Page 2 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

T he second she stepped into the corridor, her breath was stolen when she felt strong hands grab her and push her into a wall. She opened her mouth to protest but felt a hand cover her mouth.

Cecilia wondered if she was being robbed.

Of course it would be just her luck to have fallen prey to a robber in a place where others found love interests. Her eyes widened, struggling to adjust in the dimly lit corridor but when it did, she spied the familiar tiger mask of the man she had been following.

"What is an innocent maiden like you doing in a place like this?" he asked suddenly, releasing her from his hold though his thumb never left her face.

She felt the panic seep out of her with every swipe of his finger on her jaw but she was filled with renewed trepidation for the position they were in.

He was standing much too close to her than was proper and she could feel one very hard thigh of his between her legs. She swallowed unable to respond.

His voice betrayed no recognition and was a rich baritone that indeed confirmed he was no ordinary Englishman. His scent was heady and she itched to breathe him in deeper.

She eyed his lips, the only clearly visible feature asides his eyes and admired the fullness of them. It was curved to the side in a smile that had her lowering her eyes.

He leaned closer, breathing in her hair and stepped closer. His warmth had her heart racing in her chest and she feared he could hear how loudly it was beating in her chest. Her body felt impossibly hot even though there was a cool draft from an open window to their left.

Was there something else in the wine?

That would explain the odd sensations warring in her body.

He was barely touching her yet heat travelled from where his finger traced her skin, shooting to her nipples which she had felt harden into points as well as the core of her between her legs. She pressed her thighs together to ease the pressure but it only made it worse.

"Are you frightened, little mouse?" he asked with the smile still on his mouth. "I don't bite, contrary to what my mask seems to make you believe."

He was laughing at her, and the thought had her frowning.

How dare he?

She had lied to her brother and stolen away from polite society to such a scandalous event, showing her legs and more cleavage than she would have liked to in public, and he was laughing at her.

She lifted her eyes to his with hard resolve to not seem so small in his eyes.

"I am not scared," she spat. "You assaulted and startled me with your rough handling of my person, sir."

He laughed, loud and long, and tapped her chin.

"I have upset the little mouse." He smiled. "Perhaps you might be a kitten instead."

She pushed off the wall and tried to move away but he blocked her path.

"You might have walked in here easily, little cat, but you cannot leave just as easily," he teased. "I have been coming to these parties but no one has ever caught my interest as you have. Surely you want to know why."

She did but she didn't like him knowing he would read her so easily.

"I thank you to remove yourself from my path, sir," she advised, folding her arms so he'd know she was serious.

He grinned wolfishly.

"The kitten has claws," he drawled. "You keep fascinating me. I will tell you if you refuse to ask. You're new to the Solstice ball and as innocent as a debutante. It interests me what could dare an innocent to brave such a scandalous event."

She let out a gasp in surprise before she could think better of it and hide her reaction. How had he discerned that so easily?

She thought she had successfully hidden it.

"You are surprised I saw through you?" He smiled. His eyes looked dangerous in the candlelight and she wondered if perhaps the tiger mask had been chosen to reflect his character. "Do not worry. I just have a very perceptive eye."

She squared her shoulders stubbornly. Even if he had figured her out that didn't mean she had to answer him honestly.

Now that she knew this unchivalrous part of him, her interest was starting to wane. She didn't like a man that would laugh at her innocence to her face. To think she had wanted to kiss him.

"I have offended you," he stated. "It is hard not to do so when you won't converse with me."

"I do not want to converse with you," she told him.

"Why ever not?" he inquired. "I have been told I am much fun."

"You're rude and not at all funny," she answered, feeling no need to mince her words.

He took no offense at her tone but dropped his hand from her face.

"I haven't made a good impression on the lady," he said. "I apologize. May we begin again?"

She pouted and weighed her options.

If she returned to the hall, she would have to try to find another stranger to kiss and the thought didn't appeal to her as much.

