Page 13 of Ravished by the Beastly Duke (Regency Beasts #1)

CHAPTER 13

“ W hen have we ever done anything proper?”

Eveline raised an eyebrow at him but took his hand, nonetheless. He smiled back at her, giving her a wink that sent heat all the way down to her toes.

Since her sisters’ visit to the estate, they had grown even closer and had started sharing not just dinner but breakfast and even lunch. Eveline enjoyed their friendship, but as Magnus mock gasped and Theo mock gagged, she felt shy all of a sudden. Showing such familiarity in public had been unexpected, and having someone else express shock only served to highlight the oddity of it.

Her husband led her to the dance floor, taking his place in front of her, the playful look never leaving his eyes as he bowed. The first strains of the violin came, and they stepped close to each other, enough to touch but not quite, with their palms up facing each other.

She used to believe she could not maintain eye contact with anyone, but now, as they danced, she could not look away from him. She laughed when he did one of the particularly funny steps, gasping when he lifted her easily and spun her. But when the first dance came to an end, she did not want to stop. She loved seeing him lose himself in the music and did not want him to return to the dignified Duke he usually was.

He seemed to read her mind and took his position for the next dance, which would have them close enough to speak, and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tease him.

“I did not think you could dance.” She smiled. “And so well, in fact.”

“I learned when I was a youth, but I have not had much chance to practice after,” he answered, winking. “Perhaps now I can put my skills to good use, since I have such a beautiful partner.”

She blushed, shaking her head at his playfulness.

If anyone had told her that they would someday tease each other, she would never have believed them, but as she danced with him, holding his gaze and returning his small smiles, she knew she certainly wanted more than just friendship with him.

He spun her again, pulling her close to him, and all she could think of was what should come after such a marvelous outing.

Were she the heroine of a novel, she would have seduced him with her eyes and hands, and once they returned home, she would entice him to pleasure her, but she had yet to master those skills.

“And what has my wife looking so glum?” the Duke asked suddenly.

“It is nothing,” she answered quickly, averting her gaze.

He had a knack for sensing when she was lying simply by looking into her eyes. It was how he had beaten her at cards and coaxed some secrets she would have taken to her grave out of her.

“You and I know that is not true,” he pressed. “Tell me.”

She shook her head. “There are some matters even I must keep from you,” she told him. “And it is not because I do not trust you, but because they are embarrassing to discuss.”

“I will not judge you,” he assured her.

“I know that, but…”

“Tell me, Eveline,” he urged.

She bit her lip, knowing well she was going to tell him. She hated the way he made her name sound so exotic. Hated how much it weakened her to refuse any request he made. Hated how he knew she would give in and how she was powerless to resist him.

“I know we are now somewhat friends, but I won’t share every thought I have with you.” She frowned.

“You consider us friends?” he asked incredulously.

“Well, yes,” she answered, nodding. “Wouldn’t you describe us so?”

“Friends?” he asked again, his face contorting as though he had eaten a lemon.

“Yes, friends.” She frowned. “Why are you so fixated on the word?”

“It is nothing.” He quickly changed the topic. “Let us go back to solving your problem.”

Now, who is hiding their thoughts?

She groaned, rolling her eyes.

“Will you promise not to embarrass me?” she asked.

“Embarrass you? Why ever would I?”

“You might find what I have to say absurd.”

“I still would not embarrass you.”

She sighed. “All right. I have been wishing I was the heroine of a novel.”

He raised an eyebrow and looked like he wanted to laugh, but he schooled his features at her glare.

“Explain.”

“I was thinking about how after such a successful outing, the male protagonist would be thoroughly seduced by the female protagonist and would ravish her in some part of this estate where they are likely to be caught,” she said in one breath, not meeting his eyes.

Eveline was pleasantly surprised when he did not laugh after a long minute. She lifted her head to look at him. He had a teasing look in his eyes, but overall, he did not seem inclined to laugh.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I am surprised by your taste in books,” he answered. “You never discussed such books with me before.”

“Why would I?”

“Tell me, wife, what else have you read in those books?” he asked, leaning closer till his hot breath was fanning her ear. “Did these books describe how the heroine was ravished?”

Her cheeks flamed, as indeed the books had described in sordid detail how the heroine was ravished.

Her husband did not need her answer, for he came to his own conclusion.

“I see my assumptions were correct,” he murmured with a smile. “And I believe you want to be ravished like the female protagonist. To have your body tasted and kissed like hers had been. To have the male protagonist lift you onto a table and taste you until you are weeping for release.”

Her eyes widened at his crude words. Yes, he was whispering, but anyone could overhear them.

