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Tessa had never felt such a sense of relief and frustration as when the duke arrived. Kissing Raynerson again had been a dreadful decision on her part. As she felt his passion flare, she should have pushed him away. If not for the duke’s arrival, she might have let her lips linger on Raynerson’s mouth. Thankfully, the duke’s interruption saved her from a decision she wasn’t ready to make yet. His fatherly looks served to remind her that she was supposed to be a lady, not a whore.
“My dear, you should sit at the head of the table while we sit on either side of you,” the duke said, assisting her to her seat at the large mahogany table.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she replied but her gaze flitted over to Raynerson as he took the seat to her left. Her mind immediately returned to that passionate kiss in the salon. What was wrong with her? She’d never been moved by a simple kiss. Not that anything about that kiss had been simple. Far from it. His kiss tonight had been far more intense than even the prior evening, heady and intoxicating to say the least. The sensation of his hard body pressed against her had sent her desire soaring.
Seeing him again had only sent her longing into an ache she couldn’t control. Staring at his large hands, she imagined him cupping her breast, squeezing, flicking a finger across her nipple. What would it feel like to touch him? Let her fingers skim down his muscular chest and smooth skin. She pressed her legs together tightly to control the sensations warring within her body.
“My dear, you seem to be woolgathering. Is everything all right?” the duke asked, bringing her out of her fantasy.
Scorching heat crossed her cheeks as she turned away from Raynerson to face the duke. “I apologize. I was momentarily distracted.”
“Hmm, momentarily,” Raynerson muttered with a sinful grin, as if he knew her thoughts. “And what was so distracting, I wonder?”
They both must have realized she’d been staring at Raynerson while she daydreamed. “There seems to be a crack in the wall,” she said, pointing to a fracture in the plaster behind him that had been there for as long as she’d lived here. “I just don’t remember seeing it before now and wondered when it appeared.”
“I am certain it was there the last time I dined with you,” the duke commented with a slight shake of his head before taking a bite of roast beef.
Tessa shrugged. “Hmm, I never noticed it before.”
She had to get their minds on something else. Seeing the duke’s wineglass almost empty, she signaled a footman to refill him. “Your Grace, how is your son?”
“Quite well, thank you. I believe he should be home within a fortnight.”
“How wonderful!” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “It will be good to have him home for you again.”
The duke shrugged.
She slid a glance over at Raynerson who glared at her hand clutching the duke’s. Drawing her hand away, she said, “You should hold a ball to celebrate his return.”
“We shall see,” the duke replied with a smile to her.
The men took up the conversation as they discussed politics. Normally, Tessa would have been an active participant, but tonight she focused on the food on her plate. She wanted the awkward dinner finished. Before they left, she would have to give them both a decision about tomorrow night. Unfortunately, she knew whom she must choose.
Sliding a glance over at Jack, she noticed him pushing the food around his plate but eating very little of the delicious meal. She wondered why he would have made up a pretense of wanting to dine with her when he obviously wasn’t hungry...unless his motive had been less than respectable. Did he really think he would arrive at her house and seduce her?
The idea sent a rush of warmth throughout her body. Perhaps he could.
As dinner finished, the duke looked over at her again. Concern lined his face. “My dear, are you feeling unwell this evening? You have been exceptionally quiet, which is most unlike you.”
There had to be some reason for her to be so subdued. She sincerely doubted the duke would want to know the truth. “I must apologize if I have been inconsiderate. I have a slight headache this evening.”
“Oh my dear, you should have said something before now,” the duke said rising up from his chair. “We shall not keep you another moment, shall we, Raynerson?”
She glanced over at Raynerson. He cocked a brown brow at her. He didn’t believe her. It was as if the man could see right through her lies. She prayed he couldn’t truly see into her soul and the darkness and lies there. Falsehoods she’d told herself and others over the past six years. Actions she could never take back no matter how much she wanted to.
“Of course, you must retire at once so one of us will have your full attention tomorrow evening,” Raynerson replied.
