The Duke's Gamble (4 page)

He had to have her now.

Chapter 5

Castor scooped her out of the bathtub, ignoring her gasp of surprise. Setting her on her feet, he wrapped a linen cloth around her before picking her up again. He walked into her bedchamber and lowered her onto her bed. Arabella gripped the material tightly about herself, remaining still as he removed the pins from her hair. Her locks fell down her back to her waist, possessing the sheen of polished mahogany. The tresses felt like heavy silk between his fingers and when he inhaled, the fragrance of lavender delicately perfumed the air. He wanted to bury his face in her hair, imagined it tumbled about her shoulders as she rode him.
 

Forcing himself back to the task at hand, he sat down next to her to pull off his boots. They were difficult to remove without his valet but the woman seated next to him proved to be a strong enough impetus and with a few muttered curse words, he managed to get them off. His stockings, trousers and shirt were much simpler to remove.
 

When he pulled the shirt over his head, he saw that Arabella’s eyes were focused on his shaft. She licked her lips nervously, and he suddenly wondered how her mouth would feel around his cock. The thought caused his swollen member to emit another small wash of seed. Damn it to hell. He was going to spill himself like an untried lad if he didn’t get inside her soon.

“Lie down, Arabella.”

It took a moment before her eyes came up to meet his. There was fear in the grey depths, mixed with shock. And … God help him. Was that a trace of curiosity he detected?
 

“Is that what it usually looks like?”

Castor, who had been about to reach over to remove the cloth covering her, paused. “This?” he asked, glancing down at his very enthusiastic member. “Good God, no. It would be deuced uncomfortable, not to mention highly inconvenient. A man’s cock fills with blood and becomes erect in readiness for bedding a female.” He had to bite back a smile when she mouthed the word ‘cock’ to herself.

Unfortunately for him, she wasn’t quite finished. “Your … cock knows when to ready itself?” she asked, frowning.

He couldn’t believe he was giving her a lesson in male anatomy while standing stark naked sporting the most impressive cockstand he could remember. “Well, there is usually some feeling of attraction to one’s companion.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widened when he loosened the material from her grip and took her hand.
 

“And when there is stimulation of it.” Castor’s breath hissed out as he closed her soft hand around his erection.

Her hand tentatively explored his length, over the tightly stretched skin of the plum-shaped head, then down to the sac that hung beneath. It was the sweetest torture he had ever experienced.

“Enough,” he growled, catching her wrist as he felt his shaft throb urgently. She opened her mouth to protest but he spoke first. “Lie down.”

Arabella pressed her lips together, frowning. “You really delight in giving orders, don’t you?” she muttered as she lay back on the pillow.

Incongruous as it was in the circumstances, Castor allowed a rare smile to emerge. The surprise on her face didn’t escape his notice. “I do like giving orders. And I’m very good at it. You might even say it’s a gift.” He bit back a grin when she arched a brow at that last statement. He climbed onto the bed and lay next to her, propping himself up on an elbow. “Let me look at you.”

Her hands tightened about the linen but he did not repeat himself. She looked as if she was holding her breath as the material slowly parted, and then there she lay, bared to his ravenous gaze. “You’ve already had a prolonged look at me. Was that not enough?”

He wanted to tell her that a lifetime would not nearly be enough. Without replying, he bent his head and kissed her. His tongue traced the seam of her lips until they parted. The taste of her was more intoxicating than a sip of the finest cognac. His tongue delved in, played with hers and she made a small sound in her throat. He deepened the kiss and slid his free hand down the centre of her body, feeling the soft flesh of her abdomen contract. The folds between her legs were slick and swollen, and he spread her moisture over the small bud, stroking it with the gentlest of pressure. Even so, Arabella clamped her thighs together and broke away from his kiss, her darkened grey eyes wild.
 

“D-don’t. Please,” she panted. “It’s too much.”

