Daring Duke (Love Letters Book 4) Read online

  Rohan shifted under his satiny sheets and searched for sleep. The night grew heavy with slumber. Everything was still, save for the gentle creaking of old wood and a call of an owl from the wilderness behind the manor.

  The sound of Duke moaning his name over and over skated over him like he was a live wire. Zoomed through his chest to his achingly hard cock. His toes curled; his fists clenched; his breathing grew shallow as he fought to keep in control.

  They shouldn’t.

  He threw back the covers, stepped out of bed. The cool air over his naked body did nothing to lessen the heat rocketing through him. He barely felt the cold floor under his feet.

  Maybe just a look at him.

  He quietly opened the door. Stepping through sent a forbidden shiver through him and his cock pulsed.

  Duke lay on his stomach, naked. Moonlight streamed through open curtains and washed over Duke’s back. Ass. Pillows lay on the floor, and Duke’s blanket had slipped, only covering to the backs of his knees.

  Rohan caught his breath at the arousing sight and he gripped his shaft. Stroked slowly.

  Leave now.

  He knelt on the bed. Duke stirred and his ass briefly rose off the bed. Every inch of him was gloriously toned, smooth everywhere except for his arms and legs. A patch of light hairs on his arm glittered silver. Moles studded the small of his back and his left thigh.

  “Damn,” he murmured.

  Duke’s body stiffened a moment, and Rohan lifted his gaze to Duke’s face. He was watching Rohan from under the cover of his arm, a lustful gleam in his eye.

  “Hope you’re in here to fuck me,” he said in an insolent voice that made Rohan’s cock jump.

  “I shouldn’t be in here at all,” Rohan said as he cupped the back of Duke’s knee and squeezed.

  Duke folded his face into the mattress. “It’s just sex, Ro.”

  Ro. His name slammed into him again. He nudged Duke’s legs apart and crawled in between them. Stopped himself.

  Duke clenched his ass like the tease he was, and Rohan ran his hands slowly up both Duke’s thighs to the base of his ass and rubbed at the crease that met his inner thighs. A shiny smear on Duke’s ass suggested he’d had fun with the lube earlier.

  Rohan snatched his cock and gave it a few relieving strokes. He would control himself. He would walk away.

  He leaned forward, barely holding his weight off Duke as he spoke in his ear. “Just getting it out of our system?” he asked. “Are you sure?”

  Duke shivered under him.

  On every intake of breath, Duke’s heat brushed against his chest. His cock nudged Duke’s lower back.

  Duke gave a frustrated “Yes.”

  Duke spread his legs wider.

  Rohan groaned against the curve of Duke’s shoulder. Breathed in. Muskiness and cocoa butter.

  “No feelings?” he asked. He never wanted to hurt Duke.

  “Just stick it in me already.” Duke pumped his ass back and Rohan returned to kneeling between Duke’s legs.

  This position certainly suggested little feeling. No looking at each other—nothing that crossed into a more intimate sphere of sex.

  Rohan’s hand flew to Duke’s hip to turn him around.

  He jerked it back just as quickly.

  Duke was forbidden enough without adding an emotional layer to the situation.

  He palmed Duke’s ass cheeks and spread them apart. The sight of his puckered hole had Rohan catching his breath. He gripped his cock and slid it down the lubed crack. “The things you do to me, Duke.”

  He needed more lube, a condom. He stretched over Duke again, planting his full weight against the warm body under him. Duke squirmed as Rohan grabbed the tube off the nightstand. “What do you like most?” he said, biting the skin on the inside of Duke’s elbow.

  “Do what turns you on.”

  “Everything about you turns me on.”

  He heard Duke swallow. “Let me be lazy, then. I am good at it.”

  Rohan laughed lightly as he sat back and squeezed lube onto his fingers. “Liar.” He pressed a wet finger inside Duke, eliciting a moan. “But we can keep pretending that. For now.” Duke’s hot channel gripped his finger, the ring of muscle tight at his knuckle.

  He pulled out and drove back into him with two fingers. Seeing Duke’s ass stretch had Rohan aching to burying himself deep. But he liked Duke’s impatience, the way Duke squirmed with every finger thrust.

  He humped the bed, ass lifting higher. “Seriously, Ro?” he said. “Do I have to use QuickLine to find the fastest route to you dicking me?”

