The Duke's Gamble by Elyse Huntington Read Free Book Online

husbands in the bedroom. Yet the way he had spoken the word seemed forbidden, illicit somehow.
    He mistook her hesitation for doubt. “I would never hurt you, Arabella.”
    She swallowed. “I know.”
    He covered her hand with his, and the calloused warmth steadied her. “Well? Do you agree?”
    “Yes.” Her voice was barely a whisper.  
    He didn’t bother to hide his triumph. “Good. Shall we seal our agreement with a kiss?”
    Bella was helpless to do anything but nod.  
    His kiss was firm and his tongue stroked hers with gentle, teasing strokes. She tentatively touched her tongue to his, parrying to his thrusts. The kiss remained light, almost playful, yet it was a sign of his skill that by the end of it, she was breathless, her body aching with desire. When he pulled away, she was gratified to find that he was similarly affected from his quickened breath and heavy-lidded eyes.
    “I have a request to make of you,” he said in a low voice.
    She swallowed. “What is it?”
    “I do not want you to wear drawers while you are here.”
    Bella gaped at him. “No drawers? But that’s …”
    He seemed amused by her consternation. “Scandalous? Improper? Shocking?”
    She sought to compose herself. “All of those.” She wanted to ask why, but then the reason of his request occurred to her. Her entire body heated at the thought that without her drawers, he could touch her, take her, at will. “A lady would object, would she not?” she asked musingly. “Although, I am perhaps not a lady any longer.”
    “You are a lady,” he retorted immediately, his voice hard. “And anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to me.” His voice softened. “You are my lady. Mine alone.”
    She felt her heart swell. Where in heaven’s name had her anger and her resentment gone? “I will do as you ask, my lord.”
    Castor cupped her face in his large hand and ran his thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “What are you doing to me?” he murmured, as if musing to himself.
    Bella didn’t reply, but she was very much afraid that the attraction she didn’t seem able to fight could very easily turn to love if she wasn’t careful.

Chapter 7

    Two weeks later  

    Bella stirred, caught in that place between wakefulness and sleep, her entire body heavy with an indescribably delicious lassitude. Her sex was pulsating with pleasure, and it was when she tried to shift her legs that she realised they were pinned down.
    Her eyes flew open. The sight that met her was shocking. Beyond shocking.
    The dim light of dawn showed the duke of Avalon lying between her thighs. His hands were holding her spread thighs and his mouth … lord in heaven , his mouth was covering her cleft. He was tasting her! She cried out in shock before sitting up and trying to move away from him. He had raised his head then, and told her to stop, lie down. She had barely heard him, but froze when her gaze landed on his perfectly sculpted lips. Lips which were wet with her juices.
    Without waiting for her to obey, he lowered his head, laving her engorged pearl with his tongue. Her vision blurred and she gasped, falling back onto the mattress as her arms gave out. The heavy caress changed into lightning fast flicks and her fingers clenched around the bedsheets. He purred in satisfaction as he stroked his tongue along the length of her slit, gathering the evidence of her arousal before circling and teasing her tender opening with the tip of his tongue.  
    Bella couldn’t help it. She arched her hips up, fighting against the tight grip he had on her thighs as she wordlessly begged for more. “Castor, p-please,” she moaned.
    At the sound of her voice, he growled, and then he was licking her, sucking hard and flicking his tongue rapidly against the hard bundle of nerves which he exposed further by pressing upwards on the flesh of her pubis.
    “ Oh God! ” screamed Bella, her body convulsing as ecstasy shot through her without warning. The intense surges of