The Duke's Curse (Legend Book 2)

by Kylie Stewart

  She had done it again. She tamed me with her whispers and touch. I shut my eyes, and I allowed her to trace my features.

  “I want you, Arthur.”

  She wants that dead piece of me.

  “I want all of who you are.”

  That caused my eyes to open, and I walked away. I gripped one of the bedposts.

  I had to come clean. “I need to tell you something, important.”

  Her tempting mouth pulled down to a frown. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”

  “No, I have to tell you before we go through with it.” I turned back to her, willing myself to spill the truth.

  I’ve captured you, ensnared you. You will live forever if I am not successful. I’ve bound you in blood to me.

  “Can it wait until the morning?”

  I scowled, lips turning into a twisted sneer. “No, I have to tell you. It’s killing me. You must know.”

  “Will it make me hate you?” She took another step closer; her hand hovered over the tie to her robe.

  My stomach tensed. Muscles jumped to life as my heartbeat did the same. Was she going to make the first move?

  “Yes ... probably.” My voice sounded so guilty.

  Alexandria paused, just out of my reach.

  With a soft laugh, she shook her head. “Then wait until tomorrow. I don’t want to hate you right now.” He fingers pulled the bow loose. I did my best to keep eye contact, so she didn’t think she was having any effect on me.

  How was I able to control myself so easily? Pain ripped through the tips of my fingers, and I realized I was holding onto the wooden post for dear life. Ah, so that was how.

  “You told me not to have regrets, so I’m not going to.”

  I nearly whimpered. “Are you sure you want to do this, with me?”

  When did I become a modest man?

  Alexandria nodded, shrugging her shoulders; the robe fell to the floor.

  Damn.

  She stood before me in an emerald nightgown that went to the floor. A slit ran up her right thigh, exposing pale skin. I blinked.

  “Is the Dragon speechless?”

  My voice didn’t want to work. My throat grew tighter, and my lungs couldn’t control the intake of air. She was straight from a dream. She was perfect, and she wanted me.

  “Avalon, say something. If you don’t want to, I’ll understand.” I saw the embarrassment cross her face.

  I rushed to her, but I kept an inch between us. I wouldn’t strike until she told me to. I allowed my eyes to travel up and down her small frame. I circled her like a wolf stalking his prey. I could see every curve of her body, every ripple of lean muscle through her nightgown.

  On the first pass, I hooked my finger under her chin and raised her head. I brushed my lips against parted tiers. I whispered, “Just tell me what you want, and I can make it happen.”

  A soft moan passed between us as I rested my hand gently on her stomach. I moved behind her, and I pulled her back to me. Our bodies molded perfectly. With my other hand, I took a fistful of her hair and tilted her neck back against my chest.

  We were past the point of no return. She needed to know that. My breathing was coming fast and harsh. I nipped and licked along her neck, stopping at her ear.

  “Once I start, I won’t be able to stop.” Her entire body quivered at my words. My fingers tightened around her stomach and dared to play in the space between her hipbones. “I want you, Alexandria, so badly.”

  Pulling her rear into me, I heard a small gasp. I bit down on her shoulder. “That’s all for you if you just say the word.”

  Just say the words, woman. Come on, I’m going to rip my trousers.

  I waited.

  “Tell me what you want, Alexandria.”

  Nothing but the sound of her gasping for breath answered me.

  “My love ...” I spun her to face me. I captured her cheeks and drew her into a deep kiss. Alexandria hesitated at first, her lips unwilling to move with mine. I waited, nibbling at her lower lip, begging for entry.

  Finally, she kissed me back. It was soft, tender, and then her mouth opened in a moan as my hands gripped her bottom. I slid inside and met her tongue. A part of me expected her to bite me, but she didn’t. Instead, her arms wrapped around my neck, and it was as if I was being pulled into her.

  She drew soft groans from me as her tongue warred with mine. I got lost in her. So lost, I felt as if I could survive on her taste alone. We barely came up for air as I backed her toward the wall. When she could go no farther, I picked her up and braced her. She remembered.

