Of Dukes and Deceptions: Dangerous Dukes Vol 4

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘I should have thought that was self-evident.’

  ‘Not to me.’

  ‘All right then, I will say it plain. I know you only…well, that you only came to my chamber last night to win a wager with—’

  ‘What the devil gave you that idea?’

  ‘You did.’ In her agitation she hadn’t realised that he had moved to within a few inches of her. She hastily attempted to put distance between them but he prevented her by placing a hand firmly on her uninjured shoulder. Rocked by a virulent surge of emotions, just through this innocent contact with his hand, she felt her composure slipping and wondered what insanity had caused her to raise the subject. She didn’t want to feel anything for him and attempted to brush his fingers away. ‘You really ought to lower your voice when crowing about such matters with your servant, your grace.’

  ‘Ah, you heard Gibson and me when I left you last night.’

  She nodded, too mortified to meet his eye.

  ‘And that is why you have been so distant with me this morning.’ He tilted her chin with his forefinger. She reluctantly lifted her burning face and looked defiantly into his eyes. What she thought she saw there caused another jolt of awareness to surge through her, and the words she had been about to speak died beneath his blistering gaze. ‘But I can only surmise that you didn’t hear it all.’

  ‘It is of no significance,’ she said, feigning indifference. ‘You didn’t have to force your attentions upon me and have nothing to reproach yourself for.’ She turned away from him and straightened a cupboard that was already meticulously tidy. Anything to avoid meeting his quizzical, penetrating gaze. ‘The matter is already quite forgotten.’

  ‘Alicia, listen to me.’ Once again his hand claimed her shoulder and this time she couldn’t muster the strength to shake it off. ‘It is true, to my shame, that Gibson and I had a small wager in respect of your, er…shall we say, conviviality.’

  Alicia snorted, not deigning to dignify his comment with a response.

  ‘However, had you heard the whole of our conversation, you would know that I didn’t win my wager.’

  ‘It really doesn’t matter.’

  ‘You’re angry with me, Alicia, but I can—’

  ‘Don’t flatter yourself.’ She swirled away from him. ‘Far from being angry, I am obliged to you for satisfying my curiosity.’ She had lost her ribbon during the course of their exchange and her hair now tumbled round her shoulders in its usual unruly fashion. She was used to it happening and barely noticed, but Nick’s eyes were glued to it in apparent fascination. ‘That is, after all, what I asked you to do, and I must own that you were a reasonably adequate tutor.’

  ‘Adequate?’

  Alicia was obliged to quell a triumphant smile. By calling into question his performance as a lover, she had clearly struck a blow at his most vulnerable place.

  ‘It is history, your grace, and I have better things to do than discuss the particulars of a diverting half-hour’s activity. If you require wide-eyed admiration, you would be better served to apply to Maria.’

  Quite without warning a strong arm wrapped itself round her waist. She let out a small scream as Nick seated himself on the bale of straw she had just vacated and pulled her onto his lap.

  ‘Before we discuss my amatory prowess, or lack thereof, there is something else we must talk about first.’

  ‘Let me go!’ she said half-heartedly.

  ‘Certainly not! You’ve cast aspersions upon my manhood. I cannot allow such a slur to pass unpunished.’

  ‘I take back what I said.’

  ‘It’s too late for that. But before we even discuss that subject there is another—well, several others, actually—that we ought first to consider.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’ Alicia felt most peculiar. Sitting on Nick’s lap was a very pleasurable experience. But she still smarted from being used as a pawn in his ridiculous wager with his henchman and didn’t intend to submit to his whim without putting up a spirited fight.

  ‘Why did you tell Gibson that you wanted to be alone?’

  Alicia felt her chest swelling with indignation. ‘Well, of all the conceited, high-handed, presumptuous—’

  ‘Save the tirade for a more appropriate juncture and answer my question.’

  ‘It is none of your business how I conduct myself. But since you insist upon an answer, I confess that I prefer to work with my animals in solitude. They are wild beasts, remember, easily frightened by contact with humans. But they have all grown accustomed to me and react better to my ministrations if there are no distractions.’

