To Trust a Duke

by Aston, Alexa

A knock sounded at the door and Reid broke the kiss, springing off the bed and standing tall, his hands behind his back as he called out, “Come.”

  The ever efficient Mrs. Paul bustled in. If she were surprised to seeing him standing alone in a lady’s bedchamber, she didn’t show it. Ashlyn, however, looked dazed and blinked several times, trying to regain her composure.

  “I’ve just come to help Lady Dunwood undress,” she said, bringing all kinds of wonderful images to Reid’s mind. He wanted to usher his housekeeper out and perform the job himself.

  Instead, he praised her. “You’re such a good help, Mrs. Paul. I find that I, too, am tired and will retire for the evening.” Looking to Ashlyn, he said, “I’m glad you are feeling much better. I’m sure Mrs. Paul can see to all your needs and that you won’t require any more help the rest of the night.”

  He only hoped she understood his message.

  “Thank you again for your hospitality,” she said sweetly. “I’m sure once Mrs. Paul has me ready for bed, I will take the sleeping draught the doctor left me. I used it last night and slept like the dead.”

  “Then goodnight to you both,” he said and left, returning to his own chamber.

  He didn’t have to ring for his valet. Anderson was already there.

  “I find I’m tired,” he proclaimed and yawned for good measure as he sat.

  His former batman removed Reid’s boot and said, “The servants have mentioned how nice it is to have Lady Dunwood here.”

  “Oh, have they?”

  Reid had quickly learned that anything the household wanted their duke to know was funneled through his valet. No one, save for Bellows, his butler, came to him directly for anything. Instead, the others told Anderson their concerns, knowing the valet would pass along the tidbits in everyday conversation as he readied the duke.

  “Yes, she’s quite a favorite,” Anderson continued as the other boot came off. “She visited a few times before your father became so ill. She was also gracious at the ball and danced with a groom and two footmen, as well as a few farmers. She’s highly thought of by all, Your Grace.”

  He refrained from laughing and said, “She’s more than a favorite of mine, Anderson.”

  The valet paused. “Is that so, Your Grace?”

  Nodding, Reid said, “I intend to make her my duchess.”

  A smile broke out on Anderson’s plain face. “Now that’s very good news, indeed, Your Grace.”

  “She doesn’t know so yet. You’ll need to keep it to yourself.”

  “Of course.”

  He knew, though, that Anderson would leave here and return to the servants’ hall, where he would announce the duke’s intentions. It wouldn’t hurt to have an entire household of servants on his side. Convincing Ashlyn to marry him might take all of them—and more.

  Once Reid had on his dressing gown, he dismissed the servant, saying, “I won’t need anything else from you the rest of the night.”

  “Very good, Your Grace.”

  What he would need is Ashlyn in his bed. Soon.

  He waited an hour, wanting the household to settle down. Anderson already had the bed turned back. Reid left the candles burning and made his way down the corridor to the guestroom Ashlyn stayed in. He didn’t bother to knock but merely opened the door and slipped inside.

  She waited on the bed, wide awake, wearing a pale blue dressing gown. Mrs. Paul had plaited her hair into a single braid.

  The first thing he would do is unloose it.

  *

  Ashlyn hoped she’d understood what Reid meant.

  That he’d be back.

  That’s why she’d specifically told Mrs. Paul she would be ingesting the sleeping draught. She didn’t want the housekeeper to check on her again this evening. If she did, the woman would find the Duke of Gilford in Ashlyn’s bed.

  At least, she prayed that was the case.

  Though she’d told him she wanted him, she still had a thousand questions as to what that meant. When she’d coupled with Daniel, they had kissed briefly. Nothing like she and Reid had engaged in. She’d kept still on the bed as her groom raised the hem of her night rail to her waist, thankful of the darkness surrounding them. He’d straddled her, pushing her legs apart, and she’d felt his member pressing against her. Suddenly, he’d jammed it inside her, tearing her in two. He’d moved on top of her and in her and then cried out hoarsely as tears slid from her eyes into her hair.