  Rohan whomped a palm over his ass, making Duke hiss out a laugh. The nerve of the guy. “For that, I’ll make you wait longer.”

  Rohan pulled out his fingers and tapped three of them against his hole.

  “If you three-finger salute me, I’m gonna—”

  Duke groaned as Rohan plunged three fingers into him. He balled his fist and banged the mattress at the side of his head. His muffled curses were music to Rohan’s ears.

  Rohan had imagined fucking Duke far too much over the past year—but none of it had ever been this playful. This fun. Ro wanted to tease Duke forever and plunder every curse out of Duke’s system. Until he was speechless.

  Until all he has left is “Ro.”

  “Please fuck me?” Duke said, and it might have been the first time Rohan had ever heard the polite word leave his mouth. That couldn’t go unrewarded.

  Duke trembled with need under him and Rohan gripped his thighs and pulled him back, lifting his ass to the perfect angle. Moonlight hit the globes of his ass like a beacon. He slicked on a condom and slathered his shaft in lube, then positioned himself against Duke’s entrance with a teasing nudge against those sensitive nerve endings.

  At the next pleading groan, Rohan pressed his thick cock into Duke’s tight hole. He planted his hands on Duke’s hips, feeling the swivel Duke gave as he accepted Rohan into his body.

  A gasp. “You were meant to jam it in. Jackrabbit our way to an explosive orgasm.”

  Rohan sank inch by inch inside Duke. “Another time.”

  Duke pushed onto his arms and looked over his shoulder, his eyes glittering with lust and something much deeper. What was Duke really thinking behind the snark?

  What if this wasn’t just a fuck for Duke? What if this was more?

  Duke clenched his ass around Rohan’s hard cock, and Rohan couldn’t stop pushing in. The thought that Duke may have deeper feelings than he admitted pulled at Rohan’s chest. An ache.

  A need.

  Rohan draped his body over Duke and kissed him with a feathered press of his lips.

  Duke’s breath hitched and he hurriedly turned his face. “Go on. Show me what you’ve got.”

  Rohan’s heart swelled. They may have chosen the least intimate position and Duke might be shielding himself with quips, but Rohan had felt it.

  A surge of electricity between them that transcended arousal.

  Duke shivered under him, and Rohan understood. It was too much. He needed Rohan to pretend he hadn’t seen it.

  Rohan bit his shoulder. Trailed his hands down the firm muscle of Duke’s back, grasped those hips. He closed his eyes. Knew he should stop. Distance himself. Say no.

  Knew he should protect his cousin’s heart.

  Knew he wouldn’t.

  He hated himself for being weak. For being more aroused at the thought that Duke loved not just Rohan’s dick—but Rohan inside him.

  He thrust into Duke. Little grunts slipped out of him as he moved inside Duke, his tight, hot channel clinging to Rohan’s cock. Duke squeezed, wriggled, met each thrust, and Rohan couldn’t think past the slick clench of Duke’s inner muscles working his shaft, daring him to give Duke his all.

  “God I wish—” Rohan cut off the mindless murmur. He might wish he could have this level of connection permanently, but he had SmallQ. He had his life mapped out.

  Maybe they really could suppress this devilish attraction wi
th a few good fucks.

  And if not?

  At least he’d know what it could be like.

  He shifted back and penetrated Duke deeper, cock surging into his cousin harder, grazing Duke’s prostate with each forward slam.

  Duke moaned. His bratty mask gave way to whimpers and soft, incoherent murmurs. Those sounds spurred Rohan on and he plundered into Duke, needing to hear more.

  Hoping he’d admit his secrets.

  Duke squeezed the sheet under him and thrust back against Rohan’s next plow. Rohan sat back, lifted Duke, and wrapped an arm around his chest. His sweat-cooled back hit Rohan’s chest.

  Duke threw his head back on Rohan’s shoulder, biting his bottom lip on more moans as Rohan rammed into him, hitting his sweet spot with punishing intensity.

  “What do you want?” Rohan groaned in his ear, tweaking one of Duke’s erect nipples.

  Duke arched against him, demanding more. His cock jutted out, bouncing in time to Rohan’s thrusts.

  “This?” Rohan growled.

