Page 20 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

C ecilia wished she could deny his accusation but she didn't answer and kept an eye on the couple tasting each other's mouths with an ardent passion. She didn't know why but the erotic scene had her blood warming.

The man's hand travelled higher on the girl's thighs and she gasped as she watched the girl squirm. She stiffened when she felt the duke step closer to her, a lone finger traveling up her thigh.

She felt her breasts get heavy, her nipples beading as desire flooded her, and pressed her knees together as heat bloomed between her thighs.

Heat travelled up her thigh as he touched her, his touch light but turning her insides. The woman gasped, head falling backwards as the man's hands began to move underneath her skirts and the man began to rain open mouthed kisses on her neck and shoulder.

The duke kissed her neck lightly then nipped her shoulder and the sensation shot to her toes and settled at her core where she felt the steady beat of a pulse.

She felt liquid heat pool at her core and desire greater than anything she had ever felt assail her.

her head fell back on his shoulder as his caresses grew bolder.

His teeth grazed her already sensitive skin and she bit her lip, worrying he would leave marks on her skin that would no doubt raise questions if her brother happened to see them. She felt his hands fist her dress as her back pushed into his front.

"Careful, little mouse," he warned. "Or I will forget you are not to be compromised."

She stiffened as she felt the prodding of something hard at her back and tried to move away but his hand moved to her neck just as the man they watched, wrapped his hand around the woman's throat.

It seemed he mirrored everything the man did to the girl on her and when the man pulled the front of the girl's dress down, she wondered if he would do the same to her.

"Come with me," he ordered, pulling her lightly.

She turned away from the couple and walked beside him until he led her into what looked like a drawing room. She looked around the room wondering why he had led her into such a space.

Music flitted through the walls and the wine flowing through her had her swaying to the rhythm. She heard the distinct sound of the door being locked and turned to him in surprise.

"I see you have predicted my purpose for bringing you here," he said with a smile.

"I have?" she asked, cocking her head.

"Indeed." He nodded, holding a hand out to her. "I brought you here to dance with me."

"Oh. Why did you have to lock the door then? We could have danced in the main hall.”

He sent her a look that seared her to her toes as she placed her hand in his.

"I do not intend for anyone to see what we're about to do," he answered.

His words gave her a sense of foreboding but she was also confused by his words.

"You said this was where people didn't care about depravity. We surely are allowed to dance without it sparking concern," she reasoned.

Excitement pooled in the pit of her belly but him being cautious about the next task had her worried. She pored over her list in her mind and wondered which of the items they could complete before the evening's end but was confused still.

"I did," he answered. "But I do not like to share. This will stay between us."

Us.

She didn't like how the word made her feel elated and nodded, feigning composure.

He definitely had something planned that she would strongly object and all the hints he had given her only attested to that fact. She steeled herself mentally before voicing her concerns.

"You're starting to scare me with your words and I am not easily frightened, Your Grace," she complained with a pout. "What have you planned?"

He smirked.

"You should have more faith in me that I only do things to bring you and I pleasure."

At the expense of my sanity, she wanted to say, but instead she nodded.

"I trust you, but you would understand my suspicion," she said with a smile. "You have consistently surprised me at every turn. I am always out of my depths on these nights."

He smiled and drew closer to her, fingering a stray lock of her hair.

"I thought you and I shared a love of surprises," he mused. "You were tired of your routine."

"I have started to reconsider that love since becoming acquainted with you."

He laughed and flicked her forehead with a finger.

"I only want to help you complete your list," he retorted. "You seem to forget that is the only reason we are acquainted. While I find our time together most pleasurable, it is not solely for my pleasure."

She hadn't forgotten that, but there was no need to answer him. Instead, she sighed, shaking her head.

"You wanted an unforgettable waltz, did you not?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Then I will give it to you," he answered. "Take off your gown."

Her brows lifted at the odd command from him. Wasn't she already in a gross state of undress?

"I do not like to be kept waiting, Cecilia," he scolded.

She took a deep breath to steady herself and pulled at the ties holding the dress together till it pooled at her feet and she was clad in only the undergarments.

She was aware of his eyes on her as she stood unclad and watched him, wondering if he intended not to undress. She pouted when she realized he made no move to do the same. She was starting to tire of being the only one always unclad and she wanted terribly to see him.

"You will not undress?" she asked, looking so innocent he almost felt guilty for corrupting her as he had been doing.

Theo shook his head and came closer.

Even though seeing her naked was one of the things he had been most looking forward to, he was still blown away by the sight of her smooth skin and lush curves.

She was so beautiful that he itched to see her spread out before him but he knew that if he had her the way he wanted to see her, there would be nothing stopping him from showing her new heights of pleasures in ways she hadn't thought possible.

She was still a noblewoman and while he had tainted her, he wouldn't compromise her. She would marry a respectable gentleman and her husband would be the one to…

The thought that she would be someone else's and have them teach her all she would know about pleasure left a bitter feeling in the pit of his stomach but he ignored it and pulled her closer to him.

"Tonight is about you, Cecilia," he answered.

She nodded and smiled, leaning into him.

He truly wanted nothing more than to feel her skin on his body was still painted brightly with bruises from his last match and the scars he had earned at the war front would no doubt have frightened her and his purpose for the evening would be defeated.

