Page 9 of Her Duke to Seduce: Lady Be Wicked (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #20)

Eight

T hey had traveled for several hours, and at last, they arrived at an inn. Felicity stretched in her seat, relieved that they would finally be stopping. The first thing she would demand was a bath. She had dust from the road clinging to her, making her feel gritty and altogether unkempt. If she hoped to seduce Aiden, it would not do for her to remind him of the little urchin she had once been.

And hadn’t that been a surprise?

When she had first encountered him at the ball, she had not made the connection to their long-ago meeting. At ten years old, she had been quite unimpressed by the haughty young marquess she had met by the pond at Winston Manor. Never would she have believed that he would grow into a man who tempted her beyond reason.

Aiden stepped down from the carriage first, turning to offer his hand to assist her. She hesitated for the briefest of moments before placing her hand in his, allowing him to help her alight. The warmth of his touch sent an unwelcome shiver through her, but she masked her reaction behind a polite smile.

The inn was a modest establishment, its stone facade weathered by the years and the salty air that blew inland from the coast. A lantern swung from an iron hook above the entrance, casting flickering shadows over the cobbled courtyard. Despite its simplicity, the place appeared well-kept—a welcome respite after hours spent on the road.

Aiden led her inside, where the scent of roasting meat and fresh-baked bread filled the air. A handful of travelers lingered in the common room, their voices low as they supped on stew and ale. A fire burned in the large hearth, crackling merrily against the evening’s chill.

Felicity inhaled deeply, relishing the warmth that enveloped her. She was exhausted, travel-worn, and in desperate need of that bath. But she was also acutely aware of the man beside her, of the way his presence seemed to take up more space than it ought.

The innkeeper, a stout man with a balding pate and a red beard, bustled forward and inclined his head. “Welcome tae the Black Bull. How may I be of service?” His thick Scottish brogue threw her off, and she snapped her gaze toward Aiden. She had a lot of questions for him and she would get answers.

Aiden ignored her scrutiny as he addressed the innkeeper. “We require two rooms for the night.”

Felicity exhaled a breath she had not realized she was holding. Despite her reckless plan, despite the temptation simmering between them, it pleased her that Aiden still had the presence of mind to maintain some semblance of propriety. Though she intended to seduce him, she wanted that bath in peace first.

The innkeeper frowned. “Two rooms, ye say?” His gaze flickered between them, lingering on Felicity’s attire. Though she wore men’s breeches and a coat, the delicate features of her face and the curve of her lips could not be mistaken for anything other than feminine. His bushy brows furrowed in suspicion, but he said nothing.

Aiden met his gaze with a pointed look. “Yes, two rooms,” he said with emphasis. “I should hope that will not be an issue.”

The innkeeper cleared his throat. “Ah, no, of course not, my lord. It is simply that our rooms are rather limited this evening. I have but one chamber remaining on the second floor.”

Felicity bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Fate, it seemed, was on her side. Perhaps she would not need to work quite so hard to see her plan through. It would not do for Aiden to see how pleased she was by this revelation. She had liked the idea of privacy, but this was even better.

Aiden, however, did not appear amused. His jaw clenched as he turned toward her. “We shall take the second-floor chamber,” he said stiffly.

The innkeeper shuffled forward, key in hand. “Is there anything else?”

“Hot water for a bath,” Aiden demanded.

Felicity brightened. How had he known she would wish for that? She could have kissed him for his thoughtfulness.

“I shall have it brought up straightaway,” the innkeeper assured him.

Aiden merely grunted in response, as if he could not be bothered to reply.

The innkeeper motioned to a young serving girl, who hurried away to see to their requests. “If ye will follow me, I shall show ye tae yer room.”

They ascended the narrow staircase, Aiden trailing behind as Felicity followed the innkeeper. When they reached the chamber, the innkeeper opened the door, allowing them to step inside first. The room was small but tidy, with a sturdy four-poster bed, a basin for washing, and a modest hearth. The fire had already been lit, warming the space.

