Noble Scoundrel - Amy Sandas Page 0,46

grunt in pain as his hold weakened. Freddie took swift advantage to scramble away.

Once free, he turned back to assess Mason’s position. Grasping the boy’s ankle, Mason gave a swift tug, which had the boy flopping onto his backside.

“When you get free, you run. Always,” Mason barked. “The state of your opponent can’t be your concern. Your only goal is to escape and avoid further capture.”

“Yes, sir,” Freddie muttered painfully as he rubbed his backside.

Rising from the floor, Mason reached down to offer a hand. “Again.”

Freddie leapt to his feet with a grin. “You won’t trick me this time.”

Chuckling, Mason rubbed his jaw where Frederick’s head had made solid contact. “I’ve got an infinite number of tricks, my boy. Never underestimate your opponent. They won’t hold back, so you can’t either.”

The young duke nodded and squared his shoulders.

Mason flashed a grin. “Now...let’s see just how hard-skulled you are.”

He worked the boy for nearly two hours before sending him off to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The lad had earned it. His focus had been unwavering, and though he didn’t have much muscle yet, he was naturally athletic, and more than anything, he was willing to push himself.

He couldn’t say the same for his next group of trainees.

Shortly after Freddie left the ballroom, Mason had three footmen lined up before him, displaying expressions that varied from eager to wary. Through lessons in various boxing drills, wrestling holds, and a few street-fighting techniques, it became clear that the young one who frequently squared off against five older brothers had some raw talent, another one of them would eventually manage well enough with further training, but the last wasn’t going to work at all.

By the time Mason dismissed them, the young men were red-faced and soaked in sweat. Mason, however, had barely warmed up. Once alone, he threw himself into a vigorous training routine. If he overwhelmed his body with the pain and exhaustion of physical exertion, he might find a way past his tormenting hunger for a provokingly haughty female.

Just the thought of her had his body hardening. And he suspected his desire for the woman would only get stronger. Unfortunately, even another hour of rigorous training did nothing to lessen his more prurient physical need.

Not much later, he was luxuriating in an extra-large bathtub that had been brought up to his bedroom. Freshly scrubbed and smelling of citrus and spice, he rested his arms along the top of the tub and propped his foot against the opposite end. Tipping his head back, he closed his eyes to soak up the warmth and luxury afforded by the steamy, scented water.

He could grow accustomed to baths like this...though there was one thing that could make it better.

Closing his eyes, he imagined soft female hands smoothing over his skin. Massaging the muscles of his shoulders and back, soaping up his limbs, and working through his hair. Fine fingertips circling his sensitive scalp. He could practically feel the silky fall of dark auburn hair sliding over his shoulder from behind as an elegant hand smoothed down the planes of his chest...then abdomen...continuing below the surface of the water.

The scent of an unknown flower mingling with female arousal would surround him as she teased with the soft press of her lips to the side of his throat. Then the sultry murmur of her voice telling him how badly she’s been wanting to touch him. Touch all of him.

He hardened with such force it was almost painful. He reached under the water to run his palm down his stiffened length. With a groan, he pressed his head against the rim of the tub and took himself fully in hand.

For a second, he felt a slight, barely perceptible twinge of shame for using thoughts of Lady Katherine in such a way. But as his cock pulsed in his fist, he disregarded the noble sentiment. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT of tossing and turning and worrying, Katherine made her way down to the breakfast room. Nearing the bottom of the stairs, she was surprised to find a man wearing the clothing of a dockworker standing in her front hall. Apprehension rushed through her as she came to an abrupt stop.

Spotting her at nearly the same time she saw him, the man swept his woolen cap off his head to hold it in both hands behind his back. Wizened brown skin crinkled with discomfort as he shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other.

“May