Page 51 of The Duke's Ultimatum

“Why thank you, Mr. Riggins. I wasn’t sure of the color.” She dipped her head as she brushed a curl away from her face.

The same bullish energy she felt when she touched Michael’s arm came rushing back at her.

“Oh no, I feel yellow is a welcoming color, and it suits you beautifully.”

Eleanor raised her head, tilting it just so to give a coy smile. “You are too kind, Mr. Riggins.”

“Eleanor.” Graynor’s voice was lined with authority. “I completely forgot your mother was looking for you. Come, I will take you to her.”

Eleanor looked at the Duke questioningly as he pulled her from the conversation.

She tried asking why he abruptly stole her from a conversation, again, but there were too many people the Duke was weaving in and out of, so he couldn’t hear her.

He pulled her through the main hallway, past people milling around chatting, some casting curious looks in their direction. She spotted her mother, but the Duke kept walking.

He steps quickened, pulling her away before she could call to her mother. Eleanor looked behind them and noticed they were now alone. Nervous panic set in, and she started to tug on her arm.

“Your Grace, what are?—”

Her body was pushed up against the wall, her hands cuffed above her head, and her eyes were staring into dark pools of liquid fire.

“Do not ask me what I am doing. What are you doing?” He was so close, his breath mingled with hers.

“I was talking to friends, and you, again, rudely pulled me from the conversation.”

A wicked grin pulled at the Duke’s lips. “Oh, no, you were not just talking.”

Eleanor furrowed her brow. “What are you insinuating, Your Grace?”

“You were flirting.”

Eleanor risked a laugh. “Someone told me I needed to find a husband by the end of the season. How am I to do that without a little flirting? No one would be interested in a droll wallflower.”

Graynor squeezed his eyes shut. “You were doing more than simple flirting, and you know it.”

“I know no such thing! Why?—”

Her words were swallowed up in a violent kiss. The Duke pushed his body up against hers, pinning her between the wall and his hard body.

Eleanor could not help but give into the kiss. Her upbringing was trying to ring the alarm bells while her instincts chose to tune the noises out.

Her body reacted by pulling against her restrained hands. She wanted to touch him. Explore him.

He wedged a knee in between her legs and pushed up. A shock of electricity shot through her body. Her moan was muffled in his kisses. He pulled his leg back only to do it again. Her body began to move to a rhythm only he and she knew. Delicious energy swirled within her core begging for more.

Mercifully, the Duke let go of her hands, so his could roam her body. He massaged her breast with one hand as the other traced the side of her body, eliciting a gasp. She squirmed under his touch as his kisses left her mouth and trailed down her throat.

One of her hands threaded in his hair and held his head in place as he sucked, nibbled, and kissed her neck. His other hand was finding its way to underneath her skirts.

“What is it that you do to me?” His voice was hot and raspy in her ear. “You make me lose control. I am not one to be out of control.”

Eleanor’s words were incoherent in her mind. The only way she could communicate was through moans and gasps now. All words were lost to her.

Graynor grabbed her and turned them, so his back was to the wall and her back was to his chest.

“Look. Do you see us in the window, Eleanor?” Graynor’s hand found the apex between her thighs and began to rub gently, sending bright colors of light to explode behind her closed eyelids.

Eleanor’s eyes were closed, concentrating on every new feeling her body was experiencing.

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