  Pleasure mounted between them, and Rohan slid his hand down Duke’s stomach, the tips of his fingers playing with the only bit of hair left on his body.

  Rohan gripped Duke’s cock, eliciting an intense squeeze around his own. Duke pried Rohan’s hand off him and planted it on his stomach. He threaded his fingers over the backs of Rohan’s.

  Rohan soaked up the warmth and tenderness of that hold.

  “I want this not to end,” Duke murmured.

  The words reached into Rohan and intensified every sensation. He thrust deep, rhythm quickening. Sucked on Duke’s neck hard enough to leave a bruise, a mark that would torture Rohan all day. Didn’t matter, he had to leave proof of how much he loved being inside him. How hot and primal it made him. How much he loved Duke folding into his demanding thrusts.

  One time Duke willingly did what Rohan asked.

  “No more clubbing,” Rohan said.

  Duke looked at him through lowered lashes, lips full, parting with needy pants. Their bodies slapped together, faster and faster.

  “Need something,” Rohan said. “I’m here.”

  Duke moaned as his orgasm clenched him. “Ro.”

  Rohan’s name swept through him, a chest-seizing pleasure. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the sight of Duke squeezing his eyes shut as come roped out of him onto the bed.

  Rohan pounded deep into his cousin, like he might urge him to say it again. Duke’s fingers slid up and down Rohan’s in a wordless confirmation that this was more than fucking.

  Rohan buried himself deep, and cried out as he came inside Duke.

  Pleasure arced through him, laced with guilt.

  Christ, he shouldn’t have lost himself in the moment. Shouldn’t have promised Duke he’d be here. It was meant to be a few mindless fucks. Nothing more.

  With shuddering breath, he pulled out of Duke.

  Duke tried to clench him, to keep him inside. He abruptly cut off his sigh. Let go of Rohan’s hand, and tossed himself onto the clean half of his bed. Rolled onto his side like he was bored.

  Rohan swallowed. Didn’t believe any of it for a second.

  He pulled off the condom and disposed of it.

  Duke watched him move about the room silently, and Rohan wished his mind would provide him the logic they both needed.

  He moved back to Duke and pulled him off the bed.

  Duke twisted his lips into a cocky smile. “Up for it again already, old man?”

  Rohan grazed his palm under Duke’s chin and tapped a thumb against that fake smile. “You are so beautiful, Duke. You could have anyone.”

  Someone who can give you more than just fucks.

  Duke’s smile wavered. He laughed nervously. “I could and I do. How do you want me? On my knees, sucking you to life again?”

  God, he wanted to lean in and kiss the quips off his tongue. “I want you in my bed.”

  Rohan dropped his hand to Duke’s. The one that had touched him so tenderly. He clasped it and led Duke into his room, his bed.

  Covers up to their chests, lying facing each other on their sides, Duke breathed out slowly. “Now what?”

  Good question. He should have ended this differently, but he couldn’t leave Duke alone in his bed. Couldn’t have his cousin awake all night wondering if Rohan cared even a little.

  He couldn’t give Duke everything he wanted, but he could show Duke that he mattered. Tomorrow, he’d gently remind Duke that Rohan wasn’t a forever thing.

  He closed the foot of space between them and locked an arm around Duke’s waist. “Now sleep.”

  Duke woke with a warm back to his chest and his hard cock pressed against the small of Rohan’s back. “I want to fuck you. Can I?”

  Rohan twisted and faced him. Held his gaze unnervingly steadily. “We can fuck as little or as much as you like.” Duke lunged toward a kiss. Rohan stopped him, palms suctioned onto his chest. “But we need to be clear.”

  Duke tensed at the gentle tone. Too gentle. He knew exactly what Rohan wanted to say. Duke’s dick flagged, but it was nothing compared to his heart. He raced Rohan to the point. “You’ll be engaged to Bianca before Christmas.”

  He knew this was sex, nothing else. Knew Rohan would never truly consider him as a life he could have.

  Whatever.

  He should take what he could get, right? Maybe he really could fuck these feelings out of his system.

  He swallowed an ache in his throat. “I don’t care, Ro. I mean, I think the beard is stupid, but it’s your life. Your sad, pathetic, work-oriented life.”

  Rohan hitched his brow. “You don’t care. Uh-huh.”