  Ashlyn hadn’t experienced the feelings for Daniel that she did for Reid. Even knowing it would end in excruciating pain, she wanted him to come to her bed. This time, she didn’t want to lie still. She wanted to touch him. Taste him. Fan the desire she felt for him.

  She kept watch on the door and, finally, it opened. Reid crept in, closing it behind him. He wore a dressing gown of dark maroon and no slippers. The sight of his bare feet made her smile.

  “Feeling sleepy?” he asked as he paused next to the bed.

  “Not in the least,” she said cheerily.

  “Good. I trust the wonderful Mrs. Paul won’t show up any time before morning.”

  “I doubt it.”

  He lifted her gently and carried her across the room.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, confused.

  “I want you in my bed, Ashlyn. It’s where you belong.” His voice, low and rough, heightened her anticipation.

  Reid had her open the door and then close it behind them. She found her hand against his chest. The bare skin glowed with heat. She couldn’t wait to see it. To see all of him. She’d never seen Daniel and wanted tonight to be as different from her wedding night as possible. After all, this would be her lone time with Reid—and final time with any man.

  His bedchamber door was already open and they entered. He nudged the door shut with his foot and then threw the lock. That action caused her to giggle.

  “You find something humorous, Lady Dunwood?” he asked with a straight face.

  “No, Your Grace. Dukes are said to be humorless creatures. I’m sure I would never laugh in the presence of one.”

  As he carried her to a massive bed, he said, “You may laugh some tonight. I hope you do. More importantly, I hope you cry out my name dozens of times as I pleasure you.”

  She grew hot at the words. “Pleasure me?” The concept seemed foreign to her. Little if anything Daniel had done that night brought her pleasure.

  “Yes,” Reid said, placing her upright on the bed. “My every thought will be to give you the night of your life.”

  He sat beside her, lacing their fingers together. “I want to bring you happiness, Ashlyn. I want to fulfill every need within you.” He paused. “From what you told me earlier, you wed a man not of your choosing. I’m sure that affected—”

  “It’s true I was made to marry Daniel,” she interrupted. “Tonight is not about him. I only want it to be you and me. No ghost between us.”

  Reid raised their joined hands and kissed hers tenderly. The simple gesture moved her beyond words.

  “Then tell me what you want.”

  She bit her lip, not used to anyone asking her that. Not sure if she should actually say the words aloud. Deciding if she only had one night, though, it would be the night of her choosing.

  “I’d like you to undress before you douse the candles,” she said, fulfilling her wish to see him that way.

  A wicked gleam entered his eyes. “There’ll be no darkness tonight. Just as you wish to see me, I want to see every inch of you.”

  “You mean . . . . when we . . .”

  “Yes. I plan to touch you. Hold you. Kiss you. See you. When you come, Ashlyn—and you’ll come many times—I want to see the look in your eyes.”

  She hadn’t a clue what he meant. He must have seen her confusion.

  “Have you never reached orgasm?”

  She swallowed. “I don’t know. I’m not sure what that is.”

  He chuckled. “Oh, if you had, you’d know exactly what I meant.”

  Suddenly,
she felt very unsure of herself. This man was a man of the world with a vast amount of experience. She looked away.

  His fingers took her chin and turned her back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “This may not be a good idea, Reid.”

  “You and me?”

  Ashlyn nodded.

  “Oh, it’s the best idea in the world,” he assured her. “Tell me when your husband went to war. I know we said we wouldn’t mention him but I sense you’re unsure. Apprehensive. How long were you together?”

  She closed her eyes, not wanting to see his reaction. “One night,” she whispered.

  His fingers tightened on hers. “And how many times did you make love?” he asked gently.

  “Once.”

  “I see.” He hesitated a moment and then said, “The first time between a couple—especially ones lacking in experience—can be awkward. Even uncomfortable.”

  He kissed her brow, his lips warm and firm. The kisses trailed to the bridge of her nose and down it, to the very tip. Ashlyn relaxed and opened her eyes.

