Page 85 of Yours Truly, the Duke
Amusement twitched his lips attractively. “And you are prickly sometimes.”
She accepted his good humor. “I’m trying to get better about that.”
“As I am trying not to say the right thing the wrong way.”
Fredericka reached over and brushed her fingertips across his muscled chest. “Your endless training shows.”
He tilted his head and gave her a quick nod to let her know he appreciated she noticed. “It’s necessary. I have an important tournament in Oxford coming up soon.”
A tingle of concern nipped her. “That seems a long way to go.”
“It’s a large gathering of clubs competing. I’ll be gone a few days.”
“That long? The hearing before the Lord Chancellor is coming up soon as well.”
“I promise I’ll be back for that. The games are important, but you are more important.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers and placed another tender kiss on her lips.
A lump formed in her throat and she found she couldn’t respond to his unbelievable statement that she meant more to him than his sporting club.
“There’s something else I’ve wanted to clear up sinceshortly after you arrived in London. I told you I had a mistress and—”
“No, please,” she said, pushing the cape away and trying to shake her legs free of it so she could rise. “I can assure you I don’t want to hear this, and even if I did, this is not the time to bring up your mistress and quite frankly I can’t think of a time that would be right.”
He stayed her again with his hand. “I haven’t been to see her since I met you.”
Fredericka stilled. Could that be true? He might not say everything the way she wanted to hear it but she hadn’t known of him telling her something that wasn’t true. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Nothing.” He gave her a smile and a shrug. “It was just something I wanted you to know. I didn’t like the way we left this subject when it came up before. I’ve not been with anyone. I don’t want anyone but you.”
Fredericka’s pulse pounded, and she suddenly knew without doubt itwaslove she felt for the duke. She didn’t need to make lists to study and ponder after all. Looking into his eyes, filled with so much emotion, she knew for sure. Her heart, her life, and her soul were his. Though he talked only of wanting her, for now that was enough. She knew how special she was to him. She felt it in every touch and saw it in every glance.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You’re right. I needed to know, and it was the perfect time to tell me after all.”
He placed his fingertips under her chin, kissed her warmly on the lips, kindling those beautiful feelings of desire within her once again.
When her lashes fluttered up and she looked at him, humor glinted in his eyes. “Do I remember you calling me an ace among men?”
She teased him by wrinkling her forehead as if indeep thought. “I seem to remember I called you a rake among men and that’s what you are.”
The grin stayed on his face. “You said I made you dizzy.”
She reached over and pressed a kiss against the center of his hard chest. “You were dizzy first,” she murmured softly.
Wyatt chuckled. “I still am,” he whispered, cupping the back of her head in his hand. “Kiss me in the same spot.”
She kissed his chest again.
“Now a little to the left.” She did as he asked.
He breathed in heavily. “Not quite there. Maybe over to the right will be the right spot. Try there.”
Fredericka laughed and pushed at him. “You are a monster.”
Wyatt wrapped her in his arms and laid her back against the bed. “And you are the most beautiful and exciting person who has ever been in my life, Fredericka. I’m so glad you are mine.”
She was glad too. At that moment, a slice of sunlight streaked through a slit in the drapery panels. “The sun is up. You should go to your room. I’d rather the children not know about—” She suddenly felt shy.
“I’ll listen and know when they are up and about. I’ll slip out. Right now I want to do this.”