“You really mustn’t say such things here,” she told him. “Anyone could hear you.”

“Then you should not have broached the subject,” he chided playfully. “But now that you have, I am tempted to see if you would be as brave as the heroine of your novel.”

“I am brave,” she asserted, squaring her shoulders. “Surely you remember it is why we are now married.”

He chuckled deeply.

“You make a good argument,” he acknowledged. “But that wasn’t premeditated. This is.”

“I have never shied away from telling you my desires,” she reminded him with a frown.

It was always he who had pulled away from her and not the other way around.

“So, tell me now, wife,” he teased, baring his teeth in a wolfish grin. “What will you have me do for you?”

She stepped closer to him so she could look him squarely in the eyes, enjoying the surprise that flickered in their blue depths.

“I want you to show me pleasure, husband,” she whispered. “If I’m ever to get rid of this raging fire inside of me, it can only be by your hand.”

His eyes darkened as he took her in, and as if fate were on her side, the dance came to an end. She watched emotions flicker across his face as he silently debated whether or not to grant her request.

“It seems I will indeed grant this request,” he purred in her ear. “I will leave first. Follow me after a few minutes, but try not to make it obvious.”

She nodded, dazed that he had accepted her request. Anticipation bubbled up inside her. It was one thing to make her request and another to have it fulfilled.

She tried not to look guilty as she went to the refreshments table, watching her husband casually exit the ballroom. No one would suspect he was leaving to do something so scandalous.

Eveline counted the minutes after he stepped out of the ballroom and was about to follow when Theo’s voice stopped her.

“I know what you two are planning,” he drawled.

She turned to him with wide eyes, remembering too late that she was supposed to feign ignorance of what he suggested.

“What do you mean?” she asked, but even she sensed the truth seeping into her words.

“Oh, nothing.” He smiled. “I am glad to see my friend act so carefree, and I must thank you for it. Do be careful, so you two aren’t caught.”

“We aren’t?—”

“Go through the front doors,” he suggested. “No one would suspect otherwise if you did.”

She wanted to argue again, but she nodded her thanks instead and headed for the doors, only greeting guests who stopped her to maintain her charade.

She breathed easily once she was out of the ballroom and wandered briefly through the hallway towards the other end of the ballroom. She had not discussed with William where they would reconvene, and now she regretted her decision.

A hand shot out of the darkness, pulling her into a hallway, and before she could scream, a hand clamped over her mouth.

“Do not fret, wife. It is I,” her husband said suddenly.

“You could have just whispered my name,” she scolded, once he had taken his hand off her mouth.

Her heart was still racing with fear, but it did not compare to the anxiety she felt now that she was alone with him. She did not even know where to begin or what she would do. Even if this was enjoyable for her, would it be the same for him, despite her lack of experience?

“There would have been no fun for me,” he retorted.

She felt more than saw his smile in the dark. She squirmed at the uncomfortable sensations the darkness sent across her skin.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I do not like this space,” she answered, wrinkling her nose.

“Why? I’m perfectly comfortable.”

She rolled her eyes even though he would not see it.

“Can we leave, please?" she begged. "We will likely be caught at any moment.”

Even though she whispered, her words echoed in the small space, cutting the eerie silence as sharp as a knife through butter.

“I thought it added to the charm of our seduction?” he mused.

“You are incorrigible,” she huffed.

He laughed deeply, which caused her frown to fade. She liked making him laugh and liked the way his face transformed. It pulled at his scar. Sometimes she feared it hurt, but when she asked, he said it did not.

“We have an appointment to keep,” he murmured. “Shall we?”

He took her hand and began to lead her through the halls with hurried steps, not even bothering to ask for directions.

“How do you know where you’re going?”

“I am familiar with the Rightons’ estate because I have attended their events since I was a lad,” he answered. “Although I haven’t visited since I joined the Army, I did not forget.”

She nodded.

When he opened the door to the library, her heart raced, knowing she was about to get what she had asked for. Anticipation and fear in equal measures coursed through her bloodstream, but when he turned to her, she felt her pulse quicken all the more.

“We’re here.”

“Indeed,” she breathed, looking around the room to avoid meeting his eyes.

He stepped closer to her, but she still couldn’t look at him, wringing her hands to hide the nervousness welling up inside her.

“You seem nervous,” he noted.

She stiffened, dropping her hands. She thought she had hidden it well.

“You have no need to be.”

“I have good reason to be,” she muttered. “I do not know what to do.”

He stepped closer till there was only a scant distance between them, lifting her chin with a finger.

“You do not have to do anything.” He smiled. “Trust me to give you the pleasure you seek.”