The Mad, Bad Duke (Nvengaria #2)(54)

Alexander wanted this to be about himself and Meagan, a man and woman, no trappings of office, no politics, no rituals, no games. “You and I,” he croaked in Nvengarian. “The two of us, and that is all.”

Meagan didn’t understand him. Damn—when she’d turned her innocent eyes on his footman and said that very naughty word, he thought he’d fling her to the floor and take her right there. She thought he’d taught her the word wrong to make her a laughingstock, but Alexander had truly forgotten how much trouble the English had with pronunciation. Any nuance was lost on them.

It had never been so adorable before.

He’d told her the literal translation of the word, not the erotic connotation. She’d done the equivalent of a proper English lady asking to take a cock in her mouth. No wonder his footmen had stopped in shock.

Alexander had not been exaggerating when he told her that every man at Prince Damien’s dinner table would climb over each other to accept her offer. But Alexander would fight them off, with sword and pistol if need be. Meagan was his.

He leaned on his fists and rocked into her, fast and hard. Their hips met, the table creaking, the remaining silver dishes rattling to the floor. Alexander wanted to stay inside her, to have her part of him forever.

I don’t want this frenzy with you, he said silently, unable to form words at all now. I want it to be slow and loving. I want to love you. I want it to be real.

Wildness danced fire on the edge of his vision. Alexander heard his own groans of pleasure, his voice hoarse with them. Meagan cried out, her eyes wide.

Alexander should stop; he should be gentle. He’d promised when he’d begged Meagan to marry him that he would attend to her every need and fulfill her thoroughly, not give her this mindless lovemaking.

But Alexander could not stop. Something else controlled his body, and he gave in to it. Need her, want her. Never stop.

His climax hit him. Alexander’s muscles bunched, and he lost his seed inside her. Meagan moaned with release, her hips lifting to meet his.

Alexander dragged Meagan to him and collapsed into a chair, holding her close. He pressed his face into her neck, not wanting to look at her. Meagan was slowly delving into the darkest parts of his mind, unearthing things he could not afford to have disturbed.

Meagan cuddled close and kissed his cheek, tracing the pattern of the tattoo with light fingers.

“I love you,” she whispered. She gave him another kiss, then rested her head on his shoulder. “I know it is the love spell making me tell you that, but it feels good to say it.” She gave his arm a little squeeze, her voice bearing a smile. “I love you, Alexander.”

At her low words, another frenzy hit him. Alexander set her on her feet and dragged off his coat to cover her loose bodice, then he scooped her into his arms and carried her out the door, around the overly ostentatious landing, and up the stairs to her bedchamber. There he stripped her and himself and made love to her in the deep featherbed until they both fell into dark slumber.



* * *



Alexander woke in the garden, naked, blood streaming from deep scratches on his chest. Nikolai and Dominic stood several paces away from him, watching him warily.





Chapter 15





Alexander felt a momentary panic. “What did I do?” he demanded. “Did I hurt her? Is the Grand Duchess all right?”

“Yes, sir,” Nikolai said, a waver in his voice. “I looked in on her. She is sleeping.”

Alexander let out the breath he’d been holding. Thank God. The last thing he remembered was Meagan snuggling down beside him after their last crazed bout of lovemaking. She’d murmured good night and rested her head on his shoulder, arm around his waist. Trusting.

The logosh is a part of you, Myn had said. You must embrace it or it will devour you. Alexander could feel the beast wanting to get out and not knowing how.

“Sir?” Nikolai said hesitantly. “We should get you back inside. Before—er, someone sees you.”

“What did I do?” Alexander looked from Nikolai to Dominic. “Tell me.”

Nikolai cleared his throat. “You came down from your wife’s chamber and ran outside.”

“What else?”

“You didn’t have clothes on, for one,” Dominic added. The big man’s face was grim. “You said strange words and you scraped at yourself as you ran. And your eyes …”

“What about my eyes?” Alexander asked, voice rasping.

“They glowed,” Nikolai said. “Your Grace. They got bluer and kind of wider.”

“I see.” Alexander tried to gather his usual control about him like a shielding mantle, but he could not quite master it.

Dominic nodded. “I saw this too.”

Alexander exhaled, raising his head to the darkness. Clouds layered the sky, but he could feel the moon behind them glowing silver and bright.

“Who else saw?” he demanded, the cool tones of Alexander the Grand Duke returning.

“No one, sir,” Dominic replied. “Everyone else had gone to bed. We followed you out.”

“And the Grand Duchess?”

Nikolai shook his head. “She did not wake. You were silent until you reached the garden.”

“Thank God for that.” Alexander rubbed his hands over his arms, his blood cooling. “I want both of you to keep these incidents quiet, do you understand?”