  Reid kissed her hand again and released it, rising to his feet. He untied his dressing gown and parted it, dropping it to the floor.

  Ashlyn’s mouth watered as her eyes feasted on him. The powerful arms and legs. The broad shoulders which seemed even wider now. The muscular chest, covered in a matting of dark hair that trailed down to his flat belly and beyond.

  It was the beyond that had her worried.

  Already his member swelled. Knowing where it was supposed to go—and remembering how much pain Daniel had caused her—she doubted her body could take it in.

  “I’ve changed my mind,” she said quickly and stood, gripping the bedpost for support since she didn’t want to put weight on her injured ankle.

  “Am I that hideous?” he asked.

  “You’re beautiful,” she told him. “Too beautiful for me. And . . . too much for me.”

  “I see.” Reid came toward her slowly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Since you only coupled with your husband the one time, you may not know that it is only painful for a woman the first time.”

  Surprised filled her. “Is that true?”

  He nodded. “Yes. The first time can be very uncomfortable for a woman. That won’t be the case now. Despite your reservations, we will fit together like a hand in a well-tailored glove.” He gently squeezed her shoulders. “But I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, Ashlyn. Why don’t we just kiss? I know you enjoy that.”

  She did want to kiss him. Desperately. And touch that muscular chest. Just a little bit.

  “That’s all we’ll do?”

  “We’ll kiss and I’ll pleasure you some.”

  She shook her head. “I just don’t know what that means,” she said in frustration. “I’m petite. Nothing about you is.”

  “Are you worried we won’t fit together?”

  “Yes,” she said miserably.

  “We don’t have to do that. As I said, let’s just kiss a while. I’ll touch you some.”

  “Can I touch you?”

  Reid smiled. “That would be delightful. I can already guess that being touched by you is going to become my favorite thing in the world.”

  “Don’t get used to it,” she warned. She knew she should be honest with him and tell him this was the only time they would be together like this. If she even let it get to that point. Something made her hold back, though. If Reid knew the truth, he might not agree to this night together.

  “We’ll start with kissing and see where things go.”

  “All right,” Ashlyn said. “You may kiss me.”

  “Wherever I like?”

  She supposed he meant her neck as well as her lips. She’d liked that before and wouldn’t mind that at all.

  “Wherever you like,” she agreed.

  “Then let’s get you ready,” he said and reached for the sash of her dressing gown, pulling on where she’d knotted it.

  Quickly, she covered his hand. “Wait. I thought we were going to kiss.”

  “We are. You said wherever I liked.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “I want to see you, too, Ashlyn. And there are many places I’m interested in kissing you.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Reid’s words caused her body to flame. She wondered where he might kiss her. Her elbows? Above her bosom? Her belly?

  “All right,” she said shakily and dropped her hand. She still held tightly to the bedpost with the other.

  He worked the knot loose and pushed the dressing gown from her shoulders, forcing her to release her grasp.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your injured ankle in mind,” he promised. “No harm will come to it.”

  Maybe he would kiss her ankle.

  The dressing gown slid down her arms and was removed with ease. He draped it across the nearest chair and returned to her. Ashlyn felt vulnerable in only her night rail. Even her husband hadn’t seen her undressed. She couldn’t understand why she was allowing this man to do so.

  Reid lifted the hem of the night rail and raised it slowly, bringing it over her head. He placed it on top of her dressing gown and then faced her. His eyes skimmed up and down, approval shining in them. He came and took her hands.

  “You are more lovely than any summer day ever was.”

  “Are you quoting Shakespeare to me?”

  “In a way. I have nothing else to compare you to, Ashlyn. You are perfection.”

  His hands released hers and went to her waist. As he held her, his thumbs skimmed up and down, brushing her belly, lighting a fire within it.

  “I’m going to kiss you now. Hold you. Touch you. Whisper to you. Any time you wish me to stop, say the word.”