"You will refrain from laughing at me," she stated.

He nodded. "All right."

He grinned fully then and she swallowed down pride that, despite not doing much of anything at all, she had made a man smile.

"Why are you here?" he asked. "You clearly aren't used to such scandal yet…"

"You presume to know I am an innocent."

"Do I?" he asked with a grin. "When you stepped in, you were unable to stop staring and from the way you hold yourself, it is obvious you are scandalized by what you're wearing."

His words were said with a widening smile that had her frowning again. Why was it so hard to drop his habit of laughing at her?

"You said you would stop laughing at me," she reminded him.

"I'm trying hard not to," he answered. "I find things generally amusing and the situation is amusing."

"That's not very kind."

He stepped closer, pushing her into the wall. His hand went to her thigh, pulling her into him so he could step between her legs. She gasped at how quickly he had done all this and how he hadn't sought her permission to do so.

His hand on her thigh felt impossibly hot and her body burned when he ran a finger along the underside.

"You will find no kindness in these halls, nor with me, kitten," he stated, pushing her face up to his with a lone finger under her chin.

His finger traced her lip before he pulled it back, fisting her unbound hair and bringing it to his nose.

"Most men don't come here to find brides and women don't come here to find husbands.

The only thing you can find is pleasure.

Hard and fast. No lovemaking here, so do not be misguided.

You have come to a very dangerous place and you're all alone with a dangerous man smelling as delicious as you do. "

He had such a wicked mouth that she found it hard to breathe, but she wanted to prove she was no debutante easily scared. She wasn't ignorant of what was happening in the alcoves around them.

She had sensed the danger in him since she had first seen him staring at her across the room and he hadn't frightened her then. He wouldn't frighten her now even if he kept making odd sensations flit across her body.

"I did not come to find a husband either," she said, lifting her face to his. "I am here to find my own pleasure."

He grinned and buried his nose in her neck breathing deeply. He seemed to find her scent as fascinating as she found his.

Still, his unabashed exploration of her body left much to be desired. If she weren't so shy she would do the same, but where would she even begin? She risked lifting her hands to his shoulders which drew his eyes to her hand and then her eyes.

"Oh?" he asked. "And what do you know of pleasure, little cat? Did you want to be plowed on one of the fur line seats in the alcoves or to have someone taste you until you were sopping with need? No. I doubt it. You're a debutante. All those things are to be taught by your husband."

She didn't know why but his words had her panting as liquid heat filled her most intimate place and she bit her lips to bury a moan when his thigh rubbed against her softly.

He had warned her he was a dangerous man but she hadn't listened. His body and hands were wreaking havoc on her ability to function sensibly. If he were to ravish her here and now, she wouldn't be able to utter a word of protest.

"I only wanted a kiss," she answered breathily.

"A kiss?" he mused. "Well that can be easily arranged, little cat," he said, leaning closer till there was barely any distance between their lips. "All you have to do is ask."

"A…ask?" she stuttered.

"That is what I said," he replied. "Ask me to kiss you. You were bold enough to brave these halls, you should be bold enough to ask what you want."

"Kiss me then," she challenged. "You want to. It shall please both of us."

He laughed and buried his hand in her hair again, breathing her in.

"You are one funny woman and you smell so delicious and so familiar," He said. "You even sound like her but she is a good little debutante and won't be out looking for strangers to kiss. She would be…"

He paused as though realizing something and his mouth dipped in a frown but before she could say anything, he ripped off her mask.

She placed a hand over her face but it was too late. He had seen her.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" he asked angrily.

Did he know her?

"Answer me now or I swear to God," he spat, too furious to even finish his threat. "You're supposed to be at home."

"I… I…"

"Shite!" he cursed.

"Do you know me?"

He scoffed and took off his mask and she gasped.

The man she had almost kissed was none other than the Duke of Emerton, one of her brother's best friends?

To think Lily had said her reputation would be safe.

