Page 39 of The Duke of Pain

“Gideon!”

“Hush, sweet. Get the door, will you? Can you reach?”

Olivia leaned down and turned the handle. Gideon stepped into the hall and headed toward the stairs.

“Hobson! We are not to be disturbed!”

They laughed with pure joy as Gideon rushed up the stairs. He brought her into a large room, one that bespoke of the man who slept in it. The bedroom was elegantly ornamented, consisting of dark wood walls and green and gold draperies and bedding.

He lowered her, then Gideon turned the gaslights on, and soft but bright illumination filled the room.

He then removed his coat, waistcoat, and shirt. Olivia walked toward him, laying her hand flat against his chest, then she trailed her fingers over his shoulder but stopped when her finger came across raised bumps. Curious, she followed the line over his shoulder and across his shoulder blade. Why hadn’t Olivia seen these before? Well, because she had never seen him bare-chested in a well-lit room.

“What is this?” she asked softly. Olivia had a suspicion, and it was too terrible to contemplate.

“Cigar burns. Done at various times during my childhood. They are elsewhere on my body. Reminders of the abuse I was subjected to. A reminder that I bore the disfigurement and didn’t give him the satisfaction of crying out. But that only made him angrier, you see. So, I learned to muster tears for his amusement.”

Olivia embraced him. “Damn your awful stepfather. And damn your mother for allowing it.”

“Like you, I survived,” he murmured. “It may have made me stronger, but it also made me an unfeeling sod. I felt sorry for myself. It turned me hard and bitter, And entirely selfish.”

She stepped back and looked up at him, her eyes swimming with empathic tears. “I know exactly of what you speak. I did the same.”

Gideon caressed her flushed cheek. “Then let us banish those people forever.”

A single tear ran down her cheek. “Yes. Banish.”

He gently brushed away the tear with the pad of his thumb. “Good. Because I want to make love to you. You are attracted to me as I am to you.”

Gideon leaned in and whispered in her ear. “You’re wet for me. I’d lay coin on it. We will not have sex if you do not wish it. But let me worship you. If you wish me to stop, say the word, and I will. Put your trust in me as I have with you. Give and take, Liv.”

She did not answer right away.

“We take this one day at a time,” Gideon urged, his words coming out in a rush. “Revel in the emotions sparking between us. Say yes. And make me the happiest of men.”

His heartfelt and passionate words had seized her breath. She laid her hand flat over his heart; it was thumping at a swift pace the same as hers. Hot desire shot through her veins.

Olivia took his hand from her cheek, raised it to her lips, and kissed it.

“Give and take. One day at a time. Very well, Gideon. I will try.”

He slid the small jacket from her shoulders, then laid tender kisses on the bared skin.

“The duke I observed at The Velvet did this to his duchess,” Gideon murmured.

“Did he?” she replied shakily. “And what else did he do?”

“He kissed her all over,” Gideon whispered as he backed her up toward his bed. “Reverently, as if she were the most precious person in his entire world.”

Slowly and with care, he undressed her, layer by layer, kissing every part of her skin that became exposed.

“And you are precious to me,” he added.

His emotionally charged words arrowed straight to her heart, giving it a decided jolt.

Then he stopped, looking into her eyes.

“What is it?” Olivia asked.