A Captain's Order - A Duke's Command (Hot Regency Read) (Scandalous Series Book 2) (5 page)

They were silent for a moment before Gabe led Eloise toward his carriage, before he realized he had one more item of business to attend. He turned to his second. “My time on the seas has come to an end, my friend. And so the ship is yours to do with as you please.”

Hamish, who was packing up the pistols stilled at his words. “You’re giving me the ship?”

Gabe smiled at his friends shock. The man was more than worthy of such a gift, having a steadfast character and generous soul. He didn’t know a lot about the fellow, where he came from or how he came to be working for him, but having spent the past two years at sea he knew a great man when he met one, and Hamish Doherty was exactly that. “I am.” He looked down at Eloise. “My life is in London now, and it is where I belong. But should you ever need me, you know where I am.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Hamish said.

“No need to say anything, my friend. I wish you well.” Gabe helped Eloise up into the carriage. He took a calming breath, the smell of the cool morning air brought his life back into focus. That he was alive was a bonus he had not thought possible only hours before. Now, however, beside the woman he loved, everything fell into place. For the first time in his life, Gabe felt free of scandal. Ready to do justice to his title and to the huge estates he had inherited. “Ride with me back to London?”

She nodded, her dark hair, tied by a loose piece of ribbon, shining in the early sunlight. Gabe shut the door behind them, forgetting his wound, and winced.

Eloise shifted to his side. “Does it pain you?” Her brow furrowed; her bottom lip captured by her teeth. An overwhelming urge to capture her delicious lips overrode all his thoughts of decency.

Gabe tilted her chin and looked into eyes as green as the rainforests of South

America. “Kiss me.”

“But your arm,” she said, sliding a fraction closer.

“Is fine.” Gabe bent and took her lips, allowed all he felt for her to come out in the kiss. Hesitant at first, Eloise soon forgot his injury, forgot where they were, who they were and matched his desire. Her tongue stroked his and sent fire shooting through his body.

Lifting her onto his lap, Gabe set about teasing her, giving her pleasure before the tree-lined streets of Mayfair ended their interlude. Not a moment wasted as he supped from her lips, curled his hand about her back, and held her tight against him. Her breasts rubbed his chest, the pebbled peaks straining against her morning gown.

He clasped the strap and held them both upright as the carriage lurched around a corner. Her chuckle brought a smile to his lips.

“We cannot make love here.” She chuckled when his hand curved about her breast and kneaded.

“What about sex. Would you be willing to do that here?” Gabe bent his head and took a nipple into his mouth. Allowed his tongue to swirl, his teeth to nibble and tease her into agreement.

Her hands clasped his hair, and Gabe knew she was fighting her own sense of decency.

“My, that feels good.”

Gabe set to work on her other breast. “Have you missed me then?”

“You know I have.” Eloise squirmed off his lap, turned, and straddled his legs.

Gabe lifted her skirts as she settled about his shaft now straining against his breeches, all but begging for release.

When she reached down and rubbed his engorged cock, Gabe swallowed and tried to pull what was left of his self-control together. Her delicate fingers played to a tune his body knew and remembered well. “I want you, now and always,” he said on a gasp when her deft fingers opened his front falls and stroked flesh against flesh.

“I know.” The seductive glint in her eyes only confirmed her words. The sex they had enjoyed on the boat was always wild and hot. Gabe could hardly name one place where they hadn't fucked hard and fast but always to the enjoyment of them both.

It seemed nothing had changed. No matter where they were or what they did, pleasure and fulfilment was paramount. And love. Always love.

Eloise rubbed her wet, heated core against his rod, and Gabe hissed in a breath. “Do that again.”

She did, and he moaned. He pulled her close and, taking her eager lips, pushed his pants out of the way and released his cock, lifted Eloise, and slid into her heated depths.

“Gabe…”

He nipped her throat, wiggled down the seat, and allowed her to ride him. She was a goddess before him. Hair cascaded over her shoulders, barely hiding the breasts he had freed. The plump globes swayed with their lovemaking, tempting him like a child in a sweet shop.

“I love making love with you.” She ran her hands against his chest, her fingers finding his nipple beneath his shirt and grazing it with her nails.

