Page 47 of The Phantom Duke

A low growl rumbled from Damien’s chest, and his teeth teased her lower lip. “Oh!” Maria exclaimed, her hips jolting forward.

He broke the kiss and gazed hotly at her. “Be careful doing that,” he said. “I might be unable to resist you any longer. I might be forced to take you right on this table in front of everyone.”

Maria rubbed him again, and his hands grasped her hips. He pulled her in for another fierce kiss, and Maria clung helplessly to him as he kissed her again and again. Her entire world was narrowed to him, to the scent of his cologne and the tang of his sweat. Desire coiled inside her body, and shefelthim growing harder beneath her.

The sound of footsteps shattered the moment.

At that moment, Sally bustled into the room with the soup course. She almost dropped it as she tried to spin herself to face away from Maria and Damien. For her part, Maria leaped from Damien’s lap as though scalded, putting too much weight on her ankle and doing her utmost not to show it. Damien looked from the two scarlet-faced women, threw back his head and roared with laughter.

Sally seemed just as surprised as Maria at the sound and the open grin on Damien’s face. Maria wobbled back to her seat,sitting gratefully. She looked at Damien, merriment shone in his eyes, and she smiled. Her core pulsed with aching need, but Maria only barely noticed the sensation, for she was so startled by the wondrous sight of her husband smiling and joyful.

“I am glad to see that you can smile,” she said.

“When the occasion demands it. I find it rarely does,” Damien said.

“A child in the house can give cause for much laughter and joy,” Maria said.

Damien’s smile slowly faded as the soup was served.

“I have agreed to the visit.”

“Yes, I wasn’t…”

“I know what you were doing. Gilbert may visit once, but he will never live here.”

Ice filled her veins. “So, you are going back on what you agreed.”

“I do not believe so. I made no promises.”

“I beg your pardon, but you did,” Maria said, her mind racing with a cleverer rebuttal.

Someone, likely her father, had made an anonymous offer for the orphanage, and Damien had just announced his intention to go back on his word. What was she to do?

Sally left, and they ate in silence. Maria barely tasted the food. She felt a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had pinned so much hope on Gilbert being able to live with her at Winterleigh. Now she was faced with the impenetrable wall of Damien’s mercurial mood.

It had felt as though she had won a small victory, then been reminded of how much still needed to be fought. She could not give up. If she could find no clever argument, she must try the obvious one. The meal continued that way until Maria suddenly said, “Gilbert was always part of our arrangement. I made that clear and have complied with your requirements. I have asked nothing…”

“You have done nothing but ask.”

“That is not true! I have been very accommodating of your dark moods and your rules.”

“If you dislike my nature, then you are not a prisoner.”

“I am a prisoner, just not at your behest.”

There was a moment of silence.

“At whose, then?” Damien asked.

Maria slammed down her soup spoon, angry at the disbelief in his voice.

“Why should I confide in you about my life prior to this moment when you have confided nothing to me?”

“I do not wish you to confide. I do not need a confidante. Why do you?”

“Because I amhuman!”

Maria regretted the impulsive choice of words. It was too close to calling Damien the Phantom. Silence descended like ash.