She was still too sensitive. Castor was breathing equally hard. “I won’t. Just let my hand go.” His words were practically a growl, his mind clouded with a haze of lust so desperate all he could think about was getting inside her. The moment her legs parted, he slid his finger into her, gritting his teeth as her legs jerked. He pushed his finger further, trying to ignore the blood pounding in his ears to focus on finding the small patch of sensitive skin within her that would …

She cried out softly, her eyes widening as her hands clenched into fists by her side. There it was. He rubbed his fingertip in tiny circles, his breath escaping harshly when her sex clenched involuntarily around his finger. Soon, she was whimpering softly, bucking her hips into his hand when he thrust his finger in and out of her narrow channel. Moisture slicked his hand and he knew she was ready. And not a moment too soon. His balls were already drawn tight.

Pushing her legs further apart, he came up over her. Placing the head of his shaft at her damp entrance Castor paused, staring down at Arabella. She was looking directly at him, her swollen lips parted, her chest heaving with quick shallow breaths. He, on the other hand, could not seem to draw a breath into his constricted chest. He had dreamt of this moment a thousand times, imagined it countless times. Now that it was finally here, doubt suddenly assailed him. What madness had possessed him to believe there was even a modicum of hope that she was going to feel something for him? She thought she was nothing but a payment for her father’s debt and he the willing recipient. How could she do anything but despise him?

He began to draw back, shuddering as his entire body screamed in protest. The touch of her hand on his arm made him freeze.

* * *

“Your Grace?” Bella looked at the strained face of the man above her, his arms trembling with effort as he held himself off her. She, too, was quivering, streaks of sensation running riot through her, her body aching for the pleasure that it knew he could give. She had been close, so close, and then he had stopped his ministrations before moving atop her. She wasn’t entirely naïve. She had witnessed firsthand how animals procreated, had even seen an illustration in an anatomy book that they used to own. Yet she could not have prepared herself for the moment when he had placed his cock at the entrance to her body. He was still there, hard and hot, each breath he drew causing it to slide against her sensitive flesh.
 

It felt so good that she couldn’t help herself. Digging her heels into the mattress, she lifted her hips, her mouth opening in a soundless breath as he sank into her, just a fraction.

Avalon groaned, his teeth grinding audibly. But still, he did not move.

“Please, Your Grace,” whispered Bella. She knew this was wrong. This man was not her husband and she was merely payment for her father’s debt. But in this moment, nothing mattered but the pleasure. She didn’t know why he was having second thoughts. But it was much too late for that. For both of them. She placed both hands on his shoulders. “Come into me, Your Grace.” His dark eyes bored into hers and they looked at each other for a long moment. In his gaze she could see blazing desire, doubt, and some other emotion she could not identify. It didn’t matter. “Take me.”

At her words, it was as if a dam ruptured within him. An anguished sound broke out of his chest, and he dropped his head. Chest heaving, he slowly lifted his head, his eyes capturing hers as he began to enter her. Bella’s fingers dug into his shoulders, the breath stilling in her lungs when the small pinch of pain slowly turned into a burn. Her muscles tightened, resisting his invasion, and despite herself, a whimper of pain escaped.
 

“Breathe out and relax,” said Castor, withdrawing slightly then pushing back in, deeper this time. Bella’s breath came out slowly as she tried not to flinch away from the burn of his invasion. Again, he pulled out. This time, he forged his way steadily inward, until the pain suddenly disappeared and he was deep within her.

Bella swallowed, her gaze focused on the tiny beads of perspiration which dotted his forehead. She felt full to bursting and her sex ached. Her skin was hot and tight and she fought to breathe, her body restless and desperate for release from this tension that held her in its grip.

“Are you in pain?” His eyes burned into hers.

Yes. No.
She shook her head.
 

“Put your legs around me,” he grated.

She did as he asked, lifting her legs and clasping them around his hips. She didn’t think it was possible but the movement lodged him even deeper, so deep that she felt as if he was in her stomach.

“Hold on to me,” he ordered, and then he began to move. His thrusts were steady, shallow at first, as if he wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurting her. It felt odd in the beginning but as he settled into a deeper rhythm, the pleasure began to build. Bella instinctively arched her hips into his on each inward thrust and he grunted, his hips picking up speed and slamming into hers. She whimpered at the combination of pleasure and pain, her fingers digging into the slick skin on his shoulders and he stopped, hair damp with sweat, a vein throbbing at his temple.

