Once Upon A Duke by Eva Devon

Author:Eva Devon [Devon, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Bard Publishing Inc.
Published: 2014-07-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“I’ve never felt anything like that before,” Ryder breathed, barely able to think, let alone speak.

God, she felt so good against him. This moment was better than any moment he’d had in the years since Jane. He blinked at the thought of his young wife, a wife who’d given him so much, and the pleasure of the moment began to dim.

Kathryn laughed softly. “I find that hard to believe, but thank you.”

There was just the slightest hint of pain in her voice and Ryder hated it. He pushed himself up onto an arm and gazed down at her face. “Kathryn, I have never known a woman like you nor known the kind of pleasure you have just given me.”

She pressed her lips together and blinked. Gently, she laced her hands into his hair and brought his lips down to hers. Exchanging, warm kisses, Ryder allowed himself to take pleasure in just the smallest touch of her. After a moment, he pulled back, staring down at her rosy mouth and storm-filled eyes.

How in the hell was he going to continue as before? Now that he had allowed himself to enjoy her beautiful body and equally passionate mind, how could he go back to his cool control? And there was the matter of her ruin. But marriage. He still didn’t know. He’d promised himself so fervently to never break faith with Jane. And yet, Kathryn. . .

Ryder swallowed trying to understand the emotions ripping through him. “Kathryn, I—”

“No.” Her voice was soft yet firm as iron.

“No?” he said, a touch of astonishment lightening his voice.

She shook her dark head, the curls brushing against his shoulder. “Please don’t speak. This has been perfect and I wish to keep it a memory to cherish.”

Ryder’s mouth snapped closed and he stared up at the cream and gold ceiling. This couldn’t be happening. It seemed utterly impossible, laughable even. For, he knew what words she would say next. He said them often enough. To enough women.

“I will always treasure what we’ve had, but. . .” Her voice trailed off into a rough whisper.

Though inexperienced, Kathryn was a master already at the love affair. “I understand.” It was ironic that he’d just begun to hate himself for letting her affect his heart and here she was handing his care back to him in a pretty little package of empty words.

“I’m glad,” she said, propping herself onto her pale elbow. “I hope we shall remain friends.”

He swallowed, his eyes wide and burning as he continued to stare at the ceiling. God, it was like hearing himself. Is this how the women he attempted to solace after their extremely brief affairs felt? If so, he should have been shot years ago. Hell, he felt as if a pugilist had slammed an iron fist into his unprotected gut.

“Of course,” he muttered. “If ever you should need anything.”

She pushed herself up. She gazed down at him, blocking his view. Her beauty was damned painful. Golden hair spilled down her back in tangled curls and crushed flowers.

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