“Yes, of course I will do just that.” Tessa rose from her chair.
“And which one of us will have the honor of your company, my dear?” the duke asked with a quick hard glare at Raynerson.
“Why you, of course, Your Grace.” Tessa refused to meet Raynerson’s probing gaze. “It has been ages since we attended the opera together. I do hope you understand, Mr. Raynerson.”
“Absolutely,” he said roughly. “Thank you for a lovely dinner, but I should take my leave now.”
“As should I,” the duke said before adding, “I look forward to our evening together.” He ambled over and kissed her forehead like a father might. “Goodnight, my dear. Get a good rest and feel better.”
She nodded at them both but noticed the way Raynerson tightened his jaw. He should realize that she truly had no choice tonight. Choosing a man she barely knew, over a duke whom she had known for years, would look strangely suspicious to the duke. If she wished to take Raynerson or any other man into her bed, appearances must be kept up, and being seen in the duke’s company could only help the situation. Everyone knew he supported her family socially and more importantly, her in Society.
Keeping the duke close would prevent any further gossip about the company she kept. And the more she saw Raynerson, the more he kissed her, the more she wanted him in her bed as quickly as possible.
~*~
Once seated in the duke’s box the next evening, Tessa scanned the audience, not to see how many people were discussing her audacity to arrive with the duke, but for Raynerson. She doubted Raynerson had a box unless it was his brother’s, so she had to look down at the people below her position. Unable to spot him, disappointment raced through her. He hadn’t stopped to call on her today as she’d thought he would. Surely, he couldn’t still be angry with her for choosing the duke tonight.
Not seeing Raynerson today had given her nerves a sense of relief. Every time he was near, she felt on pins and needles wondering if he would kiss her or ask her to become his lover. Being with the duke gave her a sense of familial comfort. The duke was more acquainted with her misfortune than anyone, save her family. He had been the one she confided in regarding her concerns about marriage. His sage advice had helped her decide on all three husbands. He’d guided her past the men who would break her heart and never love her. Strangely though, the only husband who had loved her had been Stanhope, and he hadn’t been the duke’s first choice for her third husband.
As the opera started, she put aside her concerns and focused on the beautiful music. She glanced over at the duke only to find him dozing in his chair. Intermission roused him from his nap and brought the usual people by to greet the duke. A few even deemed to nod at her with a slight smile. All for the duke’s sake, she was certain.
“Good evening, Lady Stanhope,” a familiar feminine voice sounded from behind her.
Tessa turned her head and tears welled. “Vanessa,” she whispered.
“Come now, I am Lady Winthrop,” she said with a laugh. “I believe I finally outrank you.”
Tessa stood and gave her dearest friend a hug. “I have missed you so much. I wish I could have stood up with you at your wedding.”
“Winthrop would never have allowed it.”
Vanessa’s husband and family had been keeping them apart for years, ever since Tessa’s second husband passed. “Why is Winthrop letting you see me tonight?”
“He did not attend with me.” Vanessa slid a glance over the duke, deep in conversation with Lord Stanley. “I heard a rumor,” she whispered.
“About me?” Tessa cringed.
“Yes.” Vanessa leaned in closer. “I heard that there is an investigation ongoing about your involvement with Stanhope’s death.”
Tessa shook her head. “That was over months ago, there is nothing to worry about there.”
“Thank God.”
“You should go...will you write me?”
Vanessa nodded. “Of course.”
“You must take your leave now so no one suspects you are conspiring with the murderess.”
Sympathy shone in her friend’s eyes. “You are not that.”
“Unfortunately, it only seems to matter what everyone believes, not the truth.”
Vanessa nodded slowly and left the duke’s box. Tessa returned to her red velvet seat with a sigh. Most of the crowd had departed the box and intermission was about to end.
“Did you enjoy seeing Lady Winthrop again?” the duke asked as he straightened his cravat.
