Page 48 of A Tale of Two Dukes

“Such a pretty liar you are. Now come, surely you have some information you can give me. Where does he go? Whom does he see? What does he do?”

“I can honestly tell you I know nothing. He sees me, we sleep, and when I awake the next morning, he is no longer in my company.”

“But you must hear something. I can’t imagine the duke being quiet in his conquest of you.”

“Unfortunately, I seem to render him unable to speak coherently. That is, unless it is to tell me what a good little omega I am.”

At my words, Mr. Beaumont’s eyes dilate. Desperation claws at my insides as he steps closer. Instead of attacking me, however, he scents the air, smelling the scent of heat that pours from my body.

“Surely you have access to correspondence that he might leave here. In a study, perhaps?”

“If you think I’ll enter his-”

“You will enter because now I’m setting my sights on the duke. No longer do I care for your sister. She’s weak and can never accommodate me as I would want. So, if you want your precious lover to live, to not have some anonymous note left for the palace guards that it is, in fact, he who has nefarious plans toward the Prince, you will do as I say. Understood? The next time I come for you, you will give me something. If not, I’ll make it my mission that he will swing.”

With a nod, he turns about, leaving me alone in the room. I want to collapse in a puddle, to sob until the anxiety bleeds dry. But to do that will be to alert the maid that something is amiss.

Terror races through me, choking me at the very idea of Birchleigh hanging. It’s unfair. None of this is my fault, and yet everyone else around me seems to pay the price. I thought leaving was the best course of action, but now, even more people are caught up in the wake.

I stand there, taking in deep gulps of air, waiting until my pulse returns to something resembling normalcy. Thankfully, they all seem to be betas and unable to pick up on cues the same way an Alpha can. As it is, there’s still that thread of unease that maybe we were not as clandestine as I had hoped?

However, based on her lack of action, she seemed unable to hear the conversation between us. For now, until I can figure out a way to be free of this man while keeping the duke safe, I must act as if nothing is wrong. Gliding out of the room, I make my way up the stairs and into the bedroom.

Again, everything looks to be in shambles. With a cry, I set my hands to the bed and tug at the sheets, desperate for at least one thing to be right today. Frantic, I strip the bed, sobbing as my insides turn molten.

I need the duke. I need him here with me, to hold me, to shield me from the world. But most of all, I need the domination of his body. I need him to break me, to allow the world to drift away until it’s just him.

CHAPTER 20

William

Irritation rolls down my spine as the carriage takes me from my brother’s London house. Of all the sanctimonious, prickish behavior to have. I’m still unsure why he’s behaving in such a manner. In all our years as friends, brothers, closer than some who are blood born, he’s never treated me or those I chose to care about thusly.

Rubbing my brow, I close my eyes, desperately searching for relief from this pounding in my brain. It’s not an ailment, at least not one without a cure. Kitty has become an addiction, a drug that I must consume or suffer. We’re not even bonded and yet my body cries out for the sweet relief only her body can bring me.

Based on how she stirred in her sleep, her body burning at my touch, she must be nearing her heat. And with that knowledge, my cock ceases to lie flaccid. Though I can turn my thoughts to other matters if pressed, they always come back to her and my plans for her body.

Even now, my balls tighten, forcing precum to well at my tip. Soon, her mouth will surround me, engulfing my erection with her spectacular heat. Perhaps once she drains me, I’ll be able to think rationally.

In truth, if Robert hadn’t hinted to so desperately needing me this morning, I would have lazed about in bed with her, easing her into this heat, coaxing her. As it is, she’s been left unattended without even the staff knowing what’s soon to occur.

And for what? For my older brother to lecture me again? For someone so dead set against marriage unless the person is just so, he’s convinced I need to be leg-shackled to draw my mind and attention from Kitty.

Though some day, I will have to marry to continue my line, it’s my hope that my mistress will be well settled with me and our way of life. Any bride wishing to marry me will hopefully desire to attain money and a title, for I will never be able to give her my heart. In just a handful of weeks, I’ve fallen for the strumpet who has burrowed her way into my soul.

I can only hope she feels the same way. If not, I’m sure I can persuade her to my side. Not that it will take much convincing. I see the way her body relaxes the moment I walk into the room. I smell the arousal as it drifts off of her with just a stern look from me.

She’s smitten, besotted, and I have no issue using that to my advantage. Though most Alphas only claim their wives when it’s a love match, I hold no such aspirations for any future woman to claim that title. In fact, I’m more than willing to choose a beta, someone who will neither need nor want my claim.

Since I plan to only mark once, this reinforces the enormity of what I intend to do. But I see no other choice. Kitty is mine and this will forever seal her to me.

And, after I claim her, I’ll have complete control over her mind and body. Her need to please me will double, triple even. Every inch of her will be primed to please me, doing my bidding with just a lustful whisper into her mind.

Perhaps after that, she’ll leave Hugh well enough alone. At just the thought of that pusillanimous man, my anger surges. He’s stayed away for a bit, but he’s never far out of my thoughts. Every time I look upon Kitty and see that damned necklace about her throat, I want to hunt him down and tear him limb from limb.

It would be too much to hope that my conversation with the Prince led to that ferret’s demise. No doubt he’s still skulking about, attempting to meet with my omega in secret. Does the daft man not understand that I can smell him on her?

Does he really think she’d be able to hide any indiscretion from me? Or perhaps he does this to taunt me, to flaunt his ability to be so close to my woman while cuckolding me, treating me as impotent. I’ll show him just how powerful I am.