They swayed in tune with the music and for a second, a deceptive ease crept into his blood. Her body was languid as she sagged into him and he knew it was the aphrodisiac in the wine taking effect.

She clung tightly to him and guilt hit him as he looked down at her.

She should have been home, not thinking of pleasurable acts to do but thinking of the nice gentleman he had seen her conversing with and planning for their future together yet while he could have stopped her folly, he had encouraged it and tainted her with every breath he could.

"Why couldn't you just stay home like a good little maiden?" he whispered against her hair.

If she had, he wouldn't be thinking of her and ways to corrupt her even more.

He wouldn't feel the naughty delight he felt when he watched her across the room in balls beside her brother like a proper young lady would.

He wouldn't be watching her at all and thinking of all the ways to make her flush.

He had tried to stay away from her and healing from his injuries had afforded him that ability but when he had seen her at the Keiton ball, flirting and laughing with Lord Buckley, he hadn't been able to deny himself the pleasure of her company.

The man was a good choice, proper and without scandal, yet he knew the man could never see Cecilia's true potential. He could never stoke her fires the way he had or make her scream with pleasure the way he had.

It was an easy thing for him to make her uncomfortable and lure her into the library because he had seen the slight signs of boredom even if she tried hard to hide it and he had felt her eyes on him even across the room, needing.

He didn't give in when she had expected because he didn't want her under the notion that she would have a say in their arrangement. He was the one who determined the course of their affair and if he grew bored, he would end it just as quickly.

"You know very well why I cannot just stay home," she answered, pulling his gaze.

He hadn't known she had heard him.

Her eyes were glazed, her skin flushed slightly and he wondered if it was the drink or desire for him. He wanted so terribly to find out but he held himself back not knowing why.

"Young ladies do not go out chasing ruination in the name of rebellion, Cecilia," he teased with a smile because smiling was a mask that came easily to him.

It was a weapon he used to lull people into false security with him and using it with her while he didn't like it, it was a necessary thing to do with the thoughts plaguing him.

She frowned lifting a hand to his face.

"I do not like this smile on you," she told him and he stiffened. "This is the smile you give others."

He raised a brow at her.

How had she seen through his mask so easily when his friends had not?

"I smile the same as always, Cecilia. You read meaning in nothing."

She watched him a bit longer before conceding.

"You were telling me your reason for choosing such a dangerous proclivity," he reminded, needing to keep her distracted.

How had she seen through his disguise so easily?

She sighed, laying her head against his chest.

"You know how Magnus is, Your Grace, after all you are close friends."

He nodded.

"He has been protective of me since our parents died and his insistence on seeing me settled in marriage to a man who would guarantee me a safe future financially is his primary concern.

He doesn't take my happiness into account because he does not believe in marrying for love and I understand his concerns but his manner is overbearing," she complained.

"My life has never felt like my own as he has always had to have an opinion on everything.

My dress, my hair, how I eat… It has been too much for me and he has constantly frustrated my efforts on every turn to secure respectable matches that would leave me at least happy and I intend to frustrate him as well. "

"It is love that guides him as well as responsibility," he told her. "You were young when he had to care for you and it would be a pain to your late parents if he didn't see you well situated."

"I understand that," she said softly. "I truly do. I just have hated feeling like a burden he wished to be rid of."

"Has he said as much to you?"

"No," she admitted. "At least not in words. His actions say otherwise as though he wishes to be rid of me as quickly. His efforts to see me married has increased and I cannot help but wonder…"

"He doesn't see you as you think, Cecilia." He smiled. "Do not worry."

Her brows dipped in question.

"Has he said anything to you?"

"No," he answered. "But your brother, while terrible at expressing his true thoughts, is well meaning. He will no doubt mourn your absence once you are wed."

His words were true and he needed her to understand she had the option of changing her mind before they went too far and she started to resent him.

She looked thoughtful for a moment as his words began to sink in and had the desired effect on him.

"I am thankful for him and I do know he cares for me but I want to start living for myself," she answered finally with a firm look.

He nodded.

"You are lucky to have a sibling to share such grievances with," he said finally and she lifted her eyes to his.

"I do not want to speak of my brother in this moment," she said, shutting her eyes.

"What would you rather do?" he asked with a small smile. He had a suspicion but he still wanted to be sure. "You are already dancing with the most handsome duke in all England."

"You are the most arrogant," she teased with a smile but lifted her face to his.

He leaned closer, skimming her lips with his, teasing but not quite touching.

"I thought I was incorrigible?" he asked.

"That too."

She surprised him then by placing her lips on his.

Cecilia was shocked when the duke let her lead the kiss and took her time tasting his lips like she had always wanted to. He made no move to deepen to kiss or hasten it, his hands remaining chastely at her waist.

She had wondered at his probing into her reason for choosing rebellion again when she had told him severally and wondered if he was having a change of heart about helping her and hoped he wouldn't.

One of his hands tightened against her hip, the other moving to cup her jaw softly but he still didn't take the lead but allowed her. She sensed there was something different about their kiss this time but she allowed the music and the wine move her.

Her hands moved from his shoulders to his chest and one hand trailed lower in bold exploration but he stopped her with his hand on hers.

"Let's just stay here for the evening," he said. "We have had too many harried moments."

She nodded and moved her hands to his hair, enjoying the sweetness of such a simple moment.