“Very much so. Unfortunately, the marquess does not approve of me.”
“Hmm,” he said with a frown. “Perhaps his mind can be changed.”
“Highly unlikely,” Tessa whispered as the curtain rose and the singers began the opera again. When the opera finally finished, she was ready to go home. Seeing Vanessa again had reminded her of how many friends she’d lost over the years. Tessa supposed most of them were not true friends, as only Vanessa had attempted to maintain contact even at the risk of her marriage.
“I believe Lady Harwood is hosting a small dinner after the opera, shall we attend?” the duke asked as he held out his arm for her.
“If you do not mind, I would much prefer to return home tonight. I feel my headache is returning and should like to retire.”
“Of course, my dear.”
An hour later, she had finally arrived back at her house. Her maid assisted her into her night rail. After brushing out her hair, Anne started to put it in a queue.
“Did you have an enjoyable night, my lady?”
“The opera was very well done,” she replied. She would have had a much more enjoyable time had Raynerson accompanied her. She doubted he would have fallen asleep ten minutes into the opera. Although she would have paid little attention to the performance if Raynerson sat next to her.
“All finished. I shall bid you a goodnight, my lady.”
What was it about the man that she found so desirable? He was rather tall for someone her size and his nose slightly large. Not to mention, she barely knew the man. Wasn’t desire supposed to gradually happen, not hit a person in the belly after one meeting? Before Tessa’s first marriage, her mother had told her passion takes time to develop and not to expect much from it.
But Raynerson did have beautiful eyes for a man. Thick brown lashes lined warm amber eyes that seemed to look into her soul. And his mouth was perfectly sinful. His lips were not too full and not too thin as if made for kissing a woman senseless.
She walked to the fire and held her hands out to warm herself. The cool rain had returned this evening making the room feel chilled and damp. The sound of a low exhale made her spin around. Raynerson stood at the threshold of her late husband’s room.
“The duke?” he said roughly, as he stalked her. “Am I not good enough to take you to an opera?”
“What are you doing in my home?” she asked. “And how did you even get in?”
He leveled her a devastating smile. “I can be very persuasive when I wish.”
“Which maid did you flirt with? I would like to be certain that I sack the guilty party.”
“Perhaps I snuck inside when no one was looking?” He stepped closer to her. “Now, I have answered your question so it is your turn. Why the duke?”
“Raynerson, you must realize I had no choice in the matter. I couldn’t say no to him.”
“Of course not, what would people say if they saw you with me?” He was only a few feet away. “After all, I am only the second son of a viscount, hardly worth the attention of a woman such as you.”
“You know that is not true.”
“Do I? You couldn’t take your eyes off him during dinner yesterday.”
“How can you say that? You both caught me staring at you.”
She couldn’t step back or she would end up in the fireplace so she sidestepped him to get to the door. She didn’t trust his black mood since she had never seen him truly irate before now. He caught her as she passed him and brought her up against his hard body.
“Why?” His warm amber eyes were dark and cold.
“He’s a duke, you fool, and has been like a father to me for the past six years. If I had rejected his offer, he would have assumed there was something improper between us.”
His lips curled upwards. “Why were you staring at me during dinner?”
“I—I...don’t know,” she whispered.
“Yes, you do,” he said, leaning in closer. “You want me.”
“Maybe I want the duke in my bed.” As soon as she said those lying words, she regretted them. His face darkened as he walked her backwards toward the bed.
“You want yet another man over twice your age in your bed?” he asked harshly before leaning in closer. “Is that what excites you?”
“No,” she whispered suddenly fearful of his next move.
“Can your duke do this to you?”
Before she could consider his words, his mouth slanted over hers. Not a sweet or even lustful kiss, his lips were hard and punishing as if jealousy controlled him. She cupped his rough face with her hands. Opening her mouth to him, he plunged his tongue in to do battle but his opponent was ready for him. She fought his tongue for dominance and control, but he was having no part of it.
