Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(40)

Chapter Ten


Duldon leaned back and swung his feet up onto his desk. The heels of his Hessians clacked against the hardwood. He glared up at the early afternoon sun that filled the room.

The plan to win Bliss was not the one that he originally envisioned, but it was a sound one. What better way to show Bliss that he was the man for her than to show her that every other man was not? And the more time they spent together, the more time he spent with his hands on her, the easier it would be to show her how things could be between them, how passion could be between them. Her fires burned hot every time he was near. He was determined that she understand how special this was, how special she was.

And he could determine if the dark fantasies that had begun to fill his mind could possibly be true. Could he reveal himself to Bliss, reveal his whole self?

His hand rose and brushed through tangled curls as he considered how good they would be together. She fulfilled every fantasy he’d ever had and then some. For years now he’d known that she was the wife for him, but only now did he understand how surely his instincts had led him. He’d always believed that he’d have to separate his desire for his wife and the coarser desires that ran through him. With Bliss he began to wonder if that was completely true. He would probably never wish to show her the true depths he had sometimes played with, but it had been a long time since he’d gotten much pleasure from extreme play.

He’d have to go gently—and they would probably not travel far along the road. But a single kiss with her was far better than any f*ck he’d ever had. He might still need control, might still wish to play, but they could find a happy medium, one that would leave him wanting no other.



Which brought him back to his plan.

So how was he to go about finding her the right men to be husband material and yet to ensure that none of them were a better choice than himself? Not that he had doubt on that count. He was as right for Bliss as she was for him.

The only true issue might be her lack of desire for a title. He had to admit that he could well understand her lack of aspiration to be a countess. He found great satisfaction in being an earl, in caring for his tenants and his lands, but it was a great deal of work and he would never pretend that it was not. There were other men who ignored their responsibilities and merely enjoyed their privileges. That had never been his nature, and despite her espoused wildness he did not believe it was Bliss’s either. When she was his countess she would take her duties as seriously as did he.

“You’re looking a strange mixture of glum and gleeful,” Swanston said as he strode into the library.

Duldon peered over his shoulder. There was no sign of his porter. “Sneaking in again, are you?”

“I do get tired of all the fuss. But no, I merely told your man that I could see myself in.”

Duldon stared at his friend, showing no expression.

Swanston chuckled. “Fine, I commanded the man to find something else to do.”



“That sounds more like you. I would chide my servants for obeying orders other than my own, but I do know how you like to command—and how well you do it.”

“I am training to be a duke.”

They both knew that had nothing to do with Swanston’s desire to dominate. “I will make no comment. You can fetch yourself a brandy then, if you so desire.” He waved to the decanter and glasses on the sideboard. “If you will dismiss my servants you must take care of yourself.”

“Ever the gracious host.”

“As gracious as my guest.”

Swanston walked over and poured himself a good measure. He held the glass up to Duldon in question.

Duldon shook his head. He needed clear wits if he was going to figure out how to handle Bliss and her antipathy to marriage.

Swanston took his drink and then settled into a chair across from Duldon. He swung his feet up in duplicative action. “So why did you wish to see me? A footman mentioned you’d stopped by earlier and so I decided to call. I imagine it’s about my sister and that sliver of land you wish as a dowry.”

“Yes.” They both knew that the land was only an excuse, but it was a much more comfortable reason between the two men than the truth. Duldon well understood that no man wished to think of his sister and a good bedding in the same moment, particularly not men of their tastes.

“You are rarely verbose, but that degree of brevity will not get you the answers you wish.” Swanston took a large swallow of the brandy.



“Does your sister dislike children? She got the strangest expression when I mentioned them to her the other day.”

“Not as brief, but very direct. She doesn’t, at least, not that I’ve ever seen. When our oldest sister, Anne, visits she loves to play with the young ones. And she is always sending them trinkets and gifts. I’ve never seen any sign that she finds the task unpleasant. And they love and adore her. When she is with them she acts like another playmate. I’ve known her to let them tie her to a tree in the garden when playing pirates. I did have to insist that she not let them strip her to her shift. I’ve no idea why they felt that was a necessary part of the game, but the garden lads were finding it much too distracting.”

Duldon imagined it was. It was a good thing he had not been around at the time or he might have felt a great desire to pass out some punishment. “I believe you, and yet there was something. I though perhaps that was why she is not eager for marriage.”