Page 123 of The Duke's Indecent Match

She tipped over the edge while he kept going, sending her into a state of agonized rapture as the sensual assault hovered between pleasure and pain from the sheer intensity.Reaching for his hands, she grabbed his wrists as tears sparked in her eyes, her legs wrapped around his waist, trying to hold him in place, trying to cease the relentless pounding.

Instead, he switched their holds, taking both of her wrists in one hand and pinning them above her head, so she was utterly helpless beneath him.His other hand slid between their bodies, finding the little nubbin of her clit, swollen and overstimulated, and began to rub and pinch the tiny bud.

Kalina screamed as the intense sensations shot through her, her pussy clamping down around him.She fought against his wrists, her thighs squeezing his body, trying to push him away as the sensations swamped her, becoming almost too much for her to bear.

More tears slid down the sides of her face, soaking into her hair as the onslaught overwhelmed her.

The pain-pleasure combination pulsed through her until Nathanial slammed home and groaned as he began to throb within her, emptying himself into her shuddering body.Kalina gulped, panting for breath, her muscles finally going lax as his hand moved away from her tortured nub.

Her husband half-collapsed over her, his forearms pressed against the bed on either side of her arms as he feathered kisses over her jaw.

“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.She wanted him to know that she did not only feel such things in the heat of passion.

Felt him shiver against her.

“I love you.”He pressed a kiss to her jaw before lifting his head to look down at her, his fingers smoothing the flyaway hair back from her face.“I know our marriage did not begin the way either of us wanted, and as much as it bothers me that your father was right about us… I do love you.”

Kalina laughed.There was a part of her that was annoyed that her father was correct as well.

Good intentions.Questionable methods.

But it had gotten the job done.

“I feel the same.And I do love you, with all my heart.”

Taking her lips in another kiss, Nathanial wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up with him as he straightened, so he could roll them both into the bed.

Kalina happily fell asleep in his bed, in his arms.

The next morning, they sat at the breakfast table with his sisters, who were all happily chattering.The contentment, the joy, that settled over her was bone deep.

“I say,” Fiona said, picking up her slice of toast to butter.“Did anyone else hear a scream last night?I woke up in the middle of the night, and I swear I heard someone screaming.”

Both Emma and Julianna shook their heads no.

“You must have only dreamed that you woke up and heard it,” Julianna said.

Nathanial and Kalina locked eyes over the table.She brought her teacup up to her lips to help hide her expression, while he winked at her.

Hush.

He mouthed the word before sinking down behind his newspaper.

Heroically suppressing her giggles, Kalina asked the girls what they wanted to do for the day, skillfully changing the subject.This was her life now.And it was better than she could have ever dreamed.

Epilogue

Matthew

The hazard tournament had been fruitful for Matthew’s pockets but not for the information they’d been hoping to uncover.The Earl of Cornwall had never appeared.Since speaking to him and finding out why he had not attended the trip to the hunting lodge, especially after inviting Nathanial’s to the lodge, had been the point of attending, that was disappointing.When Christian had finally been able to obliquely question the man’s friends, they all swore they were surprised by his absence; as far as they knew, he’d planned to attend.

He, Drake, and Christian had seen through the rest of the night, as leaving at that point would have been suspicious.Matthew was too close to winning to leave without comment.

When the Tramp and his lady indulged in their usual voyeuristic show after the end of the tournament, he quickly took his winnings and got out the door while everyone was distracted, Christian and Drake on his heels.

“I do not suppose you couldtryto lose every once in a while,” Christian grumbled.“Sometimes it is unlucky to be winning, especially when it draws the ire of every man in the establishment.”

Matthew shrugged.