  Her slender legs wrapped around my waist as we continued to spar. My left hand grew bold and shoved the silky material up her thigh, feeling soft skin below. When I pulled back to look at my prize, the burning in my core became almost unbearable. She was gazing at me as though she wanted to devour me. I would let her.

  “I want you, Avalon.” Her chest rose and fell, and the urge to touch her breasts twitched in my fingers.

  “I don’t want you to just want me, Alexandria.” I challenged her, narrowing my gaze.

  She called me and then raised me. “I need you. I need you to be mine. I need you to be my knight. I need you to rule me. I command you to love me.” I saw the tears swell in her eyes. “And don’t you dare fucking stop.”

  I yanked her from the wall and carried her to my bed. I pulled the curtains around us closed so even the night couldn’t spy on us. Not worried about buttons, I ripped my shirt off and tossed it to the side.

  Her hands were on me in an instant—mapping, touching, and teasing. It drove me wild. I pressed her down into the sheets. I took both of her hands and held them above her head. With the other, I supported the graceful arch of her back as I assaulted her neck.

  “Avalon ...” Her voice was like music to my ears.

  “Yes, love?” I paused briefly, meeting her gaze. Her skin was flushed with desire, and I was desperate to get out of my pants.

  “Don’t ever stop.”

  A boyish smirk crossed my face as I slid my belt off in one motion.

  “As you wish.”

  Twenty-one

  Alexandria

  “As you wish.”

  Those words wrapped around my entire body like silk. I couldn’t believe this. I was here, in Avalon’s bed, and I was awake. His muscled core rippled in front of me as he leaned back to take off his trousers. I crawled over on my hands and knees, gripping the waistline and kissing along the defined lines of muscle.

  Avalon hissed as my kisses covered his stomach and then over his chest. I shoved his hands away. I finished his pants, pushing them halfway down his powerful thighs. I let my tongue trace the scar across his chest. His hands were gentle as they carded through my hair.

  I let my fingers tease the length of his erection. His entire body melted as I did so. I kissed along his neck, and I dared myself to reach inside his boxer briefs. Smooth skin greeted me as I carefully gripped and began to stroke.

  It was his turn to gasp. His head bowed, giving me room to work. When he straightened back up, I knew that look in his eyes.

  In a flourish, my nightgown was over my head, and we sat there. I suddenly felt very shy and reached for the covers.

  “No ... please.” Avalon drank me in as though he was parched. He let his eyes wash over my body, licking his lips. “You are so gorgeous.”

  Heat rose in my cheeks. “You aren’t too bad yourself.”

  With a wolfish grin, he kicked off his bottoms and crawled over me. “Oh, I’m not?”

  My heart accelerated. We were so close. I could feel his body heat.

  “You’re beautiful,” I whispered.

  Avalon kissed me gently. He was so soft at times that it made me want to cry. I felt every emotion he gave me. I knew how much he loved me. His legs snuck between mine, and I jumped a little.

  “Ah, ah, shhh.” He laughed, but it wasn’t forced or crass like usual. It was light and musical—he was happy. “I won’t just charge in li
ke the Calvary.”

  He pressed a finger to my mouth. I opened, and he placed it inside. I knew what he wanted.

  I sucked. My tongue danced around his finger over and over, wetting it. When I opened my lips, his mouth hung open, and I could feel him rubbing against my thigh.

  “You’re a naughty one, aren’t you?” Withdrawing his finger, he moved his hand to disappear between us, and I swallowed hard.

  “Just do it.” I was panting. I couldn’t help it. He was driving me mad by teasing me.

  “Patience is a virtue, love. What’s the fun in just blindly doing it?” He didn’t wait for my answer. I couldn’t answer.

  His finger slipped inside, slowly and so deep, I cried out. My hands scrambled to grasp the sheets as he hooked his finger and began the slow torture of pleasuring me.

