Devil Take the Duke (Lords of the Night Book 1)

by Sandra Sookoo

“Tell her the truth,” Elizabeth whispered as she touched his elbow, and he started from his thoughts. He met her brown gaze. “Pour out your heart. It’s all you need.”

  That’s what I said, human. But his wolf grinned, paced about in anticipation.

  He knew this, but to actually put it into practice? He sighed. “I’m afraid, Elizabeth.” He didn’t mind admitting it, not anymore.

  She patted his cheek, her eyes full of compassion and sibling fondness. All traces of anger had fled. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of that fear, brother. Make the leap.”

  “I hope when—or if—you find yourself in this situation in the future, that you remember this time in my life.”

  “There is no need to worry about that. Love is not for me.” She tugged on a lock of his hair. Infinite sorrow and regret reflected in her eyes, but before he could question it, she continued down the corridor, leaving him alone once more.

  Finally, he summoned the last vestiges of his courage and entered the room. His wife sat at her harp, playing a song that evoked sadness but was no less ethereally beautiful than any other he’d heard her play. She was beautiful, and the green gown she’d worn once before set off her ivory skin and caused her eyes to gleam. He forced a hard swallow into his suddenly tight throat. “Alice.” The ragged utterance of that word fairly exploded through the room.

  She ceased her playing and turned her head, training her gaze upon him. “I am surprised to see you.” A tiny laugh followed. “Not that I can truly see.” But a tremulous smile curved her kissable lips. “Are you well?”

  “Yes.” Donovan limped to her location as she stood. “I am. I shall return to full health quickly.” So many words tumbled through his mind, sat on the tip of his tongue. How could he choose which held the most importance when so many things needed said? He took her hand, guided her down the few steps, and then he began the task of securing himself in her life permanently. “You told me to come to you when I found my peace.”

  She arched an eyebrow, and he knew a strong desire to press a kiss there. “And?”

  An answering grin tugged at his mouth. “I found it, and it’s you. When you are with me, I’m at peace with myself and the world. I feel… complete.”

  Our mate. Tell her she is ours forever.

  Donovan ignored his wolf. He refused to rush his fences.

  “What of your beast?” The silver flecks surfaced in her remarkable eyes.

  “I have accepted he is part of me and I will strive to keep him happy.” He squeezed her fingers. “I’ll learn from him. He will learn from me. When the two halves of myself aren’t fighting, I am stronger.”

  A tiny smile again curved her lips. “And any male children we might have? If they fall under the curse?” Her voice wavered slightly and that small tell went straight to his soul.

  “I shall properly teach them and guide them. I have wolfish tendencies, but that does not mean I am cursed.” It had been a long road, but finally he’d learned such a simple lesson. “In fact, such a thing makes me unique but doesn’t define me.”

  “Oh, Donovan, that makes me happy to hear.” She never moved her gaze from his.

  He had to tell her, confess everything, and in many ways this was bigger than telling her about his beast. “There is something else.” Even his wolf held his breath. When she looked at him with speculation in her expression, he continued onward before his courage gave out. Wanting her to see his face, his eyes, he came close, their noses almost touching. “I love you, Alice. I have since that night in this very room.” When she remained silent, he rushed onward. “I don’t know how it happened. Perhaps it came over me bit by bit, but I cannot live without you. What I said while tied to that tree was the truth.” His pulse pounded in his temples. Had he’d confessed too late? “You are the reason I breathe. Please stay with me.”

  “Of course I will.” Her chin trembled. “But—”

  No, no, no! She couldn’t reject him after all of this. Frantic that he’d lose her anyway, Donovan kneeled at her feet, still holding onto her hand. “Alice Sinclair, I have been a complete and utter arse. I’ve made mistakes, and I apologize heartily for them, but I’m learning from them. Will you make me the happiest of men, truly this time, and remain married to me?”

  “I will!” Alice’s grin dazzled him, was bright enough to complete with the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows, and it enchanted him. “Oh, I’ve waited so long for you to say those words.” She pulled at his hand until he stood. “Come.”

  “I’ll follow wherever you wish to lead.” And he meant every word, but his chest remained tight with worry.

  Inside his head, his wolf danced on his hind legs with joy. She is ours!

  Indeed. Donovan couldn’t keep the smug grin from his face. He’d fought his circumstances, himself and her, but in the end, when he gave up that constant strife, peace had poured in.

  Alice moved through the corridors and up the stairs, her grip on his hand strong. When they reached her suite, she drew him inside, dismissed her maid, and as the door closed behind the young woman, Alice pressed herself against his chest, twined her arms about his neck and kissed him so hard and so deep that the sensation of falling assailed him. When they parted, breathless, she whispered, “Make love to me. Let me finally see the man I married with no lies or secrets between us.”

  “Gladly.” Relief rushed through him, cleansed him, left him giddy with happiness and anticipation. He’d finally won her, and now his marriage was fastened to solid ground. For the rest of his years, she would be at his side, and they would help each other—change everything around them for the better, manage the curse now that he—they—understood it.

