Free Second Son of a Duke by Gwen Hayes Page A

smiled; the wicked grin prompted the return of the dimple she’d noticed earlier and caused her to suck in more air. The divot added a boyish charm to his usually serious face, but did nothing to erase the rakish expression of intent. How was it possible for him to look at once a dangerous man as well as an impish boy?
    She tried to keep her gaze locked on that dimple, but she couldn’t help but let it roam briefly to the expanse of his naked chest. Goodness. She’d never seen a nearly naked man before. He was beautiful.
    She berated herself for that. Men were not beautiful. Men were irresponsible little boys with all the power and …really gloriously tapered waists. Stop it! She squeezed her eyes shut. Now was not the time to let her mind wander. Her husband was about to claim her virginity. And he was doing it all wrong.
    His hands lowered to his breeches.
    “Wait, please,” she implored.
    Teddy stilled his hands. “I thought we were in a hurry to divest ourselves of your maidenhead.”
    The shock of his language drained the blood from her face. “There is no need to be so uncivilized. Please snuff the candles. And I’d like to…stay dressed.”
    He exhaled a curse and sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you aware of how a man and a woman…that is to say…you understand that we’ll be…hell’s bells, this is coming out all wrong.”
    Juliette wished he’d show some decency and cover himself. The way the light in the room attached itself to him was shameless. What did he do to develop those well-defined shoulders? The few times she’d met Teddy, he’d been buried in a book, barely looking up to acknowledge her presence.
    “Don’t trouble yourself to explain. I know what I need to know. And I am quite certain that my gown needn’t come completely off … during …for this it to be successful.”
    He scraped a hand through his hair, disheveling it and adding to his roguish appearance. And his boyish one. “For God’s sake, Juliette, we’re about to make love, not attend a funeral.”
    “Please, it’s how I wish it.” Her voice sounded small. Perhaps that is why he acquiesced on a masculine sigh and crossed the room, snuffing out all the light save the fire in the grate.
    Juliette slid down the mattress and pulled the covers to her chin. She recounted figures in her head to ease her nerves. Think about grain . If the price of grain went any lower, they would have to sell…her heart seized as Teddy slid into bed next to her. She tried to breathe normally, show no fear, but then he was leaning over her kissing her hair, her cheek.
    “You have glorious hair,” he whispered into her ear. “Like golden silk.” The sensation startled her. She felt as if she were a being tightened from the inside out, and that something was going to have to happen to loosen her to normal.
    She’s fairly certain she squeaked.
    “Relax,” he murmured, kissing her jaw. “All will be well.”
    She didn’t believe him. This shame was not to be borne. Her brother caused this mess. She thought it better to go along with the farce than to bear the stigma of creating a public scandal, but now she had second thoughts. Juliette swallowed hard when Teddy kissed her neck. Something that felt like longing pulled at her heart. How long had she wished someone would tell her all will be well, and then actually make it so? How many years had she been holding everything together on her own, wishing she had someone to share the burden with?
    It would be so lovely to believe him. Teddy wasn’t a bad man. The road had curved just as sharply for him this morning as it had for her. Wouldn’t it be grand if she had a partner to face the rest of the curves with? Someone to rely on, to believe in.
    But no. She knew in her heart that even good men, men like her brother, were inconsistent and unreliable. It was best to not throw your hopes into the wind. Teddy kissed her mouth, but she didn’t return his attention, and he soon moved back to