Page 45 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

“Very well, but I will check on the twins first.”

“Of course, but Your Grace, you have a few ladies coming in about an hour for an interview.”

“Oh dear.” Cordelia put a hand to her forehead. “And I’ve awoken so late!”

She chastised herself inwardly for her own foolishness and lack of organization. This was not like her at all. But one night with the errant duke and she was a lost cause.

“I shall simply have to hurry,” she told Anna. “I will see you in my room,” she told her lady’s maid, and then when Anna left, she set herself to rights, wrapped her robe around her again and left the room, not eager to look back upon the scene of the greatest pleasure she had ever felt. Her body remembered, and there was a delicious ache between her thighs.

You must forget it, she told herself, for it could not happen again. Things that felt too good always had some price to pay. Especially when those things were connected to a man who confused her now more than ever. Who was he really?

Pushing away thoughts of what happened, she hurried to her room and got dressed. Soon enough, she was on her way to the nursery to see to the twins when she found Nicholas standing just outside the door, ready to go in. He turned at the sound of her footsteps and frowned at her.

Cordelia’s body reacted instantly, a tingle in her belly, goosebumps on her skin, her heart skipping a beat.

Foolish lust. It has no good sense.

It didn’t help that it looked like he’d bathed, shaved, and appeared fully rested, his shirtsleeves rolled up again and collar loose. She steeled herself for whatever he was about to say or do, and she kept her hands firmly at her sides, fearful they might betray her and try to reach for him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I am coming to look in on the twins.”

“Why are you not at breakfast?” he replied, standing between her and the door when she tried to open it.

The musky scent of him filled her nose, and she held her breath for a moment, for the rush of desire came back so fully, it was distracting.

“I have only just woken up, and I’m not hungry yet. I’ll see to the twins first.”

She tried to push past him again, but this time, he touched her chin and lifted it so that she could look into his eyes.

“Listen here, wife. I didn’t stay home so that you could not eat. That was the whole bloody purpose!”

“You are not my nanny, Your Grace,” she spat back, her body not allowing her to move away, even though she knew she must.

“No, I am not. I am your husband, and –” he paused, leaning down to whisper in her ear again.

No, no, no, not again.

At the feel of his cheek and his breath tickling her ear, Cordelia’s muscles grew all limp again.

“And I do not wish to see your legs shaking again from lack of food or anything else. Anything else but me giving you pleasure.”

Grasping at whatever sense was left to her, Cordelia pushed him back and opened the door quickly, shoving an amused Nicholas inside. She put a finger to her lips.

“Have you no sense of discretion? Someone may hear you! There are servants everywhere.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” he teased, crossing his arms over his broad chest as she leaned against the now closed door for support. “A man admiring his beautiful wife? Reminding her that he enjoys the feel and the taste of her? Nonsensical!”

She made a face at him, and then the twins stirred, bursting into tears at the sound of Nicholas’s loud voice.

“Oh, now look what you’ve done!” she said, hurrying to Olivia to pick her up.

He frowned, and when she looked up at him, she saw a look of remorse. He went to Tim’s bedside and knelt by him, reaching his hand out for Tim to take.

“Perk up, little man. There is a busy day to be had.” He turned back to her. “But first, breakfast, my dear!” Nicholas said. “We must go down.”

“Then, we’ll take them with us so that I can eat, and you’ll finally be satisfied.”