To Love A Duke

Your Grace

Song Recommendation: STALLING by NASTY C

A lady is advised to abstain from cursing and snorting in polite company, however her unladylike hallmarks cannot always be curtailed.

“Run away” He half laughed “you seem to be awfully good at it” she heard him loud and clear

“I beg your pardon your grace?” She narrowed her eyes at him, emphasizing his title as a clap back, if he was trying to stir her up, she wouldn’t let him get under her skin. He got up from where he sat across the table and stalked to her slowly like a predator would his prey she reflexively moved back.

“What exactly are you scared of Artemis” he seemed almost angry now and his eyes darkened a noticeable shade of green, he was mere inches away as he spoke

“ I don’t know what you mean your grace” she swallowed and as he took a step towards her she backed away again.

“We are acting like civilized fools and you b****y well know it… you want this as much as I do” he said the words with another step forward and she took one back coming in contact with the door.

“Y..Your grace…” she wasn’t frightened in the least but a rush of emotions filled her, that fuzzy feeling in her tummy intensified and she hated that he made her feel this way she didn’t want to feel this way for this man. She didn’t want to give in. This was all she had! She swallowed down a frustrated sob.

He brought his head down to her and inhaled deeply, nuzzling her hair. She couldn’t breathe, she faintly smelt him, sandalwood, fresh earth, a little bit of brandy and man.him. She didn’t want to know his b****y scent!

“give in Artemis, you know you want to” and she did, she wanted to so badly she couldn’t breathe, he was l*****g along her neck now, stoping at her ear to take her ear lobe between his teeth, she bit her lips to keep back the sounds bubbling up in her.Oh Lord help her she felt squirmish on the inside. Somehow her hands weren’t firmed on her sides any longer, they grasped at his shirt, obviously with a mind of their own.

she had to be rational, she couldn’t just give in, she had to think of what happened afterwards, he didn’t even like her, did he even see her as a wife, as a woman, as a person with feelings, to him she was simply a tool for revenge. how could she give in knowing that once he finally bedded her that was it, he would move on with his escapedes and mistresses and the sodom life he led and where would that leave her? She wouldn’t let him see how disturbing the thoughts of him with other women were, she had to stop this now.

“I can’t your grace”

“Don’t, Don’t your grace me Artemis” his voice sounded thick and husky with emotions and without looking at him she could tell he closed his eyes, he breathed her in again, his sturdy hands holding her put at her waist, she didn’t want him to let go, ever

he was saying something she could hardly discern and she could feel the wetness of his tongue on her bare neck, and oh it felt rather wonderful, She dimly noted how much power he had over her. A few words and her heart was racing. Oh This Man.she couldn’t help it, she moaned. He groaned in response and with the sounds came the jolt of reality and the realization of the position they were in. She almost choked on a sob

“ I can’t your grace, my Dignity, Tis all a woman like me has left in all the world”

she said it so low but she was sure he heard her clearly cause at that moment he stepped back. A pained laugh escaped his perfect lips. And when he looked at her again, there was no trace of the l**t she was sure he initially felt for her. She wanted to weep and she couldn’t even explain why, she wanted his hands back on her.

He had this unreadable expression that reminded her of the night of their nuptials.

“You think yourself some prim and proper miss don’t you” he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, she could see she had hurt him she didn’t understand why he would feel hurt when she had given him the liberty to seek his satisfaction elsewhere, oh but the thought of him with another woman drove her half mad, certainly that was normal considering that he was legally her husband. Hers. The word rang in her head.

“I was born prim and proper, your grace” she squared her shoulders, against his verbal attacks. He wouldn’t see her affected by him

“liar” he retorted, “tell me you haven’t entertained the thought of me laying you on this desk right here in my study and f*****g you senseless”

She gasped, how could he be so vulgar! Oh she had entertained that thought numerous times, for every evening she had spent here with him, not that she would ever admit it, she opened her mouth to chastise his use of language when he spoke first,

“Indeed you’re right, perhaps I would find a woman tonight, who is willing to bear my affections… one who isn’t such a coward as to resist the attraction she feels for me”

he said the words with his jaw set and for a second her galloping heart seized to beat, Did he mean it? Was he going to actually do it? He wasn’t bluffing, was he? was he giving up on her already? A week and he felt she wasn’t worth the trouble. Was this not what she had wanted? She had made the truce, she had given him the condition herself why did she feel so!

Her mouth felt dry and she swallowed,She opened her mouth once again to say something, anything!

“Off you go then, run along now” he said as he turned away from her, and the obvious dismissal stirred a strange feeling of hurt in her, but isn’t this what she wanted, she asked herself again when had she started liking him so much that she gave him the power to hurt her so,

“f**k you! Your grace” she said, surprisingly without a break in her voice, she certainly didn’t feel as confident as she sounded. he turned to her wide eyed and with all the grace of a duchess, head held high, and spine stiff and straight she walked out of his study leaving him with his jaw on the floor.