With barely suppressed excitement, Gabe watched Eloise sit upright and lick two fingers, her eyes wicked with intent. His balls tightened, his cock expanded when she trailed her hand down her body to rest against her sex. A soft moan expelled from her parted lips when she touched herself, stroked the little nubbin he so loved to kiss. Lick. Savour.

The sight of her touching herself was more than he could stand. With a swiftness that surprised him, Gabe flipped her over onto the squabs, lifted her legs about his waist, and took her. Fucked her. Pressed hard against her sex, and watched as her eyes glazed over with wonder and pleasure that ricocheted through them both.

Their gasps and moans echoed throughout the carriage, heedless of the driver who could overhear. Her hot core pulled and contracted about him, draining him of every ounce of life.

“Marry me,” he asked at length, leaning over her to watch the woman he loved come back from the exquisite state they always achieved together.

“Why?” Eloise asked, a grin on her succulent lips.

“Because I love you. Need you. Cannot possibly live without you.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “Besides, you saved my life, and now I owe you mine.”

Eloise made an agreeable noise at his words and wrapped her arms about his neck. “How could I refuse the captain of my hearts' order?”

“This is no captain's order, my love, but a duke's heartfelt wish.”

“Oh, Gabe.” She pulled him against her and held him close. “I will marry you, captain, duke, whatever you wish to be. I'll be yours, for now and for always.”

He grinned and pushed his now very erect rod against her heat. “I'm having a feeling you need to be mine, again.”

Eloise's chuckle rumbled against his chest as she kissed his sweat-streaked skin. “Now would be perfect,” she purred, sliding her legs up against his hips, opening for him.

Perfect indeed.

Epilogue

Eloise walked toward Gabe in the great library of his ancestral home and smiled at the man she would soon call husband. His attire fitted him like a glove, left little to her imagination to what delights sat beneath the superfine coat and breeches.

Before the gathered guests, only the few they wished to share in their special day, they said their marriage vows. Promised each other to a lifetime of love.

It was a perfect morning for a wedding and she couldn’t have asked for a better man who stood watching her, his gaze boring into her as if she were the most precious piece of artwork in the room.

Her trip to the wilds of another country with her brother, the heartbreak she’d endured there eased when she’d met Gabe. She was a fortunate woman who would be loved unconditionally for the rest of her life.

She smiled.

That night Eloise waited for Gabe in his ducal bedroom. The dark wooden bed bore silk curtains that billowed in the fragrant spring air. It made her feel mysterious and seductive. She could hear him talking to his valet as he dressed for bed and she smiled. He had no need for drawers this evening.

The door from the dressing room swung open and Gabe nonchalantly leaned against the threshold. His body was bare from the waist up, and with the flitting moonlight that filtered through the windows, every contour on his well, defined body was hers to admire.

Her body hummed with eagerness to have him close. Over the last few days they’d been separated for the first time since Gabe had landed back in England. And every hour had seemed like a year. “Hello husband.”

He pushed away from the door and strolled toward her. The muscles on his abdomen flexed and her mouth dried. He was a sight she was sure she’d never cease looking at.

“Good evening, wife.” He crawled over her onto the bed, his hands either side of her face. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”

She grinned at his attempt of flattery, which utterly worked wonders on her expectant body. “More times than I can count.” She cradled his hips and felt along the taut muscles that ran along his spine. Gabe had a lovely back, strong and straight and gorgeous to watch when he was busy doing manual tasks.

He took her lips and she inwardly sighed. Each stoke of tongue, each sup of her lips left her needy and hot. Within moments the kiss turned scorching, no longer beckoning but demanding, urging her to meet his desire.

Eloise did. She kissed back with all the love, desire and lust she felt for this man. A man who was so much more than she’d ever expected to have in a husband.

She was a very lucky woman.

Her fingers met the band of his drawers and she pushed them off his hips, using her leg to slide them down to his feet. He chuckled through the kiss before pulling back.

“Is there something you’re after, Your Grace?”