Felicity turned, her lips parting to say something to Aiden, but the intensity in his gaze made her falter. He stood in the doorway, one hand braced against the frame, as if battling some internal war.

“I will return later. After you have had time to bathe,” he said at last, his voice low, roughened by something she could not name.

She inclined her head. “Thank you, Aiden.”

He nodded once, then stepped back, pulling the door closed behind him. Felicity let out a slow breath, pressing a hand to her chest. This was madness. Absolute madness. And yet she had never felt so alive.

A knock at the door made her jump, but it was only the serving girl with the promised hot water. Felicity busied herself with preparing for her bath, but her thoughts were elsewhere—on the man who would return later, in this very room, undoubtedly wrestling with the same restless thoughts that now plagued her.

What would he do if she remained wrapped in nothing but a drying cloth? Would it be that easy to seduce him?

She nibbled on her bottom lip and considered her plan. Naked would be too bold, but perhaps she was not so far off the mark with that thought. A thin covering… just enough to entice him, to make him forget all propriety.

Yes, that was what she would do.

A slow smile curved her lips as she sank into the warm water. First, she would bathe. And then… then, she would see if Aiden could resist temptation.

Aiden blew out a breath and sighed. He knew he should not return to that room. It was a terrible idea to share a chamber with Felicity. She was already teetering on the edge of ruination simply by traveling with him, and if it was discovered they had shared a room at an inn—her reputation would never recover. He wanted her almost desperately, but he knew he could not have what he desired. That did not stop him from the wanting.

The need to return to her was a force he could not seem to battle. He had spent the past hour nursing an ale in the common room, attempting to quiet the tempest in his mind, but it was a futile effort. His thoughts strayed endlessly to her, to what she might be doing at that very moment. Was she still in her bath, her skin damp and warm from the water? Was she already curled beneath the blankets, her golden hair fanned over the pillows in careless disarray?

Damnation.

Aiden raked a hand through his hair and stood abruptly, startling a nearby patron. He muttered a curse under his breath and strode toward the stairs, each step taking him closer to the very temptation he had sworn to resist.

He reached the chamber door, hesitating for only a fraction of a second before turning the handle. The room was dimly lit by the flickering glow of the hearth, the scent of lavender and soap still lingering in the air. And there, standing in the center of the room, was Felicity.

Aiden’s breath lodged in his throat. She had wrapped herself in nothing but a thin drying cloth, the fabric clinging to her damp skin in a way that left little to the imagination. Her golden hair cascaded over one shoulder in loose waves, and her eyes—those stormy gray eyes—watched him with something akin to a challenge.

"You are late," she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly.

Aiden forced himself to remain rooted to the spot, when every instinct urged him to close the distance between them. "You should be in bed," he ground out. And dressed… He cursed under his breath. He had not expected to find her nearly naked, and a temptation that he could already barely resist.

She arched a brow. "I am." Her lips curved in a slow, knowing smile. "Or at least, I will be soon. If that is your concern, my lord, I am quite capable of putting myself to bed."

He was not strong enough to resist her. What man would be? He clenched his fingers into a fist at his side as he attempted to resist touching her. It was a near thing. One move, one word, and he would break and give in to her. "You are playing a dangerous game, Felicity," he warned, his voice rough.

She took a step closer, the firelight casting golden hues over her bare shoulders. "I know." She took another step, and his entire body thrummed with desire. She was a siren leading him to his own ruin.

Aiden's fists clenched at his sides. "I told you before, I am not the man you should be tempting." He was about to cave, to reach for her, and then all would be lost.

"And yet," she said softly, "you are the only man I wish to tempt."

The words struck him like a physical blow, and for a moment, all reason fled. It would be so easy—too easy—to take what she was offering. To pull her into his arms, strip away that flimsy excuse for a covering, and kiss her until they were both lost to all propriety. He wanted that, and he was ready to give in to that need.