  ‘Gibson would not have got in your way. Besides, I ordered him to stay with you.’

  Alicia let out a long breath of frustration. ‘You really are insufferable. Did you know that?’

  ‘And you have landed Gibson in a lot of trouble. Have you paused to consider that fact?’

  When she shook her head in confusion he had the goodness to explain himself.

  ‘I ordered him to remain beside you but you made it impossible for him to obey that order. I cannot tolerate insubordination in servants and shall probably have to dismiss him tomorrow as a consequence.’

  Alicia gasped. ‘Oh, no, it was all my fault! You cannot possibly blame Mr Gibson.’

  ‘Well then, since you claim to be the guilty party, it seems only right that you should take the punishment in his place.’

  A slow, predatory smile spread across Nick’s face and Alicia knew she had somehow played straight into his hands.

  ‘Very well. I beg your pardon for sending Gibson away,’ she said contritely. ‘There.’ She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. ‘Will that do?’

  Nick chuckled. ‘Not nearly. I did warn you that you would have to endure one of my punishments if you chose to disregard my orders. You are about to discover that was no idle threat. And whilst we are on the subject of your misconduct, did you not refer to me as an idiot when we first met?’

  Alicia failed to stifle a giggle, willing to strike a wager of her own with the duke that no one else had ever had the courage to refer to him in such terms. ‘I did not know who you were at the time,’ she said, biting her lip to stop the giggle growing into a full-scale laugh.

  ‘It is very poor form to refer to a duke of the realm as an idiot,’ he said, his voice a seductive purr in her ear. ‘In times gone by, people were known to lose their heads for less. I could not bring myself to deprive you of your lovely head,’ he said, as though he had been seriously considering doing so. ‘But still, such behaviour cannot be allowed to go unpunished.’

  ‘But if I were to apologise, my lord duke?’

  Nick shook his head, his eyes alight with laughter. ‘We have passed the point of apologies.’

  ‘Then what are we to do about it?’ she asked, sending him a sparkling smile.

  ‘What indeed.’

  Before she knew what he was about, Nick lifted her from his lap and laid her across it. Furious and blushing wildly, she found herself staring directly at the floor. She struggled but was incapable of escaping the strong arm which held her securely across a pair of muscular thighs.

  ‘What are you doing?’ She thrashed about as panic welled within her. ‘This is preposterous. Let me go at once!’

  ‘What I am doing, my dear, is reminding you of the consequences when you don’t do as you are told.’

  She felt her skirts being lifted and fresh air peppering her bare buttocks. ‘Your grace, please, I have apologised.’

  ‘What did you call me?’

  ‘Nicholas. I most humbly beg your pardon if I have offended you in any way. Please, there is no necessity to humiliate me like this.’

  ‘Have you stopped to consider that far from being humiliated, you might actually enjoy the chastisement I have in mind for you?’

  She most certainly had. Excitement and anticipation invaded every corner of her body. With a speed that defied true conviction, she gave up struggling and lay submissively across hi
s lap. His hand landed on her buttocks, the sound unnaturally loud in the otherwise quiet barn. She cried out in surprise. And tensed her muscles, anticipating pain. Instead, a warm glow worked its way through her insides, a tingling sensation that promised so much and left her anxious for more.

  ‘Oh, I—’

  ‘Shush.’ Nick’s lips brushed against her ear. ‘You must endure your punishment in silence, my love, or it will be the worse for you.’

  ‘But I—’

  ‘I said no talking.’ Thwack! ‘Do you understand me?’ She nodded. ‘You’re permitted to speak when I ask you a question, Alicia.’

  ‘Yes, sir, I understand.’

  ‘Good girl. In that case you deserve a reward.’

  His hand came down on her buttocks again. Harder. But this time it slowly circled the small globes, massaging the area he had just beaten. At the same time, two fingers of his other hand slid smoothly inside her. A third agitated the spot between her legs which already felt as though it was on fire. The combination of pleasure and pain was an explosive amalgamation. She sensed liquid heat building inside her and cried out in abandonment as she squirmed against his hand.

  ‘Are you enjoying your punishment?’