  The kisses they shared were interrupted only as long as it took for various layers of clothing to hit the floor. He caressed her body, worshipped at her temple with fingers, lips and tongue, and when she was sufficiently aroused and panting with need, he laid her down on the sumptuous four-poster bed, caught her between his elbows, tangled his fingers into her hair, and as he layered his forehead to hers, he penetrated her body ever so slowly.

  His moan blended with hers, and he released a shuddering breath of gratitude. Inside his head, his wolf howled with pleasure, and he shoved the beast behind a barrier. He did not need a voyeur right now.

  This time, claiming her body, joining with her, having love behind the action, was a nearly transcendent experience, and as he moved within her honeyed heat and she matched his rhythm, he paused in order to catch his breath and marvel at the realization. It was him all along. Dear God, it had all been so simple! “I had to love someone more than myself, unselfishly. I missed the chance to change, to break the curse because I couldn’t grasp the concept.”

  Alice finger-combed his hair, her touch light as it had been when she’d petted him as the wolf. “There is one more full moon that would possibly work this year.” She stared into his eyes, and those silver flecks danced. “We could try again. Imagine how romantic the gardens will look with the frost and snows of winter.”

  Ah, how much did he adore her? Donovan smiled. “I have you. That is all I need in this life, but if my sons wish to break the curse for themselves, I shall be sure to tell them that love is the key.” He thrust into her warmth a couple more times, astonished at the shift in perspective and how it enhanced everything. Once more he paused, and she blew out a frustrated breath that had him grinning. “I wish I had met you earlier, Alice, so I could have loved you longer.” He kissed her deeply, drank from her until his head swam. “I have wasted so much time. If only I saw the truth sooner.”

  “Hush, my love.” Alice held him close, her arms looped about his shoulders, her ankles planted just beneath his bum. She kissed him, and it was the sweetest benediction of all. As she stared into his eyes, she said, “We are here now. It is enough to build forever on.” She smiled. “No more delays.” And she wriggled beneath him.

  The movement sent a host of sensation through his length and sto
nes. He tumbled tip over tail into the depths of her eyes. He made love to his wife intimately pressed against her body, holding her gaze. Deeper and deeper he stroked. Higher and higher he climbed the rise as release built. Pressure mounted and he continued to move into her, with her. Over and over, again and again, and when her breath quickened and she begged him to finish her, he stroked faster. She shattered with a low keening cry, and the flutters around his member tugged him into his own bliss.

  His breathing labored as he sucked in breath, and as he came back to himself, he pressed a kiss into the side of her neck. “Ah, Alice, my sweet country flower.” Donovan flopped onto his back and grinned when she snuggled into his side with a palm resting upon his chest. He wrapped an arm around her, loath to break their connection. “Thank you for believing in me. Even when I didn’t.”

  “I knew you would find your way, but I must confess, I would rather not go through such emotional trauma again.” Alice smiled and he was lost—completely, fully, irrevocably. He was in love with his wife. She ran her fingers through the mat of hair on his chest. Awareness sailed over his skin. “Love that comes after moonlight is the sweetest of all, wouldn’t you say?”

  Ah, such a clever woman, his Alice. For in their case, love had indeed hit him well after that all-important moon. He pressed a kiss into her hair and reveled in her apricot scent. “Truer words have never been spoken.”

  How splendid he needn’t fear the future any longer, nor fight with his wolf. He’d been wrong. The right woman didn’t make a man weak or vulnerable; she made him so much stronger.

  And perhaps that was the most valuable lesson of all.

  The End

  Other Regency-era stories by Sandra Sookoo

  Scandal in Surrey series

  Lady Parker’s Grand Affair

  The Bride’s Gambit

  Misfortune’s Lady

  Miss Bennett’s Naughty Secret

  Darrington family series

  Marriage Minded Lord

  To Bed or To Wed

  The Bridal Contract

  Thieves of the Ton series

  Captivated by an Adventurous Lady

  Engaged to a Scandalous Earl

  Married on a Wicked Morning

  Intrigued by an Ancient Pedigree

  Beguiled on a Christmas Morning

  Caught with a Stolen Diamond

  Tortured by a Horrible Secret

  Delighted on a Summer’s Evening

  Trapped in the British Museum (coming spring 2019)

  Lords of the Night

  Bitten by the Earl

  Adrift with the Viscount (coming May 2019)

  Treasured by the Viscount (coming 2019)

  Lords of Happenstance

  What the Stubborn Viscount Desires

  What a Wayward Lord Needs

  What the Dashing Duke Deserves (coming June 2019)

  Author Bio

  Sandra Sookoo is a USA Today bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in Victorian America or snarky, sweet humor in the contemporary world. Most recently she’s moved into infusing her books with mystery and intrigue. Reading is a lot like eating fine chocolates—you can’t just have one. Good thing books don’t have calories!

  When she’s not wearing out computer keyboards, Sandra spends time with her real life Prince Charming in central Indiana where she’s been known to goof off and make moments count because the key to life is laughter. A Disney fan since the age of ten, when her soul gets bogged down and her imagination flags, a trip to Walt Disney World is in order. Nothing fuels her dreams more than the land of eternal happy endings, hope and love stories.

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