  Did Rohan not believe him? “I really don’t. I just want to tick fucking a relative off my sexual bucket list.”

  Rohan shoved him onto his back and straddled his waist. “Will you ever learn to filter yourself?”

  Duke hooked his hands behind his head and stared at the bowing drapes above the bed. Couldn’t meet Rohan’s eye. “I really don’t care. In fact, I’m going to put myself out there. Get myself a date. Something real.”

  Rohan’s reply came too fast. Not a jot of hesitation. “That sounds like a good idea.”

  “Yeah. So. Gonna let me stick my dick in you?”

  Rohan reached under the bed. Like magic, lube and a condom appeared. Both got slicked on Duke’s length, and Rohan sat on his hard cock, enveloping him into intensely tight heat.

  Rohan fucked him fast and hard; seemed to mirror Duke’s own desperation. “Put yourself out there,” Rohan murmured.

  “I will,” Duke responded on a grunt, gripping Rohan’s hand. He glimpsed the light scar on his ring finger and rubbed it like it might magically grant him a glimpse into Rohan’s mind. His body. His heart. “I will.”

  “Get yourself a date.”

  “A date.”

  “Something real.” Rohan fucked faster, emptying Duke of every drop of self-control.

  Duke shot hard, pinching his scarred finger. Groaned, “Ro.”

  Rohan milked his orgasm, shot over Duke’s stomach, and collapsed, lips hovering toward a kiss. He pulled back slowly, voice ragged. “Fall in love.”

  Breakfast was a hit—for Casey.

  Duke barely touched his food. Kept hiding his scowls for perfect Bianca behind three refills of coffee. Her adorable, quirky personality captivated him. All color and lopsided smiles. Sweet words and not a shade of bitch anywhere.

  That was okay. Duke had enough for the both of them.

  He took another sip, and it sloshed over his chin as his phone buzzed in his pocket.

  All eyes pinged to him. Casey laughed.

  Rohan simply tossed a kitchen towel at him and continued his conversation with Bianca.

  With a scowl, Duke ignored the towel and answered his phone, keeping his voice unnaturally cheerful. “Hey, Kyle. How are you doing?”

  Rohan’s posture stiffened.

  Kyle huffed a tired laugh down the line. “Did I . . . call at a bad t
ime?”

  “Never a bad time for you.” Possibly said a little too sultrily.

  Yep, Rohan was lifting a disbelieving brow. Duke had overdone it.

  “Okay,” Kyle said. “Are you still up for babysitting the kids today?”

  Duke frowned. “I completely forgot. Shit, I was meant to be there already. Only, Casey’s here this weekend . . . .”

  “It’s cool. I called work and said I might be late. I’ll just bring the twins in with me.”

  Duke knew how much it took out of him every time Kyle had to ask for help.

  “Just a sec, man.” Duke lowered the phone and glanced over at Casey. “I’ve got to watch Jones and Janine today.”

  “Oh.” She slouched in her chair.

  Duke’s stomach twisted. One way or another, he would be letting someone down. He stared at his untouched pancakes. A foot nudged his under the table and he glanced up. Met Rohan’s gaze.

  “Here’s an idea,” Rohan said. “Bring the kids here. We’ll all spend the day together.”

  Casey straightened and smiled. “Yeah. Bring them here! I love playing family!”

  Duke was afraid he’d love it, too.

  So much for his promise to spend the day together.

  Jones and Janine had arrived, and Henry called and asked Rohan to deal with a few issues arising from the acquisition. A job for his legal team, mostly, but it needed a few clarifications.

  He snapped the door shut to a room that had once been Rohan’s great-granfather’s office. Old sheets covered and protected the unused furniture.

  From down the hall came gleeful shouts, kids hiding and seeking, all eagerness and excitement.

  Excitement he wanted to take part in.

  With a sigh, he shoved aside half of the sheet that covered a mahogany desk and got busy on his laptop. A long string of angry work emails demanded Rohan’s immediate attention.

  Where was the enthusiasm he’d had for this only four weeks ago? In London, he’d dragged himself into discussion at three in the morning. Done it with smirk.

  This sudden reluctance didn’t bode well. Heading SmallQ meant living SmallQ. Weekends off? Nothing he could rely on.

  He should get used to it.