  ‘Annoyingly, yes I am.’

  ‘Annoyingly?’

  ‘I would prefer not to enjoy it, or have anything more to do with you. You are quite insufferably dictatorial. But I cannot bring myself to lie.’ She paused, turning her head sideways in the hope of catching sight of his profile.

  Instead of appearing humbled by her admission, he smiled in an insupportably self-satisfied manner. She wanted to take back her words, or at the very least demonstrate stronger resistance. How weak and predictable she must appear to him. But each time his hand came down, the sensation it left behind was so comprehensively overwhelming, the disappointment when he desisted so acute, that she was unable to think coherently about anything else.

  ‘Is my behaviour so very shocking?’

  ‘No, darling, you’re supposed to enjoy it.’ He chuckled when she couldn’t suppress an agonised groan. ‘Never deny your passionate nature, Alicia, especially not to yourself.’

  ‘Am I permitted to speak if I have a question to ask, Nicholas?’

  He sighed. ‘What’s your question, minx?’

  ‘Why do you feel it necessary to discipline me?’ Thwack. ‘You’ll be gone tomorrow and we’ll never see one another again.’

  ‘You have been disobedient and disrespectful. No duke likes to have his authority threatened, you know.’ A third finger joined the two already working inside her. His hand again came down on her buttocks, this time a little harder. ‘Go with the sensation when I spank you, darling, don’t fight against it. If you are patient, the tingling will turn to pleasure. Then you will enjoy it as much as you enjoy the feel of my fingers inside you.’ Thwack. ‘That’s right, welcome the feel of it. You are a very attentive pupil, Alicia. Now, tell me how it makes you feel.’

  ‘It makes me feel wanton and abandoned,’ she said, not stopping to consider the question but voicing the first thoughts that came into her head.

  ‘Very good, sweetheart. And what else?’

  ‘Well, in truth, I would like to experience more of your punishments before you leave here,’ she added brazenly.

  He let out a throaty chuckle. ‘Would you indeed. How tiresome.’

  ‘Yes, I dare say my request comes as a vast inconvenience. Do you think it possible that you might manage to feel rampant again soon?’

  Nick’s laugh, deep and rich, echoed round the barn. ‘Perhaps it could be managed.’ He paused, a speculative expression gracing his features. ‘In fact, now that I think about it, perhaps you can feel the extent of my rampancy pushing against you?’

  ‘Oh, is that what it is?’ Thwack. ‘I didn’t realise. But what are we to do about it? We cannot risk being together here. Anyone might come in at any time.’

  ‘Gibson’s outside. He won’t let anyone through the door.’

  Nick tilted her upright and seated her on his knee again. Alicia was ashamed of herself for wanting her punishment to continue. But Nick clearly had other plans for her. He loosened the ties on her bodice and feasted his eyes on her breasts, clearly visible beneath the thin material of her chemise. Ladies’ apparel held no secrets for him and he had no difficulty loosening that garment either. Her breasts tumbled into his waiting hands, and with one of his wolfish grins he bent his head to feast on her nipples.

  ‘Are they still sore?’ he asked, briefly lifting his head to pose the question.

  ‘Yes, but I rather like the pain so don’t even think about stopping.’

  He offered her a mocking bow and resumed his previous occupation. The teasing touch of his tongue caused spasms of acute pleasure to ripple through her. She sighed, willing the sensations to continue indefinitely. But it wasn’t to be. Abruptly he released her breasts and stood her on her feet. She felt rather self-conscious, standing before him half dressed.

  But it soon became apparent that he had only stood in order to divest himself of his upper clothing. He threw it with apparent disregard for its welfare onto the soft pile of hay in the corner of the barn. Alicia immediately curled her fingers in the hair that adorned his chest and this time it was Nick who groaned. She glanced down and saw the extent of his rampancy pushing urgently against the fabric of his breeches.

  ‘Is it very uncomfortable?’ she asked.

  Nick followed the direction of her eyes. ‘Agony,’ he said, laughter in his tone.

