Page 73 of Duke of Rath

Her release crashed over her like nothing she’d ever felt before. She cried out, shuddering as the climax dragged her over the edge of ecstasy.

With a harsh groan, Dorian followed her over the edge, his big body shuddering as she felt a pulsing sensation deep inside, accompanied by a flood of warmth. For a long moment, they clung to each other, hearts pounding in unison as they breathed each other’s air.

“It requires every ounce of my self-control not to flip you over and take you again, the way I’m aching to,” Dorian confessed gruffly, his length still semihard within her. “Hard and rough and so deep you’ll feel me for days.”

With a possessive growl, Dorian captured her mouth again. Patience had never felt so cherished, so desired, so utterly alive. She was someone else now. Stronger. More vibrant. And she had hope for them. In his arms, she had found completion—and she would spend eternity endeavoring to give him the same.

24

There was a knock at the door.

Dorian raised his head, not wanting to leave the sweet, soft heaven of his wife’s body. She stirred under him to wrap her arms around his neck tighter and press herself to him.

Dorian breathed, inhaling her sweet scent.

This was heaven.

This could be his life. His beautiful wife, so willingly and lovingly giving herself to him. Happiness and love pulsing through his blood at the very sight of her. His future with her could be bright, soft. Wonderful.

The knock repeated. It was as though reality had finally come calling.

The door opened before he could react, and Mrs. Knight came in, her eyes falling on him covering Patience with his body, no doubt taking in Patience’s legs wrapped around his bare arse. Like the perfect ducal housekeeper she was, she allowed herself only a moment of shock, surprise covering her usual neutral expression.

Then she averted her eyes towards the window.

Patience giggled into his neck, her hot breath tickling him.

“Your Grace and Your Grace,” said Mrs. Knight. “I wondered if I should send the footmen to remove the sheets and the maids to clean the room after all these years… It was such a pretty room when Her Grace was alive… But perhaps it’s best to do it later.”

After all these years… Dorian’s whole body chilled.

All these years that his mama was not here.

He remembered her, so pretty with her dark hair, drinking tea here, and looking at the garden through this window with an anxious sort of expression.

Good Lord, he’d make Patience look like that sooner or later. Because a beast of fury lived within him. He had fallen apart in her arms earlier, and he was already breaking every rule he’d set for her and for himself.

He felt his grip on his emotions loosening around her. Would he be able to control his beast and not hurt her like his papa had hurt his mama?

And what of the terrible secret that would surely break her heart?

He loved her. He never wanted to leave her sight.

“That would be best, Mrs. Knight,” he said.

He could not feel his body.

The housekeeper nodded and retreated from the room.

Unwillingly, Dorian separated himself from Patience.

He needed to make sure he wouldn’t fall apart again, wouldn’t smash things around her from fear, wouldn’t put her in harm’s way… He didn’t care about his own injuries, but he wouldn’t be able to live with himself at all if he hurt Patience.

She straightened on the sofa, looking at him with sated hooded eyes as, to his regret, she pulled her skirts down her legs. He pulled on his shirt and tucked it into his waistband.

“Poor Mrs. Knight,” giggled Patience, looking as satisfied and as happy as a cat with cream.

He didn’t respond. He hated doing this, but he needed to remove himself from her before he’d hurt her.