Page 12 of Never Love a Duke

“You want more, Mirabelle?”

“Uh huh,” she moaned. “More, Gabriel. Please.”

His hand darted between them while he worked on his breeches. The warmth of his knuckles brushed against her, accidentally at first. Or so she thought. But with each moan she released, he stroked her again until she could feel how slick she was down there.

His head was at her ear. “I’m going to make you come, darling. First, you’ll come on my hand, and then if you’re ready, I’ll give you more. But only if you’re a good girl.”

Like wax, her body melted into him. Aching to be good for him.

His finger slipped into her and her sudden gasp was drowned out in his kiss. When his thumb found the heart of pleasure between her legs, she pulled back from the kiss and found his neck to bite down on.

The ache inside of her turned demanding. Pounding. Banging. Coiling. Until the final beat pulsed out of her in a low moan.

When he pulled his hand away, she whimpered at the loss and the sensitivity. But shock turned into feral arousal as she watched him put his fingers in his mouth.

“So sweet,” he murmured, as she felt his hard cock on her thigh. “Were you a good girl?” he asked with a knowing look. And she felt his cock pulsate against her.

“Uh huh,” she begged on a whisper.

“Mmm…that’s what I wanted to hear.” His hand reached down and stroked his velvet length against her core.

Wide eyes, her hands gripped his neck. “I want that, Gabriel. I want more.” She moaned just as he placed the tip at her entrance.

“You going to take all of this, Mirabelle?”

“Yes.” And then she felt him enter her until her lips touched his pelvic bone. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She had never felt so complete. A part of her had been found. And she was frantic to find friction. Movement. So she did.

“That’s it, Mirabelle.” He pulled her bodice down to bring one of her breasts and its peaked nipple into his mouth.

His hands guided her, but she set the pace and the rhythm. Feeling him everywhere. And though it seemed impossible, she felt him grow inside of her. Harder. Longer. Until she couldn’t take it anymore and she rocked over the edge again. Clinging to him. Calling his name. While he braced her against him, sucking on her nipple.

It was everything she never knew she needed.

And then it wasn’t.

Chapter 8

“Mirabelle, I found this woman looking for Greene House, but she was redirected here. I think she’s looking for you, but this is somewhat of a discreet nature—” Iris’s eyes caught up with her words, and she ceased her chatter.

But the damage was done. The door was open. She had definitely seen him in Mirabelle’s bed. The other woman, too, with her hand on her belly, though she was doing her utmost to avoid eye contact.

“Umm…I’ll just be…well, one minute, please, Iris,” Mirabelle stammered with as much grace as was possible in a scandalous moment such as this.

With a stunned gleam in her eyes, Iris walked backward out the door, taking the other woman in her wake.

This wasn’t exactly how Gabriel had planned on bringing this up, but it was as good a time as any. Perhaps even best. He knew he wanted to take Mirabelle as his wife before they made love, but now that they had, there was no question. Even if it meant spending the rest of his life sorting it out, he knew he wanted her. Somehow she was not the misjudged woman he had made her out to be. She was kind, compassionate, determined, and driven toward her goals. And even though he thought all of those wonderful attributes were true about her, all he said aloud was, “Well, I guess we’re getting married then.”

He had wished for a smile. Expected a yes. Hoped that she might kiss him again.

None of those came true.

No. Not a one. In fact, all she did at first was grip the coverlet more tightly around her, though she was still mostly dressed.

“I don’t think so,” she eventually said.

Several beats passed before Gabriel could muster the words, and really, they weren’t all that inspired. “You don’t think so?”

“No. I don’t. I think…actually…you should go. Someone needs me.”