The Duke's Love by Stephanie Maddux

her own hands.
     
    What was his mother thinking? He was seriously debating about going back to London and saying to hell with the house party . He knew the moment he saw her. He threw open her door and tossed her inside. He stepped in the room and slammed the door behind him. Jake faced her and crossed his arms.
    “What the hell was that about , Jake? You are manhandling your women these days?” She scoffed as she faced him.
    "What do I have to do to get you to leave ? ” Jake asked . Without waiting for a reply, he backed her up against the wall and invaded her mouth with his tongue. This was her punishment. Jake slid his hands over her breas ts and squeezed lightly . Ana moaned and could not stop from running her fingers through his thick hair , urging him closer. Jake groaned and kissed her more roughly. Jake grabbed her at the waist and pushed himself into her heated core. She could feel the rigid length of him against her. Ana sighed and Jake lost all reason.
    Without breaking contact, he led them over onto the bed.  As Jake lowered them onto it, he was undoing her buttons in a frenzy and slipping his hands in to her bodice. “ God help me, Ana, I want you , ” h e said huskily. Jake was overwhelmed with desire. He could not get enough of her. Somewhere in his pleasured state of mind, he heard the knocking. It still took several moments for it to occur to him that someone was at the door. Jake stilled their movement.
    He saw Ana was dazed. He put his face down in her neck and groaned in frustration. The knocking grew louder and harder. With a grunt, Jake untangled himself from her and he moved to open the door. Jake opened the door an inch, enough to see his mother’s face filled with concern. Jake felt a trickle of shame by what he had done. “It is alright. She is fine. I’ll be done talking to her in a moment , ” h e said quietly. His mother studied his face, nodded in understanding , and he closed the door with a soft thud.
    He did not turn around. He couldn’t look at her. Aware that she was silent and probably embarrassed, he said the only thing he could think of at that moment. “I’m sorry, this won’t happen again.” Silence greeted his statement. He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides trying to calm his rapid heart beat . What was he thinking? He wanted her, possibly more now than he ever did before. He turned and leaned against the door to study her. She was sitting up on the bed with her hands in her lap and properly clothed.
    There was another knock on the door, then without waiting for an answer, it opened and Eliza stepped in. “You best be going , your Grace , and not let anyone know y ou two were alone for this long, ” s he said.
    Jake nodded. Although it was for the best, a part of him wished for someone to discover them . He started to say something , but then decided against it and left them alone, shutting the door softly behind him.
    Jake went back down to the library to find his brother sitting by the crackling fire. “She is still alive , I take it?” He heard him ask. Jake scowled.
    “Yes, what do you think that I should do? I can’t keep her in there , ” h e said.
    Jordan knew what Jake meant. “Move her to another room.”
    “I can’t do that either , Jordan . All the other rooms are filled already. Mother had this planned down to the last detail , ” Jake said dryly. Jordan chuckled at his observation.
    “The better questi on would be what will your Miss Fairchild think about this?” Jordan asked.
    “T his couldn’t get worse .” Jake sighed . What would Sarah think? He could imagine her reaction when she arrive d tomorrow. He knew he was in for a long and stressful weekend. Jake went to the side cupboard and poured himself a drink. After he downed it in one shot, he poured himself another. He offered Jordan a glass, which he refused with a wave of his hand. Jake decided he was better off trying to forget about his problems for the time being. He