But she did not understand what she was asking. She thought she could control this, that she could seduce him and walk away unscathed. She did not yet realize that if he took her now, there would be no walking away. His voice was taut when he spoke. "Tell me, Felicity—do you truly understand what you are asking of me?"

Her lips parted, but no sound emerged.

Aiden exhaled harshly. "This is not some harmless flirtation. If I touch you now, I will not stop." He would have her in every way a man took a woman. He would make her his, and then… Well, then she would not have any choice. This was not as simple as she believed.

Felicity swallowed hard, but she did not retreat. Instead, she lifted her chin, determination gleaming in her eyes. "Then do not stop."

A muscle ticked in Aiden’s jaw. "You think you want this because it is forbidden," he said, voice raw. "But if I take you to bed, I will make you mine. And I do not share, Felicity. If you seek only ruination, you will not find it with me. What you will find…" He stepped forward, closing the remaining distance between them. His fingers skimmed the delicate curve of her jaw, tilting her face up to his. "What you will find is that I will never let you go."

A sharp breath escaped her lips, and for the first time, uncertainty flickered in her gaze. "Aiden…"

He shook his head. "Say the word, Felicity. Tell me to walk away, and I will."

She hesitated. One heartbeat. Two. Then, with a whisper of movement, she reached up, placed her hands on his chest, and whispered, "Stay. Make me yours…"

Aiden's restraint snapped. With a groan of surrender, he crushed his lips to hers, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to the bed. If she wished to play with fire, he would gladly let them both burn. He tore that sheet away from her and then began to kiss her. He pressed his lips to hers, and then trailed his lips down to her luscious breasts. He drew one taut nipple into his mouth and sucked until she moaned.

When he lifted her, she did not resist, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his breath coming in harsh, uneven intervals as he hovered over her. "This is madness," he rasped, his forehead pressing against hers.

"Then let us be mad together," she whispered.

He swallowed hard. There was no turning back.

He slid his hand down her belly and then at the juncture of her thighs. He stroked his finger over her sensitive flesh until she became slick from his ministrations. Then he slid his finger inside of her and stroked her there until she broke from her first climax. He would ensure she had several before the night was done.

He kissed her again, reverently this time, as if memorizing every curve, every sigh, every shiver. He trailed kisses down the elegant column of her throat, to the soft swell of her breasts, savoring the way she arched beneath him, the way her breath came in shallow gasps.

Her hands roamed over his shoulders, her touch hesitant and exploring. He guided her fingers lower, over the hard planes of his chest, reveling in the way she trembled against him.

"You are certain?" he asked one final time, his voice strained with restraint.

She nodded, her lips parting. "Yes."

He stood and stripped off his clothing. Once he was done he returned to the bed and spread her thighs. Not to press his hardened arousal into her—not yet. First he had to taste her. He trailed kisses over her thighs and then settled his mouth against her entrance and licked her. She gasped and tried to move away from him, but he held her firm. He ravished her with his mouth and tongue until she climaxed again and was limp from them. It was only then that he settled over her and started to press himself inside of her.

“After this there is not going back, darling,” he told her, his voice hoarse with need.

“Don’t stop,” she said huskily.

As if he would now… Aiden groaned, trailing his mouth down her body, tasting her, worshipping her with lips and hands. When she writhed beneath him, crying out in pleasure, he knew there would be no forgetting this—no forgetting her.

She wanted this. He wanted this—wanted her. He claimed her, slowly, reverently, losing himself in the feel of her, in the way she gasped his name, in the way she welcomed him without hesitation. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers as he reveled in the feel of being joined with her. When she moved he lost all ability to think. His need took over and he began to stroke in and out of her, until he forgot where she began and he ended. Nothing had ever felt like this before. This was all new as if he had never lain with a woman before, and when he found his own release, he knew he would never be the same again.

When they both had shattered together, Aiden had known in that moment—this was no mere night of passion. She had stolen his heart, his soul, and as much as he thought she would belong to him, he knew he was also hers. Forever…