Chapter 308: Chapter Three Hundred And Eight
Rowan’s entire upper body was fully exposed to the warm light of the fire.
Delaney’s hazel eyes widened in pure delight and stunning awe.
He was incredibly, remarkably beautiful. His shoulders were massively broad and thickly muscled. His chest was wide and strong, carved exactly like a perfect marble statue from ancient Greece. The golden firelight danced across his skin, highlighting the firm, powerful muscles of his stomach and his strong arms.
He looked exactly like a powerful, dangerous warrior, completely stripped of his polite London society disguise.
Rowan looked down at her. He saw her wide eyes. He saw the way she was staring at his chest with open admiration.
Rowan smiled. It was a deeply proud masculine smile. He absolutely loved her honest reaction. What wife would not be completely mesmerized seeing her strong, handsome husband exactly like this? He was entirely glad that she found him pleasing to look at.
Slowly, smoothly, Rowan got back onto the large bed.
He moved carefully, placing his knees on the soft mattress. He positioned himself completely over her, straddling her hips gently without putting his heavy weight directly onto her delicate body.
He leaned forward, supporting himself on one strong arm.
With his free hand, Rowan reached out. He gently took Delaney’s right hand in his. Her small fingers looked incredibly delicate against his large skin.
He slowly brought her hand up. He placed her open palm completely flat against his bare, warm chest, exactly over the steady, heavy beating of his heart.
Delaney felt the intense heat of his skin beneath her fingers. She felt the powerful, rapid thump-thump of his heart beating strongly against her palm.
Rowan looked deeply into her eyes. His expression was completely open, entirely vulnerable, and fully devoted.
"They are yours," Rowan whispered softly, his deep voice vibrating directly through his chest and into her hand.
He slowly moved her hand across his broad chest, letting her feel the hard muscles beneath his skin.
"I am yours. Entirely yours," Rowan promised her, stripping away every single title and every single wall between them. "Do whatever you want with me, Delaney. I belong completely to you."
Delaney stared up at him. For her entire life, she had owned absolutely nothing.
But right now, looking at the most powerful Duke in England, she realized she owned something completely priceless. She owned his heart. She owned his complete devotion. And she had an incredible, beautiful power over him.
Delaney smiled. It was a slow, slightly wicked confident smile.
She did not pull her hand away. Instead, she slowly, carefully traced her soft fingertips directly across the hard muscle of his chest.
Rowan inhaled a very sharp, sudden breath. His chest expanded instantly under her touch.
Delaney watched his reaction closely. She trailed her fingers slowly down the very center of his chest. She moved her hand gently over his warm skin, tracing the firm, tight muscles of his upper stomach.
Rowan’s eyes fluttered shut for a brief second. He let out a low, rough sound of pure pleasure. It was a deep groan that rumbled heavily in the quiet room.
"Del..." Rowan whispered her name, his voice completely breathless and entirely strained.
Delaney felt a massive thrill of feminine power completely wash over her. She was making the great Duke of Ford tremble with just the lightest touch of her fingers. She was completely enjoying the wonderful, dizzying power she had over him.
She decided to test that power just a little bit more.
Delaney suddenly stopped her hand.
She completely withdrew her hand from his warm skin, lifting her fingers straight up into the cool air of the bedroom. She let her hand drop innocently back onto the white pillows.
Rowan’s eyes snapped completely open.
He looked down at her, his face filled with sudden, desperate shock. He let out a very quiet, completely helpless whimper of protest. It was the sound of a man who had been given a taste of absolute heaven and had it suddenly snatched entirely away.
Delaney giggled softly, a highly mischievous light dancing brightly in her hazel eyes.
"Did you need something, Your Grace?" Delaney asked innocently, batting her eyelashes at him exactly as Lady Moore had tried to do, but with a highly teasing, loving twist.
Rowan narrowed his eyes. The wicked, playful challenge was completely accepted.
"You are a terrible tease, my Duchess," Rowan grumbled softly, a dark, hungry fire completely returning to his eyes.
Delaney smiled proudly. She slowly lifted her hand again.
She placed her fingertips back onto his warm skin. She continued her gentle, agonizingly slow tracing exactly where she had left off. She moved her hand lower, trailing her fingers completely down his firm stomach, going exactly as low as the very edge of his dark trousers at his waist.
Rowan’s entire body went completely, entirely rigid.
The muscle in his square jaw ticked wildly. His breathing became incredibly heavy and highly uneven. He reached his large hands out. He grabbed the soft white bedsheets on either side of her head. He clenched his hands into tight fists, gripping the fabric so hard his knuckles turned completely white.
"Delaney Hamilton," Rowan said.
He spoke her brand new official name. His voice was a low, rough, completely dangerous growl. Hearing him say her new name sent a massive, hot shockwave of pleasure directly to the very center of her chest.
Delaney stopped her hand at his waist. She looked up into his burning eyes.
"Yes, Your Grace?" Delaney replied softly. Her voice was sweet, completely fearless, and entirely ready for whatever he was going to do next.
Rowan leaned his face down until his lips were hovering just a fraction of an inch above hers.
"I completely promise you," Rowan whispered fiercely, his hot breath washing over her lips. "I will make absolutely sure you do not even wish to get off this bed until tomorrow afternoon."
Delaney’s heart hammered wildly. She wrapped her arms completely around his neck, pulling him down to her.
"I am completely holding you to that promise, my Duke," Delaney whispered back.
Rowan did not need another single word of encouragement. He crashed his lips down onto hers once again.
