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Duncan raised his head when he heard a gasp. He spun toward the door, expecting a maid to have accidentally walked in on him. He swiveled toward the secret opening when the door leading to the hallway remained closed. His gaze came upon Selina standing there, clutching his coat and raking his body with a bold stare. His heart stopped beating. When her gaze raised to meet his, it started beating again in a race to conquer Selina’s heart.
As Selina’s footsteps drew her closer, Duncan drank her in. Droplets of water dripped from the strands of her hair draping down her chest. The robe she wore clung to her body, damp in wetness. His gaze traveled lower, noticing her legs were bare. When she fidgeted, her robe opened to his pleasure, confirming Selina was naked. He froze. Every decision he made today in his pursuit of Selina changed with her arrival.
He refused to resist this opportunity to show Selina their destiny. Fate didn’t offer him a chance like this without a reason. Duncan might be a gentleman with firm beliefs, but he was also a gentleman who couldn’t resist temptation. And Selina, standing before him now, was a temptation he would risk everything for. Even if she only granted him this one chance and no other.
The pull of his gaze drew Selina to Duncan. He kept his hands to his sides, not wanting to scare her away with his need. She may have come to him, but he still noticed her indecision. There would be no return for them once they crossed over this forbidden line. They would open themselves to a vulnerability neither of them had known before. One that, if discovered, could shatter their very future.
Selina warmed at his penetrating stare. His unabashed display caused her words to stumble. “I came to return your coat.” Selina held out the garment.
Duncan cocked an eyebrow. “Is that your only reason for sneaking into my bedchamber?”
Selina gulped. “Yes?”
Duncan’s smile grew at her uneasiness. “Are you asking me your answer?”
Selina closed her eyes, shaking her head, then opened them again. “No.”
“No, as in yes, you snuck into my bedchamber for another reason?”
Selina nodded. “I... um...” Her gaze swung to the secret opening, not sure of her motives any longer. As he stood naked before her, her nerves unraveled.
Duncan followed Selina’s gaze and cursed to himself. He needed to close the door without Selina feeling trapped in his room. But the longer the door stayed ajar, the more of a risk they ran if anyone noticed them alone with Selina scantily dressed.
Duncan laid his hand on Selina’s arm in a friendly gesture. “Do not feel alarmed. I am only locking both doors so no one can come upon us. I only wish to protect you. All right?”
Selina nodded, clutching his coat closer. Duncan grabbed a towel off the chair near the tub and wrapped it around his waist. He closed the secret door and secured the latch to lock it from any unwelcome visitors, for he wouldn’t put it past Charlie to appear. That would give her further ammunition to destroy Selina. He then locked the bedroom door and propped a chair underneath the doorknob for more protection. Duncan returned to Selina, tugged the coat from her tight grip, and threw the coat off to the side before pulling her into his arms.
When Duncan drew Selina into his arms, every last doubt fled. His powerful arms holding her like a fragile gem gave her the security she desired. She knew in her heart that, no matter where their time led them, Duncan would protect her. His very action of locking the doors displayed his thoughtfulness.
“Can I kiss you?” he whispered.
Selina’s face lit up with a seductive smile. “Ah, now the Scottish barbarian has the manners of an English gentleman.”
Duncan expected shyness, not the sassiness from earlier. He growled. “Ah, I see my lady still has her claws.”
Selina laughed playfully. “And if I do? May I use them upon you?”
Duncan’s gaze darkened. “With pleasure,” he whispered before he stole Selina’s breath away.
His very kiss consumed Selina with a need so powerful, she clutched his head. Her fingers tightened in his hair with the need of keeping him anchored to her. His tongue invaded her mouth and stroked along hers in a sensual dance of longing. With each stroke, Duncan eased her yearning and replaced it with the need to explore the depth of their passion.
“Selina, Selina, Selina.” Duncan groaned his need.
He pulled away from their kiss and rested his forehead against hers, staring deeply into her eyes. Their breath mingled while their eyes never broke contact. He couldn’t believe her gaze held the answer to his unspoken question. However, his doubt made him hesitate from continuing with this madness.
“Love me, Duncan,” Selina pleaded.
Duncan closed his eyes, fighting with what remained of his control. When Selina pressed her finger against his lips and traced them, another chunk fell. Her feather-soft touch caressed his cheek, and she softly pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth. A few more chunks dropped. Then she lifted his hand and placed it on the belt of her robe and intertwined their fingers together. He stared down at their joined hands. The symbol tumbled his defenses down around them.
