Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(38)

He sighed. “You do realize that it is the small hours of the morning and we are not in the best area of London. It is far, far from the worst, but I would not advise your wandering the streets alone. It is definitely too dangerous for you to travel alone. And besides, we need to talk about this husband you seek.”

She strode to the door and placed her hand upon it.

He swung his legs off the bed. “At least put on the mask and cloak. You know there were several gentlemen about when we came up to the viewing hall, and I am sure that you knew several of them. Do you want me to name them? Several of them seemed quite interested in you. Do you truly wish to be discovered?”



Indecision raced across her face, but after a moment she removed her hand from the handle and then swung the cloak about her shoulders, enveloping her small figure. “Would you help me with the mask?” She spoke through gritted teeth.

“At your service, my lady.” He fitted the blue satin about her face and with care tied the ribbons in her sunlit curls.

She turned and rested her hand upon the handle again, but did not press it down.

He waited.

And waited.

“Oh, blast,” she exclaimed after a moment. “You are correct. I may be foolish on many occasions, but I am not stupid. Would you escort me home?”

“I would be most pleased, my lady. It will give us time to talk in the carriage.”

“I am not promising any conversation. And stop with the ‘my ladies.’?”

“It is your proper title.”

“But that is not how you are using it. I am not yours.”

But she would be, of that he had no question. He merely lifted a brow.

—

Bliss sat on the lush cushioned bench of Duldon’s carriage as it sped her home and did her best to ignore him. He might have proved himself an entertaining companion this evening, and she might have allowed him unspeakable liberties, but none of that meant that she liked the man. Or at least she didn’t want to like him. She had reason not to. She must remember that. It might be something that she had spent years pushing from her mind, but after tonight perhaps it was time to remember, time to recall that night that had left her feeling so betrayed and abandoned.



It was hard not to think of it after all she had seen tonight, experienced tonight—after all the thoughts that had run through her mind as Duldon touched her, touched her as she’d longed for him to touch her all these years.

No, she was not ready to go there, not ready to consider that.

Heat rose in her cheeks one more time and she could only hope he did not see. She was still angry and did not wish him to know the direction of her thoughts.

Resting her head back, her mind disobeyed her command and slipped back to the feel of his hands upon her, to that sharp pinch of breast and that delicious thrusting of fingers between her legs. Even without his actual touch, her body grew hot and her breasts heavy. What would it feel like without clothing, if skin rubbed against skin? Would he like the dampness that grew between her thighs? He had implied that he would, but was it really something desirable? And what of him? What did he look like when shirt and breeches were removed? Was his cock thick like Black’s or longer and thinner like Green’s? Even though she had felt it pressed against her, she could not be sure. And what would he taste like? What did any man taste like? And did their orgasm, when their seed spurted forth, feel like hers had, or was it different, longer, more intense? Black’s had certainly looked intense as he pounded his hips forward, again and again, as the strain had swept his body and the cries had been torn from his lips.



Would Duldon orgasm like that? Would his whole body strain? What words would he cry? Her name?

No. No. No. Stop thinking. Stare straight ahead. Do not give in to foolishness. He was not for her. He had proved that to her once; she would not give him a second chance.

“I think it is time to talk about your future husband,” Duldon stated flatly without meeting her eyes.

Well, that certainly focused her thoughts. “I don’t see why we should. It is no concern of yours.”

“Everything you do is a concern of mine. Do not delude yourself. I do intend to marry you. I do wish you would tell me what it is you truly fear.”

“Humph.” It was not a dignified answer, but given the rest of the evening’s activities it seemed slightly late to seek dignity now.

“However…” He let the word linger. “If I cannot persuade you, I do want to be sure that you make a good choice, Bliss.” His voice softened.

He wanted her to make a good choice? Why should he care if it was not he? She would have expected that he would wish her an awful choice so that she would regret having spurned him. She knew that if their positions were reversed that is what she would have wished. She would never want him to be happy without her. She would want him to always know that he would have been much happier with her.



No. No. No. She truly needed to get control of her thoughts. She did not care who Duldon married, as long as it was not she. And, of course, she wished him a happy marriage. She would wish that for anyone. And Duldon was just anyone. She must remember that.

So why did even the thought of Duldon taking a wife cause her belly to grow sour? Why did it cool the warmth that had grown within her at his kind words?

“We are going to talk about this, pet. I don’t know what you are letting your mind focus on, but I suggest you bring it right back to our conversation. I will not have patience with you thinking about what flowers go best with your new bonnet when we have serious matters to discuss.”