Upon a Midnight Dream (London Fairy Tales #1)(23)

What could she do but nod and pray his lingering would cease?

“I was shipwrecked.”

Everyone knew he was shipwrecked. Was his purpose now to gain her pity? “Yes, I know.” Rosalind’s voice shook.

“I built fires.”

Well if praise was what he wanted. “How very brave, Your Grace.”

“Stefan,” he corrected with a wink. “Thank you, but I was not looking to obtain favor. Do you know what it is like to be shipwrecked? To think yourself dead? To hunt for food and make shelter? How about owning more than ten estates, each with tenants who depend solely on you for their next meal. You’ve shown me your life, Rose, but you’ve left me to wonder, do you know my reality?”

Sheepishly, she shook her head, suddenly embarrassed that she would think him like every other duke of the realm. A duke who would never toil along with other workers, and sweat with the common man. A duke who would rather spit on work than lift one soft finger.

“I-I was not aware…Stefan.” She lifted her head. “But we did need help, we do need help! We are short staffed and everyone pulls their weight around here. I meant not to punish you merely to teach you a lesson, for your forwardness.”

“So we get to the bones of it don’t we, sweetheart?”

“I know not what you mean.” Oh sweet deliverance, if only she could inch by him and run up the stairs. They called to her—escape called to her.

“Think it is I who will teach you a lesson, my dear.”

And with that Stefan’s head descended towards her lips. He let out a throaty chuckle as his lips rained kisses up her neck, stopping just once near her ear, pulling it between his teeth. Gooseflesh rose all over her arms as she felt his breath caress her neck. The sweetness of his proximity threatened to overwhelm her as his skin, just slightly in need of a good shave, rubbed against her cheek.

Warm strong hands cupped her face drawing her lips dangerously close to where his hovered. With a mind of its own, her body leaned towards him, nearly shaking with excitement. Surely he was hypnotizing her!

Cautiously, his warm lips moved to kiss each cheek, and then her forehead, her nose, her eyelids. He was trying to drive her mad! Pausing the onslaught of seduction, Stefan pull away.

Embarrassed, Rosalind’s eyelids flew open to see a smug grin spread across Stefan’s face.

“Lesson one,” he said.

“Lesson one?” Rosalind repeated voice shaky, her entire body buzzed with excitement and need. The only thing keeping her upright was Stefan’s muscular body holding her firm against the wall.

“Always leave with your opponent begging for more.”

“I do not—“

“—Lesson two. Start with a simple caress or touch.” His hands again reached out and cupped her face before his thumb rubbed across her bottom lip, finally dipping into her mouth just slightly before he said, “And lesson three.”

Rosalind swayed on her feet as Stefan lifted his body away from hers. “What is lesson three?”

“Tonight, Rose. I’ll show you tonight.”

With a bow, Stefan took his leave and marched up the stairs, leaving Rosalind so bewildered she wasn’t sure in which direction to go. So instead of walking anywhere, she slowly slid down the wall and sat in the middle of the hall and pulled her knees to her chest. Stefan’s familiar whistle reached her ears. As she fought to keep herself from smiling, she realized that for once in her life she had been thoroughly bested.

****



Rosalind’s shaky legs took her down the staircase towards the dining room. Curse that arrogant man for making her feel so weak! She would not—no she could not allow him to have such power over her! She hadn’t expected the man to be so open to manual labor, nor for his countenance to be that of a thankful servant instead of a boastful duke. Why, she was even told by the stable hand that he helped birth a cow! Perhaps he was putting on a show for her? Logically, it would make sense, but she knew in her soul the man who constantly whistled – who talked to his horse like a fellow man—this was the true Duke. And the more she thought on it, the more uncomfortable she became.

The very idea that he was pulling down her defenses was unnerving, not to mention that he though to teach her yet another lesson.

Lesson one and two were hard enough, and her virgin mind could only horrifyingly bring up images of what his version of lesson three might be! With a deep breath, she entered the large dining room and gasped.

Stefan, was standing next to her chair. The fire roared next to the table, but it wasn’t heat she felt, but gooseflesh all over her body. For the barbarian of a man had cleaned up quite nicely. Blond hair was tucked behind his ears, his boots shined to perfection, and his dinner jacket hugged his large frame perfectly. His glaring white teeth against tanned skin were devastating, and for once in her life Rosalind thought she might actually swoon for want. Lustful desire made her knees weak as she continued to stare at the man. Her own body physically responding as her breathing hitched, and a throbbing ache made it’s presence known. Her heart didn’t help the matter for it thudded helplessly against her chest, “this one,” it said over and over again. Stefan’s chest rose and fell in cadence with Rosalind’s own heartbeat. It seemed to take an eternity as she walked to where he stood and did a slow curtsy.

“No,” Stefan murmured lifting her chin up with his gloved finger. “It is I who will bow to you, for the birthday girl should never have to humble herself or have proper manners on such a day.”