He looked down at her thigh still in his hand and dropped it, stepping away from her.

She could feel the anger coming off him in waves and wanted to leave but he stopped her with a glare.

"Don't you dare!" he warned. "You will stay here and tell me exactly how you got invited to this party and then I will take you home before you're hurt."

She noted he was careful not to use her name in case anyone they knew happened to be passing by. She was thankful but she felt mortified that her brother's friend had seen her behave so improperly.

Now the extent of what had just happened between them hit her and she bit her lip as mortification filled her. How could she ever hope to face him in polite society knowing just how wicked his mouth was?

"I do not think that is necessary."

If he were to take her home dressed as she was and her brother discovered her, she would no doubt be shipped to the country or worse.

"Necessary?" he snapped. "I could have ravished you. I have… Shite. How do you expect me to look at your brother after all this? Christ, he is going to kill me if I tell him."

She turned away from him stubbornly and crossed her arms. She was embarrassed too but there was hardly any need for the theatrics he was displaying.

"You can keep this between us," she told him. "I intend to put this behind me and I suggest you do the same."

"Like it is an easy thing to do," he sneered. "I nearly ruined one of best friend's sister."

"I am hardly ruined, thank you," she spat. "And you know how irrational he can be in his anger. How do you think he would react to you informing him of this? He would most likely demand you marry me and that is hardly what is best for both of us."

She saw how her words drove him to think but didn't ease the anger in his gaze.

"How did you know it was me?" she probed. "You've hardly seen me."

"Your scent," he stated. "I never forget a scent and you have a unique one. It was your voice I… How didn't I know it earlier? I kept trying to understand why I smelt your perfume here."

That was a mistake she had made.

She blended her own scent and had favored the scent since she had curated it. She should have used a different scent but it would no doubt have ended in the same result. He was much too perceptive.

"You should return home now. This is not a place for you."

"Why?" she asked. "I am hardly in any danger."

"Hardly in any danger? I nearly ravished you. Do you think the next man you meet will be a gentleman?"

"I do not intend to let things go that far," she argued.

"This is not the place to decide that. This isn't where you come to get only a kiss."

She frowned.

He was being unfair.

He was putting all the blame on her as if he hadn't been the one to touch her without asking. He was the scoundrel he was trying to warn her off.

How had she not suspected he would be in attendance of such a scandalous event?

Unlike the rest of her brother's friends who were known social recluses, he was a renowned rake and reprobate and her brother had never let her stay too long with him. He didn't trust him. If he were to ever learn of what happened between them, it might end very poorly.

Still, the little she had seen of the Duke of Emerton, he had been charming and flirty with a ready smile and joke. This strict man before her was surprising.

"You should know I am only sending you home for your good," he told her softly. "You should be in respectable places searching for a husband."

"You and I both know I have no say in my future," she muttered angrily.

"That is still not an excuse to take such risks," he scolded. "You could get hurt."

"I do not need another lecture from you, Your Grace." She curtsied. "I get enough of that from my brother."

She frowned and stormed off not caring if it was rude. He had ruined the night for her and she still hadn't gotten the kiss she wanted. It didn't matter what he said, she would be trying again even if not tonight.

"Where have you been?" Lily asked rushing up to her. "I have been looking all over for you. I feared the worst had happened. Are you alright? You look positively red."

"I am well. May we leave now?" she asked, sparing a glance at the corridor she had just emerged from. "I find that I have a headache."

"It's a little early and…"

"Please, Lily," she begged.

She didn't think she wanted to stay one second longer not when she was so terribly humiliated and upset.

"All right," Lily answered. "Were you able to get your kiss?"

Cecilia shook her head with a sigh.

"I won't ask questions but I expect you to tell me in time."

She nodded and trailed behind her friend without sparing a glance back at the house. She should have known that she wouldn't be so lucky to escape such an encounter unscathed.

It wasn't until they were in a hansom that she breathed easily again.