  “I don’t ever want to just do it, Alexandria.” My eyes rolled back as he drove me higher and higher. Avalon took his time; he didn’t rush. The fire burning in my womb pooled into ecstasy.

  His lips trailed up my stomach, latching onto each breast in turn. I moaned as he added another finger. It wouldn’t be long now.

  “I want to make love to you. I want to show you everything you can have with me and only me.” His face appeared over mine. “I want to be the one your soul cries for.”

  There.

  My body pulsed as wave after wave of pleasure consumed me. I cried, I whimpered, I begged, but everywhere my body went, he followed. When he drew back, he was quick to replace his fingers with his hard length.

  I could feel his head rubbing at my entrance. He was waiting. My heart nearly broke.

  “Tell me what you need, Alexandria.” He nuzzled against my ear, his hips swaying, eager to claim me.

  “I need you.” I wrapped my arms around him. My hands splayed on his muscular shoulders.

  “Need me to what?”

  I groaned. “I need you to take me.”

  “Where do you need me?” His eyes met mine.

  I gulped.

  His fingers gripped my hair, tugging slightly. “Answer me, love. I want to hear you say it.”

  “I need you inside me.”

  Avalon paused briefly before nodding.

  “I need you too.”

  In a slow thrust, I felt him sink into me. He was large but not uncomfortable. His girth tested my walls, but once he settled himself, he fit. I could cry in happiness.

  His eyes had closed, relishing the feeling of that first connection. His body shuddered, and his fingers released my hair.

  “You feel so amazing.” He slipped back and thrust again.

  My head spun. I had done this many times with Lancer, but it never felt like this. I never felt this connected. This grounded.

  This free.

  While my mind tried to make sense of what was happening, Avalon settled into a steady pace. His hips snapped as he buried himself deeper and deeper.

  I didn’t want to understand this. Something that felt so amazing shouldn’t have to be explained. I met him in each thrust, earning sounds of approval. His lips captured mine.

  “Please, Avalon, more ...” I gasped, nails biting into his back.

  Without a sound, he disconnected us, rolling to his back and yanking me over him. The demand in his eyes was clear: ride.

  I flashed him a coy smile before lowering myself back onto him. I rocked my hips, earning a delicious reaction.

  He seemed surprised. “Well, now, you can steer.”

  “I can do more than that ...”

  I angled myself so I was completely over him and set a brisk pace.

  Avalon allowed me to have control but only for a moment. The next thing I knew, my back was on the bed, legs over his shoulders, and he was driving again.

  I couldn’t stifle my screams.

  This felt amazing; he felt amazing.

  “Come for me, Alexandria.”

  Looking up into his eyes, I saw he’d released the beast he kept locked away. He was a restless lover. My Dragon.

  “Avalon, I’m ...”

  I crumbled.

  Stars shot from behind my eyes as I was driven over the edge of the most intense orgasm of my life. I cried out for him, I begged him, but he continued.

  I felt my legs lower and his grip focus on my hips. He was feral. His pace was wonderfully brutal. He caught my gaze briefly, and I felt his cock throb inside me.

  “Alexandria, can I?”

  I didn’t even hesitate. Nodding fervently, I reassured him.

  “I’m on birth control. You’re fine. Unless you have immortal sperm.”

  He laughed only to be jerked back to his task when my legs trapped him against me.

  “Come inside me, Avalon.”

  His pupils dilated, and his hips lost their even rhythm. Storm gray eyes became clear for just a moment, and he leaned over, crushing his mouth against mine.

  “I love you. I love you so much I’ll die without you.” His body shivered as he moaned words into my mouth. “No matter what happens, just stay with me.”

  I felt his frantic pace slow, and soon, it was just us embracing. His chest heaved over and over, and I remembered he was the sick one.

  “Are you all right?” I pushed the hair out of his eyes as he rested his head on my chest.

  “I’m better than all right.” He raised his eyebrows to look at me. “You’ve made me feel human again.”

  Grinning, I sighed. “That was ...”

  “Amazing.”

  I giggled. “I’ve never felt like that before.”

