Page 61 of No Duke of Mine

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Maggie shivered under the weight of Algernon’s heated gaze, but she had made her decision.

Algernon. She had chosen him a long time ago.

She grasped his hand when he smiled and pulled him firmly toward the door. “Come with me.”

“Maggie?”

“No questions,” she whispered, turning back to him. She stretched up and pressed her lips to his in a hard kiss, so he had no doubts what she intended for them for the remaining hours of the night. “No debate, either.”

“I can’t promise you that,” he answered, eyes lighting up with excitement that Maggie shared. “We tend to question everything.”

“We do indeed.” She tugged him along with her. Algernon followed her up the staircase without another word. At the top, she had a moment of indecision, though. His room or her smaller one. But Algernon led her to the room adjoining his—the duchess’ bedchamber.

It felt awkward to be in this room again, as it reminded her that Algernon had given up a fortune to avoid marrying Lady Kent.

But then he curled his arm about her from behind and kissed her neck, and her reservations fled.

Her decision to be with Algernon tonight had nothing to do with trying to compromise herself, or making a marriage with him, either. It had everything to do with wanting to belong. Here. With him. For as long as she ever could.

They had been circling each other and their desire since the moment they’d met again. Older, wiser, and more aware of each other physically. She wanted what she wanted.

Algernon. Kissing her.

The door shut behind them softly, and they were plunged into near darkness. What little moonlight came into the room from the window showed her where to go.

Algernon set his hands on her shoulders and steered her across the room toward the large bed. Then, before she could climb upon it, he pulled her back toward him and held her tightly. “We’ll discuss terms tomorrow.”

“Agreed,” she said. But there were no terms to discuss. She gave her love without strings and wanted nothing more from him but his affection.

He drew back suddenly. “We could wait. We don’t have to rush into bed together tonight.”

“When have you ever wanted to wait?” she whispered, reaching for his waistcoat buttons and undoing a few. “Especially when we want the same thing.”

“Yes, we do. We always have,” he whispered, cupping her face in his hands. He kissed her softly. “I’ll return in a moment.”

He vanished into his chamber. He was gone only a short time. When he returned barefoot, he carried a candle that he set about igniting others with, until the room glowed.

Maggie had been comfortable in the near dark, but there would be no hiding from desire in the light.

Algernon returned to her, and he captured her head again, his fingers dislodging precious pins left and right as he buried them in her hair. “Maggie, be mine,” he whispered.

“Yes,” she whispered back. She stretched up for another, much deeper kiss to seal her vow. She would love him forever.

She slipped a hand between them, finished unbuttoning his waistcoat, and pushed it aside to run her hands over his torso. He was muscled and lean and blazing hot to the touch, but still too far away. She’d found the baring of his forearms distracting, but now she wanted to see the rest of him.

His cravat proved impossible to understand how to untie, and he was the one who stripped it away and undid the tiny buttons on his shirt hidden beneath.

She grabbed a handful of his shirt at his waist and tugged upward impatiently.

Algernon grunted. “One button undone on my breeches will make things easier, my dear, or you’ll wound me.”

Maggie bit her lip and found the two large buttons on his breeches, as Algernon helpfully sucked in his nonexistent belly to give her room to unbutton him. Once they were undone, his shirt slid upward more easily.

When it was gone, she was confronted by a broad expanse of muscled chest and chest hair she’d not expected to see. She laughed at her foolishness. Of course, Algernon’s body would have changed a great deal since he was a boy.

She placed her hand over his heart, and her stomach fluttered with renewed nervousness. She glanced up and saw Algernon smiling.