Selina knew Duncan fought to act like a gentleman. For a long time, she’d fought the attraction between them, but no longer would she deny what destiny demanded from them. By giving him a sign of her surrender, she also gave herself permission to find happiness.
Duncan’s fingers moved under hers, untying the knot of her robe. When the ribbon fell to the side, he took their fingers and drew them up over her stomach, over her breasts, to her bare skin. He moved them back and forth, caressing the soft skin. Selina’s body reacted to Duncan’s caress. Her breasts grew heavy, and her nipples scraped against the soft fabric. Her body started to tingle, and she ached for him to ease the sensations consuming her.
Duncan heard the hitch in Selina’s breathing and knew she grew aroused at the gentle caress of their hands on her body. His duchess responded to her own touch. Oh, he would enjoy teaching her the fulfillment of exploring what the other found pleasure in. He brought their hands to his lips and kissed each of her fingers before placing it on his chest. Her fingers glided across his skin, exploring with no hesitancy. He groaned at her exquisite touch and knew he was a doomed man.
Duncan lowered his hands to the top of her robe and slowly slid the garment apart, drinking in her perfection. He longed to worship at her feet. There were no words to adequately describe the goddess before him. Her hair hung to her breasts, and the strands brushed back and forth across her nipples with each deep breath she drew. The buds grew tighter under his regard. He lowered his head and drew one in his mouth, savoring the sweetness. She smelled of lavender and fresh air. His tongue circled around as he gently sucked. Selina’s fingers dug into his chest, extracting the claws he had given her permission to use.
His gaze lowered as he loved her breasts, and his hand stroked across her smooth stomach, dipping lower to her curls. His fingers slid into her wetness, and her dew glistened when he pulled his fingers away. At her whimper, he slid them back, drawing forth more whimpers with each stroke. His need to savor her sweetness overcame him. He dropped to his knees, ripping the garment away on his descent.
Selina’s gaze widened. What was Duncan’s intention? One minute, his mouth and fingers hypnotized her into holding on for dear life with his slow torture. The next, he dropped before her, and his tongue continued with the sweet torture, only more brutal than before. Fire consumed her, and each flame licked higher with each stroke of his tongue. His hand found hers and gripped it while his mouth plundered away at an ache, shaking her very core.
“Duncan.” Selina’s throaty moan echoed around them. She heard the need in her voice and wanted to cry at the passion clawing for release.
Her other hand gripped his head, holding him close as her body ripped itself from its tight hold. Her legs collapsed, and Duncan caught her, rising like a god from the depth of an unknown universe. He captured her lips and kissed her like a man who was on his last breath.
Each stroke of his tongue demanded that she return his need. Each brush of his lips across hers built the ache again. Each breath passed between them sealed their souls as one.
The sweet flavor of Selina on his lips enflamed his senses. But when he devoured the tantalizing nectar of the sweetest fruit, he knew this one time would never satisfy him. No. Until he conquered her heart and soul, he would never relent. Duncan refused to stop his mission of riding away in the sunset with her and living happily ever after.
He carried Selina to the tub and stepped in, lowering them into the lukewarm water. Selina settled on top of him, and he stroked her body, drawing forth more of her whimpers. It was music to his ears. Selina clutched him, her hands stroking the flames in his soul with each caress. He knew her ache grew again when each caress grew bolder. When he pressed up into her, she gasped, her eyes opening wide.
His hands lowered, and he slid a finger inside her. Her eyes closed, and her moan tickled across their tongues. Selina wanted to thrash around from the desire he brought forth, but each movement only intensified the need consuming her. Soon Duncan wrapped his arm around her waist and rolled over. Selina lay under him, vulnerable. His eyes raked her form, not leaving one spot of her untouched. The desire she saw kept her from shielding herself.
“You are a goddess sent to strike me with your beauty.”
“Duncan,” Selina moaned.
“Yes, my love?” Duncan traced her beauty with his hand, caressing every silken inch.
Pebbles of water clung to her nipples. His head dipped to tease them with his tongue, causing Selina to writhe around, sending water splashing onto the floor.
Selina had yet to answer him. Her moans drove him to seduce her with his carnal acts. When he pushed his fingers in deeper, she pressed up into his touch, her body arching out of the water. He sucked harder on her nipple, and her claws dug into his shoulder. His hands stroked down the length of her legs, and he drew them around his waist. He centered himself and slowly slid inside her.
Selina gasped. “Duncan?”
