The Mad, Bad Duke (Nvengaria #2)(106)

“I don’t believe I will,” Meagan said softly, and then finally she eased herself straight onto him.

As soon as she tightened around his hardness, her red lips parting with sudden pleasure, Alexander lost the remnants of his sanity.

His mind went blank, shooting down roads of madness he didn’t understand. All he felt was the tight point where they joined, her wrists under his fingers, her backside on his thighs.

Do not hurt her, his mind warned him, but he was beyond all thought.

Alexander thrust up into her, reveling in the hot pressure of her. He wanted to stay inside her forever, in this woman he loved, letting her scent cover him, the scent of her honey coupled with the sweet-spice of her perfume.

Love you. I love you.

When Alexander pried open his eyes he saw Meagan far gone in the passion of it, her eyes closed, hands clenched against the pain of his grip on her wrists.

He was hurting her. Alexander slowed his thrusts.

Instantly Meagan’s eyes jerked open. “No,” she begged. “Don’t stop. Please.”

Alexander released her hands and grasped her hips, pulling her harder onto him as he thrust himself deep inside her. He slid one hand to where they joined and rubbed his thumb against the twist of hair and the firm berry beneath it.

Meagan let out a sharp cry. She ground her hips faster against him, her noises of joy driving him to frenzy.

Alexander felt himself start to change. No. No, not now. He flickered to logosh, still thrusting hard, then back to Alexander, his skin fever hot, his body shaking.

“Alexander,” Meagan gasped, brown eyes wide.

Alexander twined his fingers through hers and held on so hard that his nails creased her skin. “Do not let me go away. Keep me here.”

Meagan nodded, loose strands of her red hair brushing his chest. She held his hand firmly, never mind that he must nearly be breaking her fingers.

Meagan leaned to him, the points of her nipples brushing his flesh. “I love you, Alexander. Stay with me.”

Alexander nodded. The logosh wanted her as much as he did, but he would stay human for her. He had to.

Alexander felt himself begin to change again, his fingers elongating into claws, sleek dark fur covering his arms. Meagan stared in shock, and then he was Alexander again. “Damn it.”

“Stay with me,” she breathed. “Be my husband. I love you.”

“Say it again.”

“Stay with me.”

“No.” Alexander could barely think of the words. “The other.”

Meagan skimmed her lips over his mouth. “I love you. I love you, Alexander.”

“God help me.” Alexander came, his body shuddering with release, his temperature soaring. He swore his skin burned, and then his hands became claws again, raking Meagan’s flesh.

“Alexander,” she cried desperately. “I love you.”

Exerting every ounce of strength he had, Alexander willed the claws to become fingers again, ordinary tanned hands scratched from bramble in the woods.

Alexander’s release went on, his seed spilling into her. The last of it wrung out his body and then crashed him down to the floor. Alexander gathered his wife against him, his breath raw, his heart pounding.

They lay together, breathless and trying to recover, every inch of Alexander’s body hurting and yet satisfied.

He scraped the hair back from Meagan’s forehead as she smiled tiredly at him. “You are the most precious thing in my life,” he said, his voice a grating slur. “My Meagan. I love you.”

Meagan let out her breath, and a little laugh came with it. “Oh good. Because I love you too.”



* * *



Meagan was too exhausted even to walk up the stairs to the bedrooms above. She was happy to let Alexander scoop her into his strong arms and carry her.

The gallery creaked with the interesting noises of an old house, the railings dark with age. Meagan fell instantly in love with the bedchamber Alexander took her to off the first landing. The room was small, situated in the front of the house and directly over the warm sitting room they’d just lain together in. The bed had a carved headboard and a high mattress piled with pillows and thick down quilts.

“If you had brought me to this house right away,” Meagan said as Alexander set her down on the cozy comfort of the bed. “I would not have hesitated half as long when you asked me to marry you.”

Alexander raised his brows, a ghost of the cool Grand Duke returning. “I thought anything less than my overblown house in Berkeley Square would not please you.”

Meagan smiled sleepily as Alexander climbed into the bed beside her and pulled quilts and pillows around them. “I am a country girl and I like simple pleasures,” she said.

“I will endeavor to remember.” Alexander rested his head on her pillow and slid a strong arm around her waist, his large body warming the bed better than a hot brick.

“I admit I was curious to see what was inside the house on Berkeley Square.” Meagan smiled. “And what was inside you.”

Alexander’s answering look held heat. “I believe you saw that clearly enough tonight.”

“I wanted to see it. I want all of you—logosh and Grand Duke, Alexander and warm furry panther.”

Alexander frowned. “You are pleased that your husband is a wild beast?”