A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,77
and opened his mouth in a silent scream.
In a flash, he put his cravat over his cock as he spilled his seed. The raw power of his release seemed to reverberate through the room.
He sat motionless, then lowered his head as he gained control of his body again.
It was humbling and the most beautiful thing she’d ever witnessed in her life. He stood slowly, and Katherine rose when he held out his arms. He pulled her close, then kissed her as if this were their last hour on earth.
Finally, when their heartbeats returned to normal, he swept her into his arms, then seated himself in the slipper chair with her reclining on his lap. They stayed that way as they both caught their breath. In a paradise of their own making, she was nestled by his side with his arm around her.
He exhaled with a deep sigh. “I’ve never in my life done anything like that before.”
The glow from her own release had started to fade. Silence settled around them. Neither spoke, and for a moment, she thought he might regret what they’d done. “I haven’t either.”
He turned his attention back to her face and brushed his fingers across her cheek, where an unruly lock of hair had escaped the confines of her simple chignon. After he pushed it behind her ear, he continued to caress her. “You never did anything like that with your husband?”
Automatically, she tensed at the reference to Meri. “Never. Nor did I want to.” Immediately, she regretted saying such a thing, but he smiled gently.
He bent down and brushed his lips against hers in reassurance. “Come. Let’s set ourselves to right. We can’t let your Willa find a way to unlock the door and catch us in such shocking dishabille.”
She stood, and he followed. With a tender touch, he helped straighten her skirt and bodice, then fiddled with several lost curls. Only then did he tuck his shirt in and button his falls.
It wasn’t embarrassment that stole between them, but the awkwardness of what to say next that kept her silent. Christian must have sensed it too. He reached for his soiled cravat, then stuffed it in his pocket before he smoothed his hands over his coat. Only then did he look at her.
“Would you like to come to my house tomorrow and finish going through my brother’s papers and other personal items?”
“I’m done with all of that.” Then as if to ensure he understood, she rephrased it. “I’m finished with him.”
Christian stared at her, not saying a word, but his gaze questioned if she was certain of her decision. With her resolute silence, she convinced him she was serious. His shoulders relaxed, and he nodded.
Without a word, he picked up his hat from the side table, then moved toward the door. He unlocked it and turned to her once again.
“I wasn’t going to say this, but I changed my mind. A duke’s prerogative, so to speak.” He exhaled deeply. “I’m glad you’re finished. If he’d lived, he would have never come to appreciate your beauty and your grace.” He turned and grasped the handle, then hesitated. He dipped his head and regarded her. His heavy lids didn’t hide the brilliance of his eyes. “It would be remiss of me not to say one more thing.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“You’re breathtaking when you come,” he said softly. “I’ve never seen a more exquisite sight.”
Before she could answer or even react, he was gone.
In his wake, the room grew quiet. Her heart swelled with an admission dredged from a place that defied all logic and reason. She had fallen in love with Christian tonight.
Nothing good would come from it except the folly of heartache.
Chapter Sixteen
The following day, Christian sat at his desk reading a letter from Sykeston. Wheatley knocked on the open door and entered.
If another bequest from Meri had arrived, Christian would simply refuse it.
“Pardon me, Your Grace,” Wheatley said. Sweat glistened across his brow. “An urgent message has arrived that needs your attention.”
Christian cocked an eyebrow. In his entire life of living at Rand House, he could not recall a time when his butler had interrupted him in such a harried tone of voice.
Panting as if he’d run a race, Morgan suddenly appeared beside Wheatley. “Captain, if I might have a word?”
Christian stood immediately and walked around the desk. Today was his valet’s normal day to shop on Bond Street. If Morgan had foregone the trip, then it must be something dire.