Page 33 of My Dark Duke

The duke’s eyes were dark with desire; a blue as stormy as the sea. He held her gaze as his fingers moved across her bodice, searching for the nub of her nipple. When he found it, he smiled up at her - a wolfish grin - and squeezed it gently.

Lillian moaned with longing, thrusting her chest towards him, begging to be touched.

Thorncastle obliged and with great deftness, plunged his hand into the bodice and lifted her breasts so that they spilled out, ready for his attention.

She gasped as she felt the cool air on her skin. It felt deliciously wanton to be so exposed inside the carriage, as it moved through the streets of London.

The duke tugged her downwards, capturing one of her nipples in his mouth. Her hips bucked of their own volition, as she felt his tongue upon her aching nub. She was seated now atop his manhood and only his breeches and her drawers were protecting her maidenhead from its destruction.

She bucked against him as he suckled on her nipple, savouring the tingles of pleasure the friction brought.

If only…

The carriage came to an abrupt stop, throwing Lillian forward.

“Careful,” Thorncastle said, as his hands wrapped around her waist to steady her. The sudden jolt had awoken Lillian from her dazed desire, and she was overcome by a fit of modesty.

“Forgive me,” she whispered, as she slipped from his lap.

Her hands worked furiously, pulling up the bodice of her dress, in an attempt to conceal her breasts.

“Forgive you?” The duke raised a brow. “I should be on my knees thanking you. That was, by far, the most enjoyable carriage drive of my life.”

As he spoke, his hands worked to assist Lillian back into her dress. It appeared he had a talent for both dressing and undressing women.

“You’re perfect,” he assured her. “No one would ever guess.”

She nodded, too dazed to make an actual reply. The duke fixed her cape, so it sat over her dress, concealing her completely.

“It’s cold,” he said, before adding with a frown, “And I don’t like to share.”

A knock upon the carriage door signaled the arrival of Higgins.

“Open,” Thorncastle ordered, his voice surprisingly calm.

Lillian inwardly wondered at his composure; was an amorous encounter in a carriage not such an unusual occurrence for the duke?

He disembarked first and held out a hand to help Lillian down. Her jealous musings on Thorncastle’s previous romantic liaisons came to a halt as she witnessed the whirl of activity before her.

Crowds of people made their way towards the Coach House Gates - the entrance of choice for those unable to make the journey by boat - which was lit up like a beacon against the dark night’s sky. The sound of revelry and orchestral music drifted out from within, adding to the palpable air of excitement amongst the crowd. “Hold on tight,” the duke commanded, as he tucked her arm under his.

He led her through the crowds of people walking toward the entrance gates. As they moved, Lillian saw the attendees were not all as glamorous as she had first thought.

Peddlers, lightskirts, and hawkers mixed freely amongst the crowd. One man, with a Bible in hand, cried out for the salvation of the souls present. Beside him, a woman

It was a mass of colour, sounds, and smells, and Lillian felt almost giddy as her senses were assaulted by the scene before her.

At the gate, Thorncastle presented their vouchers, and they were whisked away from themilieutoward a private dining box.

Lillian held tight to Thorncastle as they walked the gravel paths, which were bound by topiary hedges and trees. Their way was illuminated by an endless number of lanterns, arranged in different figures of suns, stars, and constellations. Around them, the air was filled with the sound of mirth, laughter, and freedom.

Lillian felt as though she was floating, such was the lightness within her. All the pain, darkness, and misery of the past month floated away from her body, ebbed along by the joy of the crowd.

At last, they arrived at their supper box, a colonnade decorated with paintings and hangings. The table faced out, so they could view the comings and goings of those outside.

Thorncastle pulled out a chair for Lillian and once she was seated, took the seat beside her.

“What do you think?” he queried, as the waiter filled up their glasses with a rich, red Claret.

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