Page 64 of Stolen and Seduced By the Duke

Margaret let out a contented sigh and opened her eyes. "I fear you will become impossible now."

"I already told you that I was excellent," he reminded her, his expression smug.

"Your confidence is remarkable."

"My confidence," Pierce said, as his other hand moved to her breast and squeezed. She released a moan. He continued, "has been earned."

Her eyes drifted closed again. "I really cannot resist it. What is happening to me?"

"Shh… let it happen," he replied. "You are very seductive, Margaret," he said quietly.

Her eyes opened at once. She turned her head towards him, uncertain whether she had heard him correctly. Pierce was looking at her with an intensity that made her suddenly conscious of everything she usually tried not to notice: her loose dark hair, her flushed cheeks, the softness of her gown, and the way his gaze seemed to linger upon her with unmistakable admiration.

"I do not believe you have ever said that to me," she whispered.

Pierce's gaze remained fixed upon hers. "I have thought it, constantly. Your dark eyes make it difficult to think of anything else. Your hair is far too tempting when you wear it loose, and your figure makes it remarkably difficult for a man to behave with indifference."

Margaret's cheeks warmed beneath his praise. "You cannot possibly say things like that while touching me this way," she protested, lowering her gaze.

Pierce's brow lifted. "Why not?"

"I do not know. It is too much," she answered but in that moment his finger moved faster and faster over her sensitive button and she lost herself.

She wiggled under his touch. "Oh, oh my," she said with a breathless whisper.

His mouth curved slowly. "That's it. Do not fight it."

She could not deny it. Her body had grown wonderfully heavy against his body, every muscle loose and peaceful, while her thoughts drifted pleasantly away from the worries that had plagued her for weeks. For a few precious moments, she allowed herself simply to enjoy the pulsing building inside of her, the soothing pressure of his hands, and the strange comfort of having nowhere else she needed to be.

In this moment I am his.

Pierce continued the gentle circular motions, his touch careful but faster and faster.

Margaret breathed deeply, feeling the last of her restraint dissolve until she could scarcely remember why she had been so anxious when she entered his study.

Then a tremor moved through her entire body. "Pierce, I am… something is happening," she said.

"Let it happen," he said as he kissed her shoulder softly, his hands massaging and bringing her to the brink.

Margaret tensed her body as the pulse exploded into a blissful wave of release. She had never felt anything like it before.

She wanted more.

What has happened to me? What did he do?

CHAPTER 16

The next morning, Pierce arrived at Boodle’s with an unusual lightness in his step, though he would have denied it if anyone had been foolish enough to mention it. The gentlemen’s club was already alive with the subdued hum of conversation, the polished floors gleaming beneath the morning light that filtered through the tall windows.

Pierce removed his gloves as he entered the private room where Nathaniel Vernon, Earl of Brydges, was waiting, and the moment Nathaniel saw his expression, his brows climbed almost to his hairline.

"Well, well," Nathaniel said, settling deeper into his chair as a servant approached with a silver tray. "I have known you for years, and I do believe I have just witnessed something extraordinary."

Pierce took the offered glass of port and regarded him suspiciously. "What have you witnessed?"

"A sheepish smile of… joy? Is it?"

Pierce glanced down at his drink before looking back at his friend. "I am not smiling."