Page 41 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

The ladies, children, and older gentlemen of the ton had lined the field of play, setting up chairs or blankets on the grass. Excited chatter filled the air as the teams faced each other. Calls of encouragement to their favorite team members could be heard above the general noise. Percy and Cecil exchanged a nod of determination then faced off against the bowling team.

The bowling team wore matching looks of determination on their faces. While Percy and Cecil would run between the wickets as long as the ball was in play, the bowling team would be doing everything in their power to either catch the ball, hit the wicket, or run them out. The inning would not end until the bowling team finished their bowls or the batting team had ten men out. Whoever had the most points at the end would win.

The bowler stepped up and bowled the ball to Percy with a straight arm. The bowler had good form. It was clear that he had done this many times before. The ball bounced off of the ground, but Percy did not allow that to deter him. He hit the ball and took off running. Cecil also took off running, and they grinned at one another as they passed each other on the way to the opposite wicket. Their friends and family cheered them on with every step.

Percy caught sight of Madeleine out of the corner of his eye, cheering her brother on. He loved it when she smiled. It completely transformed her face with the radiance of the sun. Turning his attention back to the game, he poured all of his energy into running. He had no intention of losing this game in front of her.

When the game came to an end, Percy’s team had won by a rather large margin, but all took it with good humor as was expected of any respectable sportsman. Percy, Cecil, Charles, and the Earl all came over to join the Countess, Emily, and Madeleine on their blanket. The ladies had set out a picnic luncheon which their respective menfolk greatly appreciated. The men gulped down water and gobbled up the food as if they had been starving in the desert.

“You did well,” the Countess praised them, giving each a smile of familial pride.

The Earl nodded, grunting with pleasure. “We did the family proud, I must admit. We had a good team captain.”

Percy shook his head. “We had a good team.”

“You were all extraordinary,” the Countess reiterated.

“It was very exciting,” Emily admitted, giving her husband a flirtatious look that he returned with a smile and a covert kiss.

Madeleine could barely keep her eyes from Percy. The men had removed their coats in the heat of play, but those who had run were glistening with sweat in spite of the cool day. Percy’s white shirt had grown damp with perspiration and was clinging to the muscles of his chest, shoulders, and arms. The dampness of his shirt and the coolness of the air caused his muscles to project through the fabric. She imagined her hands stroking the musculature of his body as her fingers played along his chest.

When Percy caught her looking at him, she swallowed hard and quickly looked away. She busied herself with the food on her plate so that she would not be tempted to stare at him. “Did you enjoy the match?” Percy asked her, drawing her attention back to him.

“I did,” she admitted, nodding. His eyes caught hers, and he gave her a knowing look. She blushed and averted her eyes once more. She found his gaze to be unnerving.It is as if he knows what I am thinking. I hope that he does not know what I am thinking.She could feel her blush deepening.

“Are you well, Madeleine? You are flushed,” the Countess asked in concern.

“It is probably the sun,” the Earl replied on her behalf, oblivious to the undercurrