“I am happy,” whispered Violet, her voice breaking as she voiced a small part of her feelings, biting her lips as she felt the weight of the men’s eyes on her.
Could it be true? Could the duke actually want a marriage of more than convenience?
Ashton made a rumbling sound against her back, his hand skating up over her body to cup her neck and tilt her head back against his shoulder.
“How happy?” he rasped, dragging his nose along the slope of her neck, his lips grazing the place behind her ear that lit her nerves on fire.
Violet made a small sound, and she could feel him smile against her skin.
“I’m sure we can improve on our efforts from earlier, don’t you think Richard?”
Heat and excitement fluttered low in her belly, and Violet sucked in a breath, watching as Richard tilted his head, smiling at her in a decidedly more wicked manner.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Ashton carried the soft,slight weight of his wife up the stairs and down the hallway to his chamber, his gaze locked on hers as he walked them towards the huge bed that dominated the space.
Five generations of Ashton dukes had come before him, and he knew his duty here, but even now he could not change who he was. Not even for the weight of the title.
He did know one thing though, and it warmed a part of his heart he hadn’t known existed. It ached now, in his chest, as he looked into Violet’s eyes and saw there, for the first time, absolute trust, a naive sort of innocent wonder.
No woman had ever looked at him quite this way and it was wreaking havoc on his senses, almost as if he was the nervous one.
Had he ever been nervous about anything in his life?
Ashton felt Richard enter the room behind him, his senses perfectly attuned to his friend's presence after so long in each other’s company.
Something was different tonight. There was a change in the air between the three of them, a new flavour to this dance of anticipation that Ashton had thought he knew every nuance possible of.
Ashton slowly dropped Violet onto her stockinged feet, feeling her slight weight against him as she steadied herself.
She glanced over his shoulder at Richard, and for the first time in his long years with the doctor, Ashton felt something like jealousy kick in his chest. Sucking in a deep breath, Ashton examined the feeling, taking a moment to understand what had brought it on.
Violet turned her eyes back to him as his hand tightened around her upper arm, and suddenly Ashton understood.
Hewanted to be the one to take her pleasure in hand tonight. He wanted to be the one to undress her, touch her, make her sob with need until she squirmed for his touch. He wanted her attention on him, and only him, untilhewas ready to share.
Ashton needed to remove the barrier he had kept raised between them. For once he desired to feel, to give and not just take. It had always been easier for Richard to open himself to others, but for Ashton, it had been near impossible.
It seemed he had developed a tendre for his wife.
A shocking turn of events, indeed, mused Ashton, as he reached behind her head and threaded his fingers into her hair, plucking the pins from Violet’s coiffure as her eyes widened in surprise, until the fine curtain of blonde strands cascaded down her back. Her clear hazel eyes looked almost bronze in the candlelight, shining up at him.
“Sit down, Richard,” Ashton said sternly, keeping his eyes fixed on Violet’s face, relishing the flash of uncertainty that warmed her cheeks at his words.
Yes. He wanted her off balance.He wanted her to be as uncertain as the first time she had come to his bed, only this time he would take more than her body.
He would claim her as his in full.
Ashton heard Richard fall into his habitual seat, and his lips lifted briefly with amusement. Trust the cheeky bugger to choose the duke’s chair tonight.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
The duke allowedhis eyes to feast on his prize as he backed Violet towards his bed, shucking the constraining superfine jacket and tugging the cravat from his neck as he stalked towards her. A small sound of nervous anticipation fell from her lips as the back of her knees hit the bedstead. She reached out instinctively to catch herself, clutching the coverlet as Ashton took his time deciding what he would do with her.
He slowly unbuttoned his waistcoat, noting with satisfaction the way her eyes lingered on his hands, his body, catching on the thick ridge of his arousal as it strained against his breeches.
Ashton stroked the back of his hand down her cheek, enjoying the sight of her watching him, savouring the way her breath hitched at his touch. He ran his hand down her back, feeling the smooth length of her fine, golden hair as it tumbled down to the small of her back. Fingering the silky strands, Ashton pictured Violet naked, covered by nothing but her glorious hair… and the glistening jewels he had placed around her neck.
