Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(53)

What else was he to think? She wasn’t here, she wasn’t curled up next to him so he could gather her close and make love to her all over again. His desire for her was already growing inside him, tightening his balls and hardening his cock, heating his every nerve ending.

He had to dress and find her. There was only one thing to do of course. Damn her father. He had to marry her now.

He tried to stand before sinking down on the edge of the bed. A new thought hit. If he’d taken her by force, would she want to marry him?

He ran a hand through his hair and cursed under his breath again. It would be best if she did refuse him.

Best for whom, a voice in his head whispered.

What if she was with child? His child. He inwardly laughed. Unlikely. He’d never had a mistake happen in his life and the two years with Tulay had not borne fruit. He assumed the issue lay with him.

The problem he did have—well, one of them—was, it was one thing to ask Foxhall to marry her because Alex needed to keep her safe while he dealt with Murad. It was not honorable to expect his friend to do so knowing Alex had lain with her—if she was with child David would never know whose it was.

Alex could marry her and send her home with Foxhall. Her father would likely kill him if Murad didn’t first, but there was no other way. If Alex died seeking his revenge, Fredrick would have no need to kill her because her wealth came to him upon marriage. Besides, Foxhall would deal with Fredrick.

He needed to bathe and change the sheets before Foxhall arrived. His friend would likely want to beat him to a pulp for taking advantage of Hestia.

He pulled himself to his feet.

Hestia wasn’t a timid girl. He remembered how she’d slapped Murad’s ugly face and more recently fought like crazy to escape from Connor. She was brave. She would have found a way to stop Alex if he took her against her will. Hell, she could have screamed for help.

Heat stole into his face as realization struck. She’d wanted to be in his bed. She’d made no secret of her affections over the years.

Fear crawled along his skin. He didn’t want her to love him. He’d destroyed the last woman he loved and he could very well destroy Hestia too. He could not afford to love anyone. Love might distort his plans—would distort his plan.

After he’d washed in the basin and dried his body, he was just about to pull on his drawers when the cabin door opened.

He quickly drew up the material to cover himself. “Doesn’t anyone bloody knock anymore?”

Jacob merely grunted. “I thought you’d be in bed and Lady Hestia would still be here. She didn’t come to breakfast.”

“She was tired so I sent her off. By the way, I don’t need a nursemaid any longer.”

Jacob looked at him and then the bed. “So it would appear. Best you get rid of those sheets and open more portholes before Foxhall arrives. He’ll likely put you in your grave. I must admit I’m tempted myself.”

With that Jacob turned and left the room.

He threw down the facecloth and with gritted teeth stripped the sheets from his bed and threw them out the nearest porthole, destroying the evidence. He was too exhausted after his wash and sheet stripping to remake the bed, so he simply opened his door and yelled for Ned.

Served him right for having a night of passion when he really wasn’t up to it. He hated to think what Hestia thought of his clumsy lovemaking, but then she’d have nothing to compare it to.

As Ned scurried about his cabin making the bed, he sat at his desk with his head in his hands. He really did not need this right now.

He was about to face the devil himself, and only one of them would come out of the confrontation alive. He would prefer it to be him. So he needed to focus. Nothing else mattered.

When Ned finished Alex said, “Fetch Jacob, lad. I want to know how far we are from Corfu.”

“I can tell you that,” Foxhall said as he entered the room. “Good to see you up and about.”

“I wouldn’t say about, but I am up.” He motioned for Foxhall to take a seat on the newly made bunk. “How long before we reach Corfu?”

“Two days, and before you ask, yes, the sloop is still following.”

Damn. “We must try to lose it within the many smaller islands around Corfu. Fredrick’s men will have no idea where we are going, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Where are we heading?”

“For a hidden cove just south of Pentati. I have loyal men there who will update us on Murad’s movements and where we might find the earl.”

“And this is where you want me to wait with Hestia.”

That had been his intention. He’d thought to see David wed Hestia before he set sail after Murad and her father. If Murad had got wind of his mission to find the earl, he knew that it was now a race to find Hestia’s father first. Murad would go after Hestia’s father to use him as bait to capture Alex.

Another reason why Hestia would stay at Pentati. With people loyal to him, and no one who knew they had any connection to him, she would be well guarded, by both Foxhall and others.

However, he had to confess all before letting Foxhall marry her.

“We have to lose the sloop before we reach Pentati. I won’t risk revealing my hideaway.” He knew what David would say next, and he dreaded the answer he had to give.

“I’m not sure Hestia will be ready to listen to your other plan by then. When do you propose to tell her that she should marry me?”