She started at the use of her new title then laughed. “Only you. Only ever you.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” With one swoop, he rolled onto his back and pulled her atop to straddle him. Eloise caught his eye and slowly, slipped her shift off over her head. His heated gaze could scorch skin, she was sure. “Like what you see?”

His hands slid up her waist and flexed over her breasts. His fingers paying homage to her nipples that beaded like hard little sweets just for him. “Very much so.”

Gabe went to place her over his jutting cock, but Eloise shook her head. “Not so fast, Duke. I have other ideas for us tonight.”

He raised his brows and grinned. “Then please proceed.” He placed his hands under his head and watched her.

Eloise felt under the pillow and caught the silk tie she’d hidden there earlier. Pulling it out, she waved it before his face. “Give me your hands.”

Gabe made a guttural sound of approval before doing as she asked. She tied them together quickly before lifting them above his head and tying him to the headboard. Her breasts rubbed against his face and she sucked in a startled breath when she felt his tongue lather at one nipple.

Sitting back, she took the opportunity to run her hands over his chest, his stomach, his jutting cock that sat in wait, hard and heavy in her hands.

“What are you going to do to me?” His arms flexed against her ties and she smiled.

“You should be asking what I’m not going to do.” Eloise slid down his body, watched as his eyes widened as her mouth came to sit directly over his cock.

She liked the droplet of come at the end of his penis before suckling the head into her mouth. He groaned, lifting his body a little to push further into her mouth. Wanting to please him as he always pleased her, she clasped his cock in her hand and stroked. With each glide of her fingers he hardened even more, making his thick shaft stand to attention.

Eloise took him fully into her mouth, swirled her tongue about his length as her hand worked him to a frenzy. He groaned, sucked in startled breaths as with each pull and glide of her mouth, she pushed him ever closer to release.

To have such a virile, strong man, squirming in desire, the need she could sense he had for her was the most erotic elixir she’d ever tasted. And tonight was just the start of many more days and night with this man.

Her heart sang with the joy of it.

Sucking harder, she increased her speed and soon had him near the release he craved. Sitting up, she continued to stroke him slower while watching his ragged breathing calm a little.

“What are you doing?”

“Teasing you.” She ran her tongue over his penis once more before kissing and nibbling her way up his abdomen. Each taut muscle she kissed, nipped and kissed better before coming to the sensitive spot beneath his ear he loved her kissing most.

“I want to make you burn for me.”

She heard the ties flex against the headboard. “I want to fuck you.”

His smutty words only made her want him to fuck her as well. But not yet. “Then my plan is working.” She placed he mons over his penis and rubbed him against her sex. She was wet and ready, her sex aching with a need to be fulfilled by him. And soon, she promised herself, she would have her wish.

Eloise sat up and without letting him enter her, rubbed his engorged member against her, over and over again she slid against his heat, teased them both to distraction before they were both panting hard, their bodies close to climax but not willing to let go of the delicious ecstasy they always found in each other’s arms.

“Fuck me, Eloise.”

She smiled and impaled herself on his cock. They moaned in unison as she leaned on his chest and rode him. Pushed them both onward, toward to the divine end they craved. Gabe moaned her name, his arms fighting against his imprisonment. Eloise enjoyed every moment of having him at her mercy. She slowed their lovemaking when necessary and sped it up when she liked. Her body was so close, but her mind wanted to continue the erotic torture.

All through her core she felt her orgasm flow through her. Her body shook as Gabe thrust hard into her sex and pushed her orgasm to peak just as he too found his release. Her eyes fluttered open just as she realized Gabe had freed himself from his bonds.

He rolled her over and pinned her beneath him. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

Her body felt groggy with satisfaction. She chuckled. “I really did. It’s enjoyable having you at my mercy. I may have to do that again.”

He licked his lips and she inwardly groaned. He was truly too delicious for words. “As long as I can do it to you too.”

Hmm. Never had a question been so tempting. “Starting from now?”

“Hell yes. Right now, my little minx. Now put your hands above your head and enjoy.”

She did as she was told and settled in for another wondrous orgasm. “I love you,” she said, feeling tears well at the fortunate place she now found herself.

“And I you,” he replied, before making good on his promise to please her. And please her he did.

Always.