Page 62 of The Duke's Vice

“Are you all right, Beatrice?”

Her eyes drooped to a close and she could feel a goofy grin spread across her face. “Don’t you mean Colette?”

She heard him chuckle. “I’ll call you whatever you want, just tell me you’re all right.”

Call me yours.

The thought sobered Beatrice. She promised herself she wouldn’t think like that anymore. She looked up to Graham and cringed. How is it even possible that the dueced man look even more enticing after a night of drinking, while standing in a dank and dark street?

“What is it?” Graham asked as he pushed hair from her face. She wore it down, to match the style of dress.

“I didn’t like thinking you were with the widow.” The words slipped out before Beatrice’s mind had a chance to stop them.

Graham’s hand hovered by her face before he pushed more hair back. Heavens, she must look atrocious.

His face softened as his held her face in his hands. “You beautiful creature.”

His next words were lost to Beatrice’s mouth. She didn’t want to talk, she wanted to kiss. She didn’t want to think about her list, or her future, or what any of this meant. She just wanted him, now.

Graham pushed her against the wall and plundered her mouth with his tongue. His hands left her face and reached around to cup her bottom. She gasped when he pulled her hips into his.

“Graham.” She pleaded against his mouth. “Please. Please, I need you, please, I need more.” Her plea came out in rushed whispers. She pulled at his shirt, at his hair. She needed him, all of him. She couldn’t move her hands fast enough.

Graham pulled her into the alley, one step away from the corner they were just on. He took her mouth once more, biting and nibbling on her lips, eliciting moans from Beatrice. He reached down and started to gather her skirt when the door to the pub opened and a few men stumbled out.

Both froze, their breaths mingling as they watched with bated breath as the men passed the opening to the alley, not realizing Graham and Beatrice were there.

As soon as their footsteps disappeared Beatrice reached back up but Graham caught her hands.

His eyes were heavy with lust and something else.

“This isn’t the way, Beatrice. Not for you.”

Beatrice smiled and pulled on his shirt. “Good thing, I’m not Beatrice, I’m Colette. This is definitely something Colette would do.”

Graham stepped back to stop her from pawing him. “No.”

His word was a demand and snapped Beatrice out the haze she was in. Embarrassment washed over her. “I see.” Those were the only two words she could manage.

Graham huffed out a sigh and placed his hands on his hips. “Do not mistake my stopping as any sort of indication that I am not interested. But I refuse to do anything more salacious in the alley behind Swarthmore’s.”

Beatrice felt some relief but suddenly understood what had just transpired between them and found herself at a loss for words. She was so close to throwing away her propriety in an alley behind a pub. She was all for losing her innocence, but the Duke was right. Not like this.

Her cheeks heated with form the embarrassment. Thankfully, the carriage pulled up ending their conversation. She had a brief moment of worry that their ride home would be awkward but that was the last thought before she fell asleep.

CHAPTER 17

Ezra’s eyes adjusted to the low light of the club. He scanned the room, looking for a quiet place to rest and enjoy his drink without being disturbed.

“Oh ho! Look who graces us with his appearance?”

Ezra turned his body to immediately step back out into the bright afternoon when a hand reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

“Going so soon, brother?”

Frederic’s voice boomed in his ear. There would be no rest for him this afternoon.

“Frederic,” Ezra sighed. “I’m really in no mood for your personality.”