  Daringly she reached for the buttons that would relieve his torture. His shaft sprang from the opening, solid and angry-looking. Alicia tentatively reached for it and didn’t take fright when it leaped in her hand. She ran her fingers along its length, just as he had encouraged her to do the previous evening.

  ‘Is that the right thing to do, Nick?’

  He sucked in a deep breath. ‘Yes, darling, absolutely right.’ He reseated himself. ‘Sit over me, love. Kneel on either side of my thighs.’

  Alicia considered his request, then scampered to do as he asked, sighing with pleasure when his marauding hands reclaimed her breasts. Without being told she lifted her skirts out of the way and hovered above his throbbing shaft. Her body was already on fire, pulsating with need. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined such exquisite feelings of anticipation to be possible. She took hold of Nick, too impatient to wait, and positioned him at her entrance.

  ‘I should have asked you,’ he said in a thick voice, ‘if you’re ready to do this again so soon. Are you not sore?’

  ‘Not at all.’

  He regarded her steadily. ‘Are you sure? I would not hurt you for the world.’

  ‘Nick! You hurt me more by making me wait.’

  ‘All right.’ He smiled and kissed the corner of her mouth tenderly. ‘You are the one on top, madam. Do with me what you will.’

  ‘Like this?’ She sank down and slowly took a little of him inside her.

  ‘Ah, yes, exactly like that.’ He placed his hands on her hips and guided her. ‘Mmm, that feels so very good. So tight, so warm, so…’ He kissed her again as she sank down some more and slowly took all of him inside her. ‘Sweet Alicia, you are magnificent!’

  She took pleasure from his tortured expression as she rocked gently from side to side. ‘I begin to understand why people express enthusiasm for this occupation,’ she said, her breath coming in shorter and shorter gasps.

  ‘Who have you been discussing such matters with?’

  ‘Well, no one exactly, but I couldn’t help overhearing things some of the lads in the stables used to say. Back in my father’s day I was such a familiar sight in the covering barn that they forgot I was there and frequently made raucous comments as the stallions performed their duties. They likened their activities to their own romantic conquests.’

  ‘Ah, I see.’ He gave a hard upward thrust, taking her by surprise. ‘Oh, I beg your pardon. You are such a natural at this that
I forgot you are so inexperienced. Did that hurt you?’

  ‘No, quite the reverse.’ She smiled at him. ‘Stop treating me as though I were made of glass and make me feel as you did last night.’

  ‘Well, since you ask so persuasively.’

  Nick increased the force and frequency of his upward thrusts. She sank down to meet him and they expressed their pleasure in unison with a series of feral grunts.

  ‘Slow down, love,’ he said, restraining her wild, uncoordinated thrashing by holding her hips more firmly. ‘There’s plenty of time, and it will be more rewarding if you let it build slowly.’

  ‘Perhaps, but I don’t think I can wait any longer.’

  ‘Oh, you can wait.’

  ‘But if I cannot?’ she asked, moving again but more slowly, taking every inch of him more deeply inside her still.

  ‘Then I shall have to devise more fiendish chastisements. I have already told you that I cannot have disobedient women under my charge.’

  ‘How many women exactly do you have under your charge who engage in this type of activity with you?

  ‘None of your business,’ he said, tweaking her nose.

  ‘No,’ she said, sighing, ‘I suppose it is not.’

  She deliberately increased her pace again, enjoying the sublime feel of her unfettered breasts bouncing against the abrasive hair on his chest. His eyes were focused on her face. They softened as she observed him, his expression no longer arrogant but full of desperate-seeming passion. ‘And I shan’t be able to persuade you to confide in me since you leave tomorrow to collect your bride.’

  ‘Yes indeed, but we still have tonight.’

  She felt a small pang of regret when he didn’t deny his intention to collect his bride but was too far gone to dwell upon it. They were here together now, she was on the brink of release, and he had expressed his intention of visiting her again that night. But still, the tiny portion of her brain still capable of rational thought put up objections to her easy capitulation.

  ‘On second thought, perhaps it wouldn’t be advisable for you to visit my chamber again. Oh, heavens, Nick.’ She let out a prolonged groan. ‘Whatever you just did, please do it again!’