Caden rolled away from Sydney and immediately fell into a deep sleep. She cracked open an eye. The sun was setting. Again. She hadnt left this room in two daysshed scarcely left the bed. Every muscle in her body ached beyond description. Shed never questioned how many orgasms a woman could have in a day, but Sydney wondered idly if the Guinness people would be interested in chatting with her.
Joking aside, this time with Caden was no laughing matter. Besides his unusual affliction, her feelings for her sexy former photographer had grown each minute they shared. Shed soothed his fear, and hed rewarded her with a treasure trove of sparking smiles and sumptuous touches. She still didnt understand this sex marathon and planned to question Duke about this curse later. Now, she was too exhausted to care. She needed to use the toilet, eat, bathe, and sleepin that order. Unfortunately, she wasnt sure she was capable of moving a muscle.
At a soft knock on the door, she grabbed the sheet to cover her nakedness. Truth be told, shed been naked for nearly forty-eight hours. Even the sheet felt unnatural and abrasive against her. Cadens skin, however . . . she could get used to waking beside him every morning.
The knock sounded again, jarring her out of her reverie. She covered Cadens bare backside and murmured, Come in.
Not surprising, Hurstgrove peeked inside her bedroom.
It got quiet. I thought I should check on you.
He looked nearly as tired as she. He wore the same clothes and needed a shave. Hed stripped off his tie, unbuttoned his shirt at the collar and wrists, turned the cuffs back to reveal capable hands and strong forearms. He couldnt be comfortable snoozing on her small sofa, yet he, a real duke, was inquiring after her.
Tired, she whispered. I need food and a bath, a few days sleep, then Ill be fine.
Duke cast a sidelong glance at Caden. Has anything unusual happened yet?
Besides shagging a caveman on aphrodisiacs and losing my heart?
If you dont count his incredible stamina as unusual, no.
He stepped in the room, regret shaping his features. Hes not going to tire for some time.
Sydney hadnt needed Mr. Pedigree to tell her that. If anything, hes gaining momentum.
That was an understatement. The first night, Caden had made love to her every few hours. The following day, every other hour. Tonight, every hour on the hour. She could nearly set a watch by him. Currently, it was three forty-nine. Bugger.
If you can no longer cope, I wouldnt blame you. I can find a replacement
No! Vehemence rocketed through her body. Very obviously, Caden was no novice in the bedroom, but while she was with him, Sydney intended to be his only woman. Im not certain whats happening, but I wont have any other woman near him. I have very few minutes to see to my needs before Caden awakens. Give me a moment, will you?
Duke hesitated. Has he kissed you?
She stopped and sorted through the jumble of the last two days. No.
Or tasted you in any other way?
What did he mean? Oh. Oral sex. She flushed. Hes been far too busy.
Relief crossed Dukes face. I hope this runs its course in the next few hours. If youre certain you dont want help
No! And never again if she could help it. If theres time before he awakens again, youre going to explain this to me in detail.
Agreed. Ill grab you some protein bars and water. You bathe. Quickly. Duke cast a glance at Caden. Hes stirring.
Sydney peered at the man beside her. He rolled closer, an absent hand feeling its way for her side. If she wanted any creature comforts, now was the time.
Rising as quickly as her protesting muscles allowed, she grabbed her robe from the back of her door and ambled down the hall to her little bath. She ran a hot tub to soak away sore muscles and brushed her teeth. A moment later, Hurstgrove knocked, then brought in protein bars and an energy drink.
Where did you get this?
He paused. Olivia brought them by. I hope you dont mind.
At the moment, she could hug him. She was famished. Sydney didnt have a lot of weight on her bones anyway, and since she could scarcely remember her last meal, she figured that she had lost at least half a stone.
Wonderful. Thank you.
Conscious of the ticking clock, she shut the door in his face and locked it, shedding her dressing gown with one hand and tearing into the protein bar with the other. She scarfed the first one down. It was little better than coated cardboard, but she lunged for the second and grabbed the energy drink, chugging it down in less than a minute.
After a quick visit to the toilet, she sank into the hot bath, savoring her last few bites of the second protein bar. She noticed hed also brought a plastic container. When Sydney ripped into it, she practically inhaled the baby carrots and apple slices she found within.
Belly not exactly sated but no longer rumbling, she grabbed the shampoo and scrubbed her hair. Soap next. She attacked her body with it, scouring until her sensitive skin glowed.
A glance at the clock she kept on her counter told her it was three fifty-seven. Not much time before Caden awoke and demanded her body again. And she gave a bit more of her heart.
Feeling marginally revived, she rinsed and unplugged the drain, then reached for a towel. She never got it.
A thump at the door made her pause. Hurstgrove?
Not a word. Instead, another thump. A grunt. Then the slam of a body and the crash of the door striking the wall.
Caden filled the doorway, naked, magnificent. With hungry eyes and an erection only a blind woman could miss, Sydney had no doubt what he wanted.
Despite her exhaustion, her wobbly legs, and the tenderness in places shed never been sore before, she wanted him again. To touch him in this moment and know he was all hers. It was pure insanity, but pointless to deny.
He took a huge step into the little bathroom and grabbed her hand, hauling her out of the tub and into his arms. Sydney.
Her damp skin made contact with his hot, dry flesh, and she sizzledinside and out. What was it about this man? Intelligence, yes. Loads of it. Good looks, naturally. But she sensed his soldiers core of honor. Even when hed lied to her, hed done it for a good cause. He been uncomfortable with the subterfuge, which explained why shed seen through him. Despite his mission, hed done his best not to hurt her, even refusing the sex shed so blithely offered and he so clearly wanted. The fact hed endured this fever of heat and sex had likely been her fault. An aftereffect of writing in that blasted book.
To make matters worse, when this ailment of Cadens was over, he would likely resume life without her. He still had his brothers illness to deal with, and they no longer worked together. But at least she could enjoy the moment with Caden, savor every last touch. Yes, she was exhausted. But damned if she was going to let another woman finish what shed started.