Page 29 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)
" G ood evening, Your Grace," Cecilia greeted as she was led into his study.
Her heart soared as she watched him turn to her with a slow smile that promised nothing but decadence.
He was devilishly handsome in his manner of dress; loose fitting shirt which he had left open at the collar and revealed his beautiful chest and a pair of dark breeches that hung loosely from his hips.
Overall, it seemed he didn't want to be bothered with clothes and when he rose to meet her, she confirmed it when she spied his bare feet.
She hadn't wanted to be bothered with clothes as well but society favored gentlemen far more than women and a scandal of that magnitude would not be so easily forgotten by the ton .
She noted he walked with more ease than he had in her home. It seemed his injuries were healing rather quickly and perhaps now that she had seen the worst of them, he didn't feel the need to hide anymore.
"Good evening, Cecilia," he returned her greeting. "I wasn't sure you would be coming. You seemed so loyal to your fiancé."
She wrinkled her nose at him and folded her arms.
Would he ever put his dislike of Hector out of his mind?
"I could return home then," she said with a smile. "I'm sure Lord Hickling wouldn't mind visiting if I wrote to him so late."
She knew that was a naughty move but she had expected him to laugh and tease, not to rush up to her with startling speed, glaring as though she had said the most offensive thing ever.
His hand came to her waist and pulled her hard into his chest, his grip punishing on her jaw before he lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss that was equally punishing.
She fisted his shirt, whimpering when his teeth nipped hers painfully but she didn't want him to stop. She had missed his touch for the week they had been apart and now she was in his arms, her body sang like it had finally returned home.
When the caresses of his lips began to soften till they were just enjoying each other's caresses with no care for time, she sighed against him, leaning into him.
There was something different in this kiss and in the way his arms came up to her back, caressing gently, and she didn't mind it one bit. If they were to stay the entire evening that way, she would consider it well spent.
But he pulled away, tucking stray strands of her hair into place. For a second, she feared he would push her away but instead, he watched her. Different emotions flitted past his face faster than she could read and she wondered if perhaps she was to say something or do anything.
"What is it?" she asked, uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "Have I said something wrong?"
He shook his head cupping her face.
She resisted the urge to sigh as he had finally touched her. His palm was warm against her cheeks and she felt all her fears and worries about the coming proposal disappear.
"On the contrary, Cecilia. You are exceptionally beautiful tonight," he whispered, looking at her as though he was seeing her for the first time. "I just want to admire you."
His words stole her breath and she couldn't help but gape at him as well. He too was exceptionally beautiful but she didn't know why he looked even more so that evening.
His hair was an unruly mess as it usually was, albeit longer than she was used to and fell over his lovely green eyes which regarded her intently but she wasn't hurried to hide away.
His gaze was softer than she had ever seen it and he looked at her like a lover would and not what they had been to each other and the realization stunned her.
She liked this look.
Like she was the most beautiful thing he had seen.
It wasn't one that denoted lust or any decadent thing he wished to do to her.
It was one she didn't know how to interpret.
It was why she had taken extra care with her appearance this evening. Why she had carefully styled her hair and painted her lips.
She had known it then but she knew it now.
She wanted him to notice her beyond the girl he was teaching the pleasurable things of life.
She wanted him to notice her as a woman because she had started to notice him beyond the man he presented himself to be, the man beneath the carefree rakish facade he showed the world and she liked it. She liked him.
"Thank you, Your Grace," she told him, lowering her eyes.
He cleared his throat then.
"Shall we?" he asked, pointing a table to the side she hadn't noticed. "I prepared for the last two items on your list today and as you know, there will always be a twist."
She saw him try for a rakish smile and fail so he settled into a small smile instead and moved towards the table, eyeing the cards.
Gambling. She remembered.
"Aren't we supposed to be at a gambling den?" she asked.
"We could have but it would have been terribly boring," he answered, smiling brightly. "What I have planned is much more fun."
She raised a brow knowing that nothing good ever came from what he considered fun but she didn't protest. She was all too glad to be out of her house and doing something remarkably enjoyable.
He hadn't led her to an activity she didn't ultimately enjoy so far so she would trust him again. What was the worst he would do?
"What are the rules?" she asked as he helped her into her seat.
He smiled and sat himself, picking up the cards with long elegant fingers. She liked those fingers.
"There are only two rules tonight, Cecilia. First of all, you will not speak of your suitor or any other man," he answered, shuffling the cards with hypnotic skill.
She nodded even if his words made her smile and itch to disobey.
"And the other?" she asked. "You said there were two."
He grinned like a cat who had just cornered a mouse.
"For every game you lose, you will take off a piece of clothing," he answered.
Of course he would add such a component, but she didn't mind.
Most of their encounters left her in various states of undress so it would be no hard thing. Theo, on the other hand, had hidden his body previously and now that she had seen him once, she wanted to do so again and again. Perhaps she would get to touch him this time.
She eyed his hands as they moved the cards with speed and precision, marveling at how artistic a simple art appeared to be in his hands.
He was skillful at everything thoroughly improper, she mused and smiled softly to herself.
"If I happen to win then?" she asked.
He smirked at her as though her suggestion was ludicrous.
She folded her arms and raised a brow at him in challenge.
