Page 12 of My Beastly Duke
Marina could see by the look in the young girl’s eyes that she was afraid of saying too much. Or perhaps she was too afraid to speak out against her master. “You do not have to fear, Isolde, you may speak freely in my presence.”
The girl let out a breath of relief as she began to pick up the wedding dress and undergarments that Marina had just been wearing. “Thank you, Your Grace, I knew you were a kind soul. Please do not think that the duke has ever been cruel to any of us, he is just… just…”
“Just difficult and grumpy?” Marina offered.
Isolde’s lips curled into an understanding smile. “Yes, Your Grace, difficult and grumpy are definitely suitable descriptions.”
A moment of understanding passed between the two women before Isolde broke the silence. “I had better get these garments to the wash, Your Grace. Will there be anything else this evening before I leave you?”
Marina turned to the floor-length mirror and examined her reflection in the new night dress before answering. “No, I think I have everything that I need.” Her pulse raced with doubt as she passed her tongue over her lips.
“I am sure that His Grace will find your appearance most satisfactory, Your Grace,” Isolde replied as if she could read Marina’s mind.
“Thank you, Isolde.” She forced a smile before waiting for the maid to leave the room. Out of everything that she feared, her appearance in front of the duke was not one of them.
Hours had passed as Marina lay on her bed, staring hopelessly at the ceiling.
It does not seem like he is coming.
Her heart raced with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. Had she wanted him to come to her bed? She tried to reason with herself that it was better if he was respecting her time to settle in.
Turning over with a sigh, she was about to blow out the candle beside her bed when the door suddenly opened.
“Your Grace?” Her heart began to race as the large figure remained in the shadow.
Why hadn’t he brought a candle with him?
She felt herself backing up until the tips of her fingers touched the solid wood of the bed’s frame.
“Blow out the candle.” His voice was ominously low.
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace?” Her voice was breathy as her fingers curled around the hardwood of the poster.
“I said blow it out.” He raised his voice to a commanding tone.
Does he not want me to see his face?
Her breathing deepened as her chest rose and fell, making her hard nipples brush against the fabric of her night dress.
“Your Grace, I do not care if…”
“You are to obey my commands.” His voice was low but commanding, sending a shiver of fear down her spine.
Doing as he commanded, she made her way across the room and blew out the candle, unsure of what to expect next.
The sound of his heavy footsteps made her gasp for breath as he came into the dark room, shutting the door behind him. She was about to turn around when his strong arms suddenly encircled her shoulders, pulling her body against his rock-hard muscles.
Every chiseled line of his chest and abdomen was evident through the fabric of his clothes. A sharp gasp of surprise escaped her throat when his hands suddenly cupped her breasts, teasing her hard nipples against his palms.
She could hardly contain the excitement that flooded her body when he squeezed her breasts, pulling her body closer to her thighs.
Running the palm of his hands over her breasts, he made his way down her body, feeling her sides and abdomen before scrunching her dress up in his fists.
Why do I want him to touch me?
She began to envision his hands roaming beneath her clothes as she suddenly turned in his arms, catching herself by surprise as much as the duke. Her body seemed to be responding to his touch as if it possessed a mind of its own.
The duke seemed startled for a second before gripping her waist and running his hands over her firm buttocks. The roughnesshe displayed in gripping her waist, made her breath catch in her throat.