Mimi.”

Her only response was a soft mewl.

“I know you can be louder than that.” He licked her slowly all along her seam. “I’ll do this all night if I have to, but I won’t stop until you’re screaming my name.”

“Uhh…” A throaty moan broke free.

He flicked his tongue over her pearl. Back and forth. Back and forth. Until her thighs were attempting to squeeze around his head. He used his arms to hold her down and started to suck on her nub.

Her body trembled, and she shouted his name. When her legs went limp, he climbed up over her. Gently, he held her strong and released her elbows from underneath her, then laid her head on the ground.

“Are you ready for me, my love?”

Biting her bottom lip, she said, “Yes, Sam. I want you inside of me. I need you to fill me up.” She arched her hips up against his cock, sliding down his hard ridge.

“We can go slow later, but for now, I need you.” He wanted to watch her. “I want to feel you come all along my cock. I’m going to coat you inside and own you.”

“You already do. I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours, Mimi.”

“Mmm…” She smiled warmly and pulled her leg over his hip. He grabbed her leg and put it over his shoulder instead.

When he slid his cock into her, he groaned at the heat. The comfort. The peace. This was home. This was everything. She was everything to him. “That’s the slowest I can go, my love.”

“I don’t need slow. I just need you.”

He thrust into her, moving her up the rug. “Hold onto me.”

She reached up and tangled her hands into his hair. And he thrust into her again all the way to the hilt. Bottoming out, his sack grew tight. A tingle flared up his spine and his legs began to tremble.

Mimi was more than he could have ever dreamed. He had never felt this captivated before. She was clenched around him, not letting go. She could suck him dry and fill his cup at the same time. Theirs would be a relationship for the ages. Loving. Competing. Filling. Completing each other.

Her hands were all over him, exploring, gripping. He kissed her, with their tongues clashing, devouring each other. He couldn’t get enough.

The sensations were overwhelming and building. He could feel himself about to explode, but he wanted to hang on to please her one more time.

“Sam!” she shouted, sitting up, clinging to his shoulders.

“Uhhh…yes…Sam!” He thrust into her again, hitting that spot in hopes she would wring him dry.

Her insides clenched around him, shuddering.

He thrust one more time. Another scream, a whimper.

Her head was resting against his shoulder. She was sucking on his neck.

And then he felt that last fearless squeeze and he let himself go. He grunted and held her firmly against his body. He would never let her go. Ever.