  “Good.” Avalon sat up and kissed me, passion easily passed back and forth between us. It was practically tangible.

  “If I die tomorrow, I can die a happy man.”

  That thought brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t want to think about tomorrow. I wanted to freeze time and keep us locked in this moment forever.

  “Don’t cry, love. It’ll be all right. I promise.”

  “Don’t make me a promise you can’t keep.”

  He pulled me into his arms and drew the covers around us.

  “I never have.” Our bodies linked together, skin on skin, and it felt completely right. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest.

  “Thank you, Alexandria.”

  “For what?” I waited.

  “For loving me.”

  Tears fell from my eyes. I couldn’t say it out loud, not yet. But he felt it. He knew. And that was enough for us both.

  Twenty-two

  Avalon

  She was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes the next morning. Her body pressed against mine, causing my heart to jump. Memories of the night before flooded to the forefront of my mind.

  She and I ...

  I gazed at her peaceful face and smoothed back her long hair. Warmth radiated throughout my body. I felt complete. I was at peace.

  We hadn’t just stopped after the first time. Somewhere in the night, we had found each other again. In a slow, torturous dance, we had teased each other until it was too much.

  I hadn’t expected Alexandria to be so bold—to be so ... thorough. She gave as well as she received. I grew hard just thinking about last night.

  With a sigh, I slipped away from her still frame and pulled the sheets over her. There would be no doubt she would be shy when she woke. I looked at my phone for the time. The numbers on the screen glowed 8:13 a.m.

  It was still far enough away from the afternoon to go about my business. I had a will to amend.

  And a secret to tell, you arse.

  Ah, yes, that. I wondered what she would think of me once I told her the truth.

  I didn’t want to dwell on the events to come anymore, so I vaulted myself off the bed and walked to the bathroom. I needed a shower, or else I would just wake her up to have her one last time.

  As the water washed me of sweat and of the smell of Alexandria’s skin, it did nothing to erase her from my soul. Every sound she had made, every kiss we’d shared—I wouldn’t forge
t it. I didn’t want to forget it.

  She had given me something last night that I couldn’t describe. Somehow, between the sheets and the whispers, my heart had been stripped bare. I lifted my chin, allowing my face to be pelted by the steady stream. My hair slicked back as I ran my hands along my scalp.

  She had won the battle to free me.

  Now, it was my turn to see if I could stay free.

  I dried myself off and secured the towel around my waist. I wiped off the mirror with my arm and stared at my reflection.

  I snorted at how rough I looked, rubbing my bristled chin.

  Well, if I could end up gone today, I might as well look the part ...

  I had a cruel sense of humor, even for me at times. Shaving took longer than usual as the five o’clock shadow had turned into more than just a shadow. I slicked my hair back and used shears to cut the long mess.

  When one was as old as I was, doing menial things such as cutting hair became something you didn’t pay someone to do. M used to do it, and then I took over.

  Peering back at the youth I saw in the mirror, I paused. I looked a good ten years younger.

  “I really must be ill ...” I muttered. I usually never let myself go.

  As I sauntered back out to the bedroom for clothes, I saw movement from the bed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alexandria sitting up, holding the covers up to her shoulders. Her blue eyes were large on me as I halted.

  “Good morning.” I offered a smile.

  “You shaved and cut your hair.” Her voice was sexy. It was low and husky from just waking and a long night of calling out for more. With a smirk, I ran fingers through my cropped hair. When I retracted, long ends still fell into my eyes.

  “Is that better?”

  She blushed and looked down.

  Curious, I went to her. I reached out and caressed her cheek. Her body stiffened, unsure of how to respond to me now. I allowed my fingers to slip down the length of her neck and along her collarbone.

  I dared to brush my mouth to hers. With a small gasp, her lips parted, but she didn’t pull away.

  “Last night ...” she began, but I silenced her with a kiss. For a moment, Alexandria just sat there, unmoving. A part of my mind panicked at the thought of rejection. I nipped at her bottom lip, and she groaned.