Duncan paused at her questioning tone. Her body tensed under his. He started to pull out, but her legs clamped around his waist, stopping him. She shook her head back and forth across the tub, her eyes heavy with desire.
“Does it hurt?” She nodded. “I need you to relax your legs, my love, so I can stop.”
Selina shook her head. “But my body aches for you. It is crying for you to make me yours. It needs your soul to join with mine to survive.”
Duncan shuddered at her declaration. His body shook from the need in his soul to make them one. “Do not take your eyes from mine,” he ordered.
Selina’s gaze clung to his as he pressed deeper inside her, each movement slower than the last. When he pushed past her barrier, Selina sighed and melted in his arms. He fought the need to drive into her over and over. Her whimpered moans stabbed at his desire to stake his claim.
Selina sank deeper into the water at the sheer pleasure of Duncan inside her. His fullness heightened her desire to have him take her with a driving force of need. He held himself still, and Selina watched him fight with his inner urges to be gentle with her. However, their passion wouldn’t stay contained. To experience the full impact, she needed Duncan to unleash his control.
She pressed her hips against his, and he shook against her. He growled when she scraped her nails down his back. Selina slid her legs up and down his, and then tightened them around his waist again.
It wasn’t until she whispered, “Make me yours,” that Duncan lost the remains of his control.
Her whisper was his undoing. He took possession of Selina’s body with hard, firm strokes. Each one driving in deeper than the last. Each time, her moans fueled their passion higher. Selina molded herself around him, holding onto him. He grabbed her waist to keep her from sinking under the water as he drove them to the highest filling of ecstasy one could journey to.
Selina found herself rapidly falling until Duncan caught her in his arms, and she floated with him. One moment Duncan was above her, making love to her, then she exploded in his arms. Now she lay curled in his embrace, with his hands stroking through her hair and murmuring tender affections in her ear. While his touch was gentle and his body relaxed under hers, his heart still thudded. The sound comforted her.
Duncan smiled when Selina traced the droplets across his chest. His duchess had finally recovered. She rolled over and raised her gaze. He expected to see a blush or a glimpse of regret. However, her eyes blazed with the same need as his. His cock grew hard. He would be a brute to make love to her again so soon.
Duncan growled, lowering his head and kissing her hard. “Stop staring at me like that.”
“Like what?” Selina’s husky voice shivered along his spine.
Duncan shook his head, refusing to answer. She only provoked him with a temptation he struggled to resist. When her hand wandered lower, he grabbed it and brought it to his lips.
“Do you not find pleasure from my touch?” Selina pouted.
Duncan gritted his teeth, fighting his body’s urges. If she touched him now, he couldn’t control himself. Then he would never forgive himself for hurting her. Selina may feel a high from their lovemaking, but her body would feel a tenderness. He grabbed a washcloth and soap. Duncan washed Selina, taking extra care between her thighs. When she winced, her pain shot through him. He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.
“I find much pleasure from your touch. But I refuse to show you how much of a barbarian I can be.”
Selina’s mouth dropped open in understanding. “Oh.”
Duncan chuckled. “Yes. Oh.”
Selina nestled her head under his neck, her face brightening to a becoming shade of pink. He groaned when the blush consumed her body. He needed out of this tub and her wrapped back into her robe. Or he wouldn’t hold himself responsible for his actions. Duncan could only resist so much before he gave in to his desires.
And Selina Pemberton was one desire he would never get enough of.
He stood and stepped out of the tub, carrying Selina to a chair before the fire. Duncan grabbed the towel he’d discarded earlier and dried her off, wrapping her in a blanket while he dried himself. Once he finished, he held out his hand, and she slipped her hand into his trustingly. He led them to his bed, lifting her up and laying her in the middle. Then he crawled in next to her, pulling the covers over them.
The rain continued to fall, harder from when they arrived back at the manor. It was the type of day to laze around in bed. He knew no one would disturb them, and hopefully, their absence would go unnoticed. Duncan wanted to hold Selina in his arms before she must return to her room. He feared once he let her go, their connection would become severed. If it did, Duncan didn’t know how he would survive without her.
“I should return,” Selina said, covering a yawn with her hand.
“Let me hold you for a while longer. I will make sure you return before your maid comes to dress you for dinner.”
Selina snuggled into him. “Just for a few more minutes.”
Neither one of them spoke of the line they’d crossed this afternoon. Neither one of them wanted to ruin the special moment or confront the guilt weighing on their conscience.
They only wished to absorb the embrace of their love.