Sarah's Duke: and Ellie's Gentleman (The heir and the spare, book 1) (16 page)

Dammit,
he was
. With all the power and money that came with it.

“You, my lady will never enter one on my homes ever again.” Oliver growled at his sister-in-law as he rounded the pillar, his shoulders flexing and straining as his arms shook with anger.

“My brother may not have allowed a large enough annuity for you, but I will. You will live wherever you want, marry whoever you want but you will not come near me, my estate, nor my wife ever again.”

“Oliver...” Honoria began.

Oliver growled, straightened to his full height and looked down on her.

“My name is Lord Oliver Dunford, Duke of Sollington. You will address me as such.

“Your Grace.” She squeaked.

Oliver turned and left without bowing, without even a word of farewell. He grabbed his coat, hailed his carriage and headed home as fast as his team of six could carry him.

Ten

Oliver sent a note ahead to his Scottish estate, informing the servants that he would be joining his wife, but requesting them not to tell her as it was a surprise. He rounded the final bend in the road and looked out at the estate he had not visited in over a decade. It was beautiful. Grand and ancient. He had always loved coming here as a child. He didn’t really know why he hadn’t visited sooner.

He was greeted by a young footman and the older, balding butler.

“Your Grace, it is very good to see you here.”

The old butler bowed and smiled.

Oliver searched his memory and came up with a name.

“Thank you Graves, it is good to be here. Could you tell me where my wife is?”

The two footmen behind the butler shared worried looks and Oliver’s stomach tightened with worry. Was she all right?

“Her Grace is walking the rose garden, your Grace.” Graves eyes lit up at the use of Sarah’s title.

Oliver could only assume his wife had found her place amongst his servants, and most likely they would do anything for her.

Oliver followed a footman out to the gardens and stopped when he saw her. She was very clearly pregnant. Why she hadn’t told him, he didn’t understand, but it was clear that the condition agreed with her. She glowed with good health. Her breasts had almost doubled in size and Oliver felt the stirrings of arousal for the first time in several months.

Sarah stopped along the path, bending backwards over her hand pressed into her lower back and looked towards the house.

She caught Oliver’s eye and continued to stare at him, blinking rapidly as though she expected him to disappear.

Oliver inhaled slowly and forced his legs to walk over to his wife. He stopped and bowed to her.

“Sarah.” His throat was tight with an unfamiliar emotion as she continued to stare at him.

Sarah gasped, “You’re real.”

Oliver laughed for the first time in months. “Of course I’m real.”

“But you wrote and said you couldn’t leave London at the moment and wouldn’t be coming to see me.” The hurt he had caused her was obvious now that he could see the black marks beneath her eyes.

“I know. Do you think we could go somewhere to talk?” He asked her, conscious of the many servants now discreetly congregating around their Duchess.

“Of course, my afternoon sitting room would be perfect.”

She lifted her head and accepted his offered arm.

Oliver had spent the journey to Scotland rehearsing what he would say to his beautiful wife once he arrived. He knew he owed her many apologies, but where to start was the hardest question to answer. He had always found that being honest with Sarah about his feelings worked best, but that would mean he would have to tell her everything. And the thought of exposing himself so totally was terrifying.

Sarah squeezed his arm as they entered her sitting room and let go of him. “I’m glad you decided to come Oliver.” 

“Was there something in particular you needed me for?” He sat down in a chair directly opposite her and smiled at the shock in her eyes.

Sarah blushed and dropped her head.

“I did want to tell you something important, yes.” She admitted softly.

Oliver’s eyes dropped to her belly that was now barely visible beneath the material of her dress. “And that would be?”

Sarah looked up and her eyes narrowed slightly. “You really can’t tell?”

Oliver laughed, stopped, then laughed again. “Oh God it feels good to laugh again.”

His cheeks ached from smiling and his belly hurt in a strange way too. He hadn’t felt this happy in three months and he’d barely been in his wife’s company for five minutes. How was it possible that he was already happier than he ever remembered being?

