The Mad, Bad Duke (Nvengaria #2)(107)
“Hmm.” Downstairs after they’d lain on the carpet catching their breath, after Meagan had stretched herself on top of him and soaked in his warmth, Alexander had risen and refilled the bowl of water from the kitchen to gently clean the scratches his half-man, half-panther self had made on Meagan’s thighs. The scratches were light, barely breaking the skin. Alexander had kept his incredible strength sheathed for her even then.
Meagan ran her fingers lightly over his lips. “I believe a Nvengarian woman likes her husband to be a beast in the bedroom, although I assume they do not mean so literally. At least, that is what it says in Adolpho’s Book of Seductions.”
Alexander’s dark brows drew together. “I have been wondering who gave you this book. I am aware of no English translations of the Book of Seductions.”
“Penelope is copying it out for me. Her Nvengarian is much better than mine, so she is translating and sending it to me in letters.”
“Is she? Good Lord.”
“Why? What is the matter?”
Alexander raked a hand through his hair. “You and Princess Penelope, the leader of Nvengaria, reading the Book of Seductions together. I thought English girls were shocked at the mere mention of men and women sharing the same bed.”
Meagan grinned. “Of course we talk about seduction and bed games and men’s physiques all the time. We are simply discreet. I never told you about the TTs.”
He looked perplexed. “TTs?”
Meagan explained her girlish game of tight-trousers with Penelope, and Alexander’s eyes glinted with humor. “Is that what ladies whisper about behind their fans in ballrooms? And I thought Englishwomen were demure to the point of tedium.”
“We learn to keep our ribald ways well hidden. Are you shocked? Did you want a shy bride?”
“I believe I told you I wanted no bride at all.” Alexander’s blue eyes heated. “Until I saw you, and I could not keep visions of you out of my head.”
“That was the love spell.”
“It was more than that. It was you with your red hair and adorable freckles and the most beautiful body I’d ever seen in my life.”
“You’re mad.” Meagan wanted to laugh. “You can’t really like my freckles.”
“I love them.” Alexander bent his head and drew his tongue across the line of them on her collarbone. “I love every inch of you.”
“Then I shall tell my step-mama to stop bleating at me to put buttermilk on them.”
“You could put wine on them,” Alexander murmured against her skin. “Or perhaps chocolate.”
“I have never heard of those as remedies for freckles.”
“No, but I would enjoy licking such things from your skin.”
Her body warmed with anticipation. “We shall have to see what we can do about that. And now …”
“Mmm?” Alexander softly kissed her shoulder. “I thought you were tired, my wife.”
“I am exhausted, and do not believe I shall remain awake more than five minutes. But will you do something for me? Just to please me?”
“Name it,” Alexander said.
“Will you shift into the panther again?”
Alexander lifted his head, his gaze sharpening. He asked in a quiet voice, “Why?”
“Because there is no fire in the room and your fur would be warm to sleep against.”
Alexander watched her, eyes glowing with the magic inside him. “I thought you wanted me to remain Alexander.”
“But you still will be Alexander. You would just have a soft coat.”
Alexander stared at her another moment, incredulous, then he began to laugh. The laughter built to a full-blown roar, and he flopped over onto his back, his arms across his stomach.
Meagan had never heard Alexander laugh so, not the full surrender to mirth that shook the bed and filled the room with his gravelly voice. Tears streamed from his tightly closed eyes as he gasped for breath.
“I love you,” Alexander said, rolling over to kiss her again. “I have been fighting myself all this time, and you sum it up in one simple sentence.”
“Well, ’tis true,” Meagan said.
“It is true.” Alexander kissed the tip of her nose, his smile wide. “But it took you to tell me.”
“I am pleased I am so wise.” She tried to keep her voice from shaking. “Now, will you?”
Alexander kissed her, a long, satisfying kiss that made Meagan wish she were not quite so tired. But after a sleep, perhaps …
“For you, my Grand Duchess, I will oblige.”
Meagan raised up on her elbow as Alexander rolled over, putting his tightly muscled back to her.
She was not certain she saw it begin, but Alexander’s hands curved to claws, then his arms lengthened as his shoulders grew broader and heavier, his face elongating to the black squareness of the big cat. And then, her bed was full of wild animal, a smooth black-coated leopard lying next to her, its breathing loud in the darkness.
“Thank you,” Meagan said. She snuggled down next to his furred warmth, sliding one arm around his middle. “Good night, Alexander.”
She heard and felt the rumble deep inside his body, and then she fell asleep.
* * *
Lady Anastasia quickly opened her door to her hotel bedchamber when she heard the soft knock, sensing with her entire body who it was. Clad once again in her peignoir with nothing beneath, she stood aside to let Myn enter.