"If I happen to win any of these games?" she asked again.
"You will find that I am willing to do the same," he answered with a nod.
Excitement piqued in her at the possibility of winning such games even if her chances were slim. He was a more experienced player and master of deception. If she were ever to win, it would be only because he let her and not because she was particularly skilled.
Still, she wouldn't give up.
She would learn the rules and see how best to break them when the situation demanded.
After all, he wouldn't also play fair.
"You have to tell me where you learned to play so shamelessly, Cecilia," Theo commented with a frown that had her grinning broadly. "I never expected you to cheat."
It seemed her plan to play without rules had been well founded.
For the first few rounds, he had won but after she got tired of his smug smiles and tone as he demanded her to remove more layers of clothing, she decided to do what she had initially decided and now he seemed to be regretting rather seriously teaching her to play.
"I didn't expect you to play fair, Your Grace," she told him. "I am rather surprised you know how to behave so properly. It is such a rare sight."
He bared his teeth at her and folded his arms.
"I don't think I like this side of you." He frowned. "It is rather dreadful."
"Your breeches, if you will, Your Grace," she told him with a smug smile of her own. "You set the terms. It is only fair you follow them."
"You still haven't told me how you won," he reminded her, but she didn't intend to. "I had all the right cards."
So far, she had had him remove his shirt and had been distracted thirsting after his chest that was bared to her gaze and then lost to him. He had demanded she take off her dress and she had obeyed, now she was in just her chemise.
Now that she had won again, it was all too easy to decide what to demand from him. He frowned, clearly a terrible sportsman who didn't take to losing well.
"Would you rather do the penalty, Your Grace?" she asked, smirking at him. "You do not seem ready to follow the rules."
He snarled and rose, taking precious time to undo the ties and buttons holding his breeches in place.
Her breath hitched as she watched him and she was unable to hide her anticipation.
There was also a degree of smugness, taking control from him.
He had had his way so far in shocking her and making do things contrary to everything she had known without any warning.
It was his turn to feel what she had endured all the while in his power.
He had introduced the penalty when she had delayed taking off her stockings, and she had removed them, not wanting to down the abomination of a cocktail he had made of everything on his sideboard.
The smell when he had hovered it under her nose had made her retch, she didn't want to imagine what it would taste like going down her throat. He had wanted her to take a tiny sip but her glare had sufficed to change his course of action.
"I didn't take you for a coward, Your Grace," she teased when he returned to sit.
His legs were a work of art, long and with a dusting of hair that was distinctly male. She didn't dare let her eyes linger too long on the part of his anatomy that jutted proudly from behind his drawers, but she had noticed and her mouth went dry.
He was too beautiful for words.
So distinctly male yet so delicate.
He had been carved delicately and lovingly and it hurt her to imagine that soon she would be without him.
His words had been ominous earlier heralding the end of their arrangement and she bit her bottom lip as they finally registered with her. Once they ticked the last two items off her list, he would have no reason to call her to him again and she wouldn't get to see him this way anymore.
Grief hit her as she realized how terribly she was going to miss the easy camaraderie they shared beyond the other things they did.
It was one thing she hadn't found in any of the other men she had hoped to marry.
Even hector who had everything on her mental list lacked in many ways in comparison to the man in front of her.
Now that she knew all she knew about him, she didn't know how to go back to being cordial with him.
He obviously wouldn't struggle since he had never lacked female company or excitability before her and he wouldn't do so even after she left him.
There were times she wondered if he would somehow feel the same way but she would see his easy smile and it would correct the false hope she had been hiding in her heart.
"Shall we play the next round?" He asked grimly. "Just know I do not intend to let you win again."
"Have you let me win before?" she asked smugly with a smile she struggled to keep on her face.
He frowned, eyes searching her face.
She laughed and cocked her brow at him.
"Are we still playing or have you surrendered to me?" she asked.
He nodded and shuffled the cards.
They played a few more rounds till she won again.
"I don't think there's anything left on me to remove," he told her.
"I think I could name something," she said with a pointed look.
He laughed with a raised brow.
"You aren't ready for that kind of debauchment, Cecilia," he teased.
She frowned with a pout.
"Why are you still treating me like a child?" she asked. "I believe we have gone beyond that, Your Grace."
He rose from his seat and neared her with a purposeful look.
"Do you really think you can handle seeing all of me, Cecilia ?" he asked.
"I doubt it's anything I haven't seen before."
He guffawed loudly, pulling her to her feet.
"If you're this eager then I believe you're ready for our next activity," he announced. "I certainly hope you do not get cold too easily."
"What are we doing?" she asked curiously.
"Did you forget your own list?" he asked. "We're going swimming."
Her eyes widened excitedly as she looked up at him.
"Really?" she asked.
"Indeed," he answered. "You do remember the final stipulation you listed, don't you?"
Dread filled her as she realized they were heading to their last activity. After this, she would go back to the life she lived before she had stumbled into the duke.
"Can we postpone it till the morrow?" she asked, wrapping her arms around herself. "It is quite late and I'm positively exhausted."
Perhaps if he would let them postpone it, she could think of a way to negotiate keeping their friendship until she was at least married to whomever her brother decided on finally.
"No," he answered with a frown. "This is to be our final night together, Cecilia."