The Duke's Twin novel Chapter 13

Rebecca swayed. Dizziness swamped her. She'd fallen in love with the second brother, not the first? Deep confusion flooded her along with another confusing feeling-relief. She had never wanted to be a duchess; she only knew she wanted to be with this man, not the title attached to him. All that mattered was that he loved her.

But she did have questions.

"Why? Why would you switch places with Lord Wiltshire?" she asked as she wiped at her cheeks, hoping he wouldn't notice the tears her mother had caused her. A horrible thought occurred to her. "This wasn't part of some sort of joke, was it?"

Miles looked suddenly bashful and apologetic. "No. No joke. It wasn't my idea, I assure you. Nor was it done for your benefit. Justin wanted to make sure Lydia could love a man like him without his having a title. Neither of us expected a consequence of this deception to be for me to fall in love with you. I never expected to love anyone."

"You love me?" She had to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

He sat down on the bed and peeled off his boots. "Yes."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to get in this bed and compromise you so thoroughly that we'll have to be married as soon as possible. I want there to be no doubts that I want you." He flashed her a grin that was all sweetness and devilish charm. She couldn't resist teasing him back.

"Are you certain I love you back?"

Miles chuckled. "If you didn't, you'd have tossed me out of your bedchamber by now."

She laughed. "True. I admit, I'm relieved you are not the duke. I never wanted to be a duchess. When I saw Beresford House today on our ride, I remember thinking it was the home I'd always longed for. Perhaps fate was trying to tell me something."

She couldn't stop smiling as what was happening finally sank in. Miles was in love with her, Lydia would become a duchess, and Rebecca would have a happily ever after all on her own.

Her heart jumped into her throat, and she grabbed the nearest pillow, using it as a shield as Miles began to undress. His naked body was a thing of beauty, with slopes and contours of muscles and that most masculine part of him she'd never seen before except on statues. He pried the pillow from her hands and tossed it to the floor. They both laughed, and her nerves eased a little as she tilted her head up and gazed deep into his eyes. This man had unlocked her heart and soul, and she couldn't imagine anything more splendid than sharing the rest of her life with him. And she would start by sharing her bed tonight.

"My darling. My sweet. My wonderful Becca." He dropped his head and kissed her.

His words gave her the courage to allow him to undress her. Once she was stripped bare of gown, stockings, boots, and underclothes, she sat on the bed, trembling beside him. He removed the pins from her hair and then ran his fingers through the strands before he kissed her shoulder and then her mouth as she turned to face him.

He swept her up in his arms and laid her back on the bed, pulling the bedclothes away so she could crawl beneath them. He joined her there, lying beside her, kissing her, their bare legs twined together. Feeling his hard body against her softer curves was an aphrodisiac she'd never expected, and she shivered with desire.

Instincts took over. Her hands stroked his back, exploring his muscles. He reveled in her breasts and the groove of her neck and shoulder, taking his time exploring her. His hands and mouth left her burning in the wake of each touch and kiss. He slid a hand down her body, parting her thighs, and she arched and hissed as he sank a finger into her wet folds, just like at the gazebo.

"I'll go slowly. It may hurt, but only for a moment."