Cool air swept up her legs as he lifted the hem of her night rail until his hand cupped her derriere, squeezing and caressing until she moaned for more. She wanted him deep inside her, quenching this fire that raged in her body. She didn’t care if she hadn’t even known him a week, or even if he would eventually break her heart. Her only concern right now was satisfaction.
His fingers moved around her hip until he found the apex of her thighs and plunged into her moist folds.
“Damn, you are so ready,” he murmured as his lips trailed down her neck. “Do you want me inside you, Tessa?”
“Oh, please, Raynerson, please.”
“Jack. Call me Jack.” His lips kissed her collarbone.
“Jack,” she muttered. She couldn’t even think as a finger found that pleasure point between her shaky legs. She felt him smile against her neck when he slipped another finger deep inside her. “Jack,” she mumbled unable to think of anything but him and this passion trying to burn her to a crisp. “Please.”
“Please, what?”
“I don’t know...oh,” she cried when he pushed her down on the bed. He quickly whipped the night rail off her and stared down at her.
“Dear God, you are beautiful.”
“I want to undress you,” she whispered, staring up at him. Not one of her husbands had allowed her to undress them. They had come to her in their dressing gowns, rutted with her and then left her. She wanted far more than that tonight.
His lips drew into a smile. “By all means.”
Tessa rose from the bed and then focused on the knot of his cravat. After unwinding the white cloth from his neck, she kissed his pulse drumming there. She slipped his jacket and waistcoat from him and paused, staring at the breadth of his chest.
“You’re not finished yet,” he whispered.
“Apparently not,” she replied, tugging his shirt from the waistband of his trousers. She perused his chest, all angles and hard planes, before tracing her finger along the muscles. She wondered how man achieved such a perfect body. A fine line of brown hair disappeared into his trousers. She trailed her index finger down the line until she reached the waistband. Fumbling with the falls of his trousers, he finally pushed her hands away.
“You are taking far too long.”
Her eyes widened when he slid his trousers over his hips. She couldn’t help but stare at his hard, long shaft as he removed his drawers.
“Lay down, Tessa.”
She nodded, still staring at his manhood as she lowered herself back to the bed. The only time she could look at her husbands’ shafts was when they wanted her to take them in her mouth.
“Can the duke give you this?” Before she could answer, he slid her hips to the edge of the bed and plunged deep inside her.
She gasped as he filled her in one swift movement. She wrapped her legs around his hips bringing him even deeper inside her. How could this possibly feel so right with a man she barely knew? None of this made any sense. This man should mean nothing to her. And yet, as she skimmed her hands over his broad shoulders and down his arms, nothing had ever felt more natural.
The look of adoration in his brown eyes was far greater than with any of her husbands, even Stanhope.
“Damn,” he whispered, staring down at her. Before moving inside her, his lips found her nipple and brought the hard little nub into his warm mouth. His tongue flicked it and then he suckled her hard.
Her hips moved as he played with her breasts. Passion continued to build until she had to have relief. “Please,” she begged him. “Please.”
He smiled, lifting his head from her breasts. “Oh, my pleasure.” Slowly, he slid out of her, watching her face as he moved. “Tell me what you want, Tessa.”
“You, harder, faster....release.” Something she’d never received from her husbands.
“Yes, my lady.” He held her hips and plundered her depths, ravaging her control until she reached a peak she’d never been over before. But as he delved deep inside her again, his thumb rubbed against that sensitive spot, sending her spiraling over the cliff.
She moaned as her inner muscles clenched down on the length of his shaft. Her body shuddered in glorious release. Nothing had ever felt like this, never with her husbands, never by her own hand. She arched her back, drawing him even farther as wave after wave crashed over her.
“Tessa,” he groaned as he thrust into again and again until he reached his climax too.
“God,” he groaned and then slid into her one last time. Her muscles twitched and shuddered as he spilled his seed into her.
Realization of what happened slowly dawned on her.
“Oh, what have I done now?” she whispered to herself.