  Her hands went to his chest and she stroked it, loving the feel of the sleek muscles.

  “Don’t distract me.” Reid pulled her hands from him and picked her up. He went to the bed and sat, keeping Ashlyn in his lap. He took a pillow and placed it under her ankle.

  “Now we’re ready.”

  His mouth sought hers and she opened eagerly, wanting what they’d started earlier in the evening to continue. Their tongues mated wildly, each warring for dominance. Each kiss thrilled her, heating her blood and skin. His hands began stroking her body and it responded to him, her nipples tightening and her belly coiling and her core thumping. Whether he liked or not, she touched him, too, her fingers gliding along his perfect chest, playing with the hair on it, tugging softly. His hands moved up and down her back in long, deep strokes, the same as his tongue, and then moved to the curve of her hip and along her thigh. Ashlyn shivered, trying to memorize the feel of each stroke against her skin.

  His hand gripped her thigh, kneading it. Then he shifted her slightly and his fingers trailed along her inner thigh. The apex at her legs pulsed wildly as they came closer to it. He was going to touch her there. She knew it.

  And wanted him to, wanton woman that she’d become.

  He toyed with the curls there a moment and then slid his thumb along the seam of her sex, almost causing her to jump from his lap.

  “Easy,” he said against her lips and then moved his to her neck. His teeth grazed her throat and her core tightened in response.

  Reid continued to run his thumb back and forth, driving her to distraction. Then to her shock, he pushed it inside her.

  Ashlyn gasped.

  “Oh, my.”

  He pulled it out and disappointment filled her. She shouldn’t have said anything. Maybe he didn’t mean to do that. Daniel had certainly never attempted anything close to it.

  Then he pushed a finger inside her and began stroking her. She groaned. Another one joined it and began working some type of magic. She whimpered. Called his name.

  “Yes, love. Say it again.”

  “Reid!” she cried as she squirmed against him. “Reid!” she said insistently. “What on earth are you doing?”

  “What will
make you happy. Very happy, I hope.”

  Happy didn’t begin to describe what she was feeling.

  As his fingers caressed her, something began building inside her. Something violent and terrible and wonderful. Something that pushed her to the brink. She dug her fingers into his bare shoulders, not caring that she scratched him. Her breathing became rapid and shallow. She tingled from her head to her toes.

  He moved until he brushed against something and she made a strangled noise.

  “There it is,” he said soothingly.

  Ashlyn didn’t know how he could sound so calm when she was about to explode.

  “What?” she demanded, panting.

  “Your pearl. The nub that will complete everything.”

  She didn’t know about any pearl but was certainly glad he did. Whatever he’d found seemed the source of the burning need within her. She felt as if she were about to cross a bridge to an unknown place. One from which she could never return—and didn’t care. Instead, she eagerly raced across it.

  He had her writhing now, whimpering in need. She began clenching, holding fast to his fingers as he drove her over the edge. The explosion burst within her and Ashlyn cried out his name as she moved and bucked and strained. Sensations unlike any she’d ever known poured through her. She no longer saw or heard. Only felt a wild abandon and beauty.

  Reid pushed her higher and higher and she reached a peak, going over it into an abyss of pleasure. Gradually, it subsided and Ashlyn felt as weak as a newborn kitten, mewling as the tremors ended, leaving her spent. Somehow, Reid manipulated her from his lap and let her stretch out on the bed, gathering her in his arms, her face buried against his neck. She felt incredibly safe, knowing a peace that went beyond space and time. His lips brushed against the top of her head. Her limbs were lethargic. If she’d needed to move, it would have been impossible.

  He kissed her temple and said, “The French call it la petite mort. The little death. We English aren’t quite so poetic.”

  “That was orgasm?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “It was incredible.” She looked up. “For me. I’m afraid nothing happened for you.”

  He smiled. “Oh, it did. I was able to watch your face. The emotions flitting across it. Your eyes glazed. I heard your cries of satisfaction. Watching you brought me as much pleasure as I hope I gave you.”