“Are you all right?”

“Y-yes. Please, don’t stop.” She shifted her thighs further up, curling them around his waist. He filled her to bursting and yet she still wanted more. More of the pleasure that he had already shown her.

The duke braced his weight on his forearms and began to thrust hard and fast. The sound of their flesh meeting and Bella’s moans were loud in the quiet room. Each stroke magnified the sensations that were spiking through her, making her strain up to meet him. Her head arched back as she fought to reach the peak that was just beyond her reach. “Please, please, help me,” she sobbed, clawing at his shoulders.

“Wait. Just wait, sweetling,” Avalon panted. “Just …” He froze, gritting his teeth as a low sound rumbled from his chest. Holding her breath, she watched as his neck arched, a vein pulsing at the side of his throat. His cock plunged deep; once, twice, three times, his shaft throbbing deep inside her. Shuddering, he remained over her, his head bowed, before he finally collapsed next to her, his heavy breaths warm and moist on her shoulder.

Bella turned to look at him and as their eyes met, she felt her chest tighten at the fierce emotion in his eyes. Yet, before she could try to decipher what it was, his hand covered her cleft and he slid long, broad fingers through her swollen tissues. She cried out at the invasion, clenching involuntarily around the digits, which felt almost as broad as his shaft. His eyes intent on hers, he plied her soft channel, rubbing and pressing against the front wall over and over until she climaxed with a thin wail. As the pleasure washed over her, he captured her mouth in a kiss that was gentle and startlingly tender.
 

She opened her eyes, catching sight of the fierce possessiveness in his gaze before he drew her against his chest. His arm held her close – so close that she could hear every beat of his heart. Bella drew in a shuddering breath, turmoil and uncertainty seething within her. She had expected to feel resentful. She had expected to feel small. She had even expected to feel used. What she had never expected was to feel treasured. She fought sleep, trying to decipher what this all meant. But the day’s events finally took its toil and she was asleep within minutes.
 

Chapter 6

“You wished to see me?” Bella stared at Castor, who stood at the window of his study with his back towards her. The mere sight of him sent a tremor coursing through her; the stark memory of how he had taken her again in the early hours of the morning made a wave of heat wash over her. He had woken her from a deep sleep when he had played with her breasts, suckling and stroking her nipples. Using his fingers on her pearl, he brought her to an explosive orgasm. Before she had even recovered, he was thrusting into her. She had been sore, and his entry hurt but it was soon forgotten as the pleasure began to build again.

When she woke again, the sun was high in the sky. A pull of the bell brought Mrs Robbins, followed by a bewildering array of servants who brought food and clothes and hot water. Mrs Robbins told her that the duke had ordered a bath to be drawn for her when she roused. She was also informed that Castor was waiting for her in his study.
 

So here she stood.

“Is everything to your satisfaction?”

Bella stared at his back. Today he was dressed in a forest green coat and black trousers tucked into black Hessians. “Yes, thank you.” She hesitated. “There was no need for you to purchase any garments. My gowns are perfectly adequate.”

“For a pauper, perhaps.” He turned around and went still when he saw her.
 

She stood there, watching as his eyes swept over her from the curls on the top of her head down over the pale apple-green gown to her feet that were clad in slippers of the same colour. “I … Mrs Robbins would not allow me to wear any of the gowns I brought with me.”

Castor’s eyes returned to her face, although he took his time in doing so. “It would have been impossible for her to accede to your request, seeing as I have ordered your clothes to be burnt.”

“I beg your pardon?” she gasped, horrified. “What right have you to burn my gowns!” She had brought her best gowns. What was she to wear when she returned home?

He frowned. “Your gowns were in a sorry state. I would have thought you would be pleased for the garments I purchased. Are they not to your taste? I was assured by Madame Cecile that they are the most popular patterns and materials.”

Bella gave him a helpless look. “No, it is not that. They are magnificent. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. But I … I cannot accept them. I am supposed to be the payment for my father’s debt yet you have spent so much on my wardrobe.” She thought back to the dazzling array of gowns and accessories she had been shown this morning. More gowns than she had ever owned, and more than she could wear in an entire year.