Oliver fought the urge to whisk her off to a bedroom and strip her clothes away. How desperate he was to get his hands on her again, but that would have to wait, they had things to discuss.

“I think I can see what you wanted to tell me, Sarah, but I think it would be best if you said it instead.”

Sarah smiled, her whole face lighting up as she seemed to realize his intention.

“I am bearing your child, my lord.”

And there they were. The sweetest words he had ever heard.

Sarah stood up and moved towards him. Oliver stood immediately in reflex. Sarah reached for his hand and pulled it to her distended belly.

Oliver swallowed uncomfortably but allowed her to bring his hand to her belly. That first touch of his hand on the hard bump that concealed and protected his child brought a lump to Oliver’s throat. He brought his other hand up as well and held his child with both hands. The baby moved in response and Oliver felt the tell-tale shift of flesh. Startled, he dropped both hands away.

Sarah laughed, pulling his hands back to her, “He’s just happy you’re here, Oliver.”

“He?” Oliver drew Sarah onto the chaise lounge so they could sit together.

“I’ve decided it is a boy.” Sarah shrugged and set her chin. She was obviously brooking no argument. He didn’t really mind, either way.

“All right. I have missed you so much.” He brushed the hairs at the nape of her neck with his fingers and inhaled sharply as pleasure coiled deep in his belly.

****

“I have missed you too.”

Sarah moaned as Oliver’s mouth descended. His hot, soft lips capturing her mouth in a kiss so sweet and gentle that it brought tears to her eyes.

“Let me show you my bedroom,” she told her husband. Confident in his need for her, she decided it was time that she showed him how much
she
wanted
him
.

“We should talk first, about, everything.”

“No, later.” Sarah urged, tugging Oliver faster down the hall.

The butler and several footmen stood near the entrance to the stairs. Oliver opened his mouth to dismiss them but Sarah knew it was her time.

“Thank you so much, Graves. My husband and I will be dining in our room tonight. Could you send dinner up at seven?”

She lifted her skirts and began to ascend the stairs, her husband hot on her heels.

Her heart was beating heavily in her chest. She could not believe she had just invited her husband to bed her in the middle of the day. But it had to be done. She could not think straight. All the tension of the past three months seemed to now be focused on driving her insane with desire. She could feel the wetness between her thighs. Her nipples were peaked beneath her dress and she could barely wait for Oliver to close the door behind him. What had pregnancy done to her?

“Sarah, I’m not sure if we should do this before we’ve had a proper talk.” Despite what he was saying he was tugging at his cravat and unbuttoning his waistcoat.

Thank goodness for that!

Sarah tugged at her own gown, loosely laced in front to allow for her expanding tummy.

“I only want to know one thing, My Lord, before you touch me.” 

If he lied about this she was certain she would know.

Oliver’s hands stilled on his shirt buttons as he awaited her question.

“Anything Sarah.”

“Have you touched another woman since we have been apart?” She didn’t drop her eyes for a moment, watching Oliver’s body for signs of discomfort.

He actually seemed to visibly relax, his shoulders dropping as a soft smile graced his now calm features.

“Oh Sarah, I haven’t touched another woman since that first night I met you,” he confessed, his honesty evident in his eyes.

Sarah could have sobbed with relief but instead she pulled the gown off her body and dropped it to the floor, standing in only her chemise before her husband. Her nipples tightened further as they pressed against the silk and the warmth of the room kept her from shivering.

He took the few steps that separated them, pulling her body against him. She reached up for him as he swooped down for a kiss so hungry it sent the already built fire in Sarah roaring to life.

Sarah pulled back and dropped down onto her knees, the soft carpet against her skin.

She had spent the last month imagining what she would do to Oliver if she ever got him to herself again. She had planned a seduction based around his pleasure. She would make sure that he never left her again.

Her own body ached in anticipation of what was to come, but she’d happily wait for her own fulfilment if it meant giving him this.

“No, Sarah, you can’t.” Oliver gasped and pushed against her shoulder, trying to step back from her grasp.

Sarah just smiled serenely up at him, and with her eyes coaxed him closer again.

“I can, I want to, please Oliver.” She was all but begging now, gesturing with her hands for him to come back to her.

“But you’re my wife, and you’re pregnant!” Oliver recoiled again with wide eyes and flailing hands.

Sarah laughed softly. “Exactly. My body hungers for you, Oliver. And I am your wife, I should be the only one to give you pleasure.”

Oliver moved back within her grasp, looking encouraged by her words.

Sarah grabbed a hold of his thighs and pulled him closer. She stared at the beautifully erect penis and was amazed again that this was what had given her a child. Smiling up at Oliver she wrapped one hand around the base and pulled him closer with a hand around his thighs.

She stared down at the beautiful piece of flesh again and laughed as she watched it quiver with anticipation. At her laugh a similar shiver swept through Oliver’s whole body and he groaned. She ducked her head and sucked the beautiful hot flesh into her mouth. It was hard but so soft, and slightly salty. She used her hands and moved up and down on him in a similar fashion that he had taught her to ride him.

He tried to pull away but she held him tight to her. She wanted this.

“Sarah, stop, please, I’m going to...” Oliver groaned as she squeezed the base of him and moved faster. He threaded his hands into her hair and groaned as though his soul was being ripped from his body.

He jerked, spilling himself in spasms into her mouth. Sarah swallowed quickly and licked the tip once more. Oliver’s knees began to shake and she let him slip from her mouth.

Oliver tugged Sarah to her feet and together they staggered the few feet to the bed and collapsed on top of the covers. He kissed her mouth and buried his face into her hair, seemingly embarrassed. She held him to her and heard him as he whispered into her ear.

“Thank you.”

Sarah giggled, happiness filling her belly and making her feel a little light headed.

“You shouldn’t have done that for me though, it’s not right.” Oliver continued to speak to her, still hiding in her hair.

Sarah pulled back and made him look her in the eye.

“So you believe only whores can give their men pleasure like that?”

Her husband’s eyes went wide and her own cheeks heated as she used a word that she’d only said aloud once.

“I wouldn’t know my love. I’ve never had that done to me before. I just didn’t think ladies did that sort of thing.”

She grinned up at him, the weight of her anger lifting now that she knew how special she was to him. She wanted to be the one to bring him unknown pleasure.

“Oh Oliver, you forget, I’m not just a lady, I’m your wife. My mother told me that everything you do to me I can do to you, and you had brought me pleasure that way before. So I reasoned that it was possible to do it for you too.” Sarah laughed again and kissed his shoulder, tasting the sweet chestnut flavor of his skin against her tongue.

****

Oliver stared at his wife for a long moment. Was that really what her mother had told her? No wonder she had always been so eager and happy to do anything for him or let him do anything he wanted to her.

Remembering all the times he had brought her to climax with his mouth he felt his already satisfied cock stir to life again. Sliding down the bed he slowly pulled her chemise up over her large belly, exposing luscious breasts and golden curls.

“Perhaps I should return the favor then,” he smiled up at her, dipping his head to her nipples.

Sarah cried out when he licked first one hard, darkened nipple, then the other. She cried out again when he pulled one into his mouth and suckled greedily. She threaded her hands into his hair and held him there, urging him to suck harder.

Oliver continued to lick and sip at her nipples while he slid his hand between her silky thighs. She was so wet he groaned. Unable to resist, he slid two long fingers into her, enjoying both her moan and the way her body bowed up in appreciation. He slid his fingers out and spread the moisture across that hidden bud and listened to her moan again. Smiling to himself, Oliver pressed kisses to her belly, lingering over the stretched skin before moving down to paradise.

It didn’t take long. Oliver flicked his tongue over her twice, inserted his fingers once more and she shattered.

He didn’t let her come down from her high but pushed at Sarah’s shoulder so that she would roll over. She came up onto all fours so that she could roll how he wanted and accommodate their growing child.