Page 63 of Duke in Darkness

“No. You matter, Lili,” he replied gruffly, gently sliding a finger under her chin and forcing her to lift her head and meet his gaze. “You matter to me. I only want…you.”

Lilian’s rigid shoulders sagged. “I thought I’d done something wrong.”

“You didn’t. I did…”

Hell and damnation, this was difficult.

Gabriel swallowed hard, trying to loosen his jaw. “I wanted to talk to you…last night. But I fell asleep. So tired and sore…after that damned fool ride. I left because…I was ashamed. I hurt you. Left marks. Bruises. I was too rough. And I’m sor—”

“No!” she burst out.

“Excuse me?”

“No,” she repeated, her cheeks darkening to scarlet. “You didn’t hurt me. I’m so pale…ever since childhood, my skin has always shown every bruise or scrape like a splash of paint. But my wrists, my hips, my, ah, breasts…all fine.”

Relief made him lightheaded. “I’m glad.”

“I apologize for leaving the library. My jealousy is unwarranted, you told me you don’t have a mistress. I just wish that in future, we could be more open with each other. In all things. I really…I really don’t want to hear about you from other people. I’d much prefer to hear the truth from you. I’m not a hothouse flower that will wilt in the first storm.”

“I know,” Gabriel said gruffly. “You are strong. Capable. You’ve improved my life…so much already. I’m used to keeping secrets. But I will try.”

Lilian beamed at him. “That’s all I ask.”

“Very well,” he replied, lifting her hands and kissing each.

She shivered, and peeped up at him through her lashes. “In the interests of openness, it is only fair I tell you that, ah, I liked our bed play the night of the ball. Very much.”

“Did you now? Which part?”

“All of it.”

Gabriel shook his head as he stood taller, lust and satisfaction surging through him. That she had declared her wish for a closer marriage had been momentous enough. But to follow that with the admission she had liked their bed play…hell. Any minute now, he’d be puffed up and roaring like a damned lion. Yet he wanted even more from her. Again, to hear explicit talk from those sweet, pouty lips. “No, Lili. Tell me exactly what. At once.”

CHAPTER 15

T he old saying rang true: with great risk came great reward.

They had talked, really talked. Both apologized, and made a promise to do better. Gabriel had said she mattered. No one had said that for as long as she could remember. After her mother had died, any declaration of affection was rare in the Nash family, praise even more so. To hear something like that, stated so simply and sincerely…well. Her heart might burst right out of her chest. And now her husband was looking at her as though he wanted to eat her up in the best possible way, enticing the hot-blooded part of her nature out to play.

Lilian quivered in anticipation. If she teased him, provoked him a little, would he take her as a colonel for the second time? Even though pale sunshine streamed through the windows rather than moonlight?

Only one way to find out.

“I like it when you touch me. Down there,” she said demurely, deliberately vague.

Gabriel shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. How can I do what you enjoy…if I’m not sure what it is?”

“You know,” Lilian practically purred, batting her lashes. “Down there.”

With a low growl, he secured her wrists in his hands, pushing them up so they rested on her breasts. Then he leaned down and kissed her neck, before nipping her earlobe with his teeth. “Minx.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Gabriel.”

He pulled back, his eyes glittering jet. “I like hearing my name…from your lips. But you are a disobedient duchess. Come with me,” he finished sternly, in that delicious colonel tone, and she squirmed with excitement.

Yet instead of taking her to bed, he led her across the chamber to the dressing table. Leaning down, he dragged her sturdy, padded rectangular seat several feet away until it rested directly in front of the full-length looking glass. Then he carefully lowered himself onto it.

Lilian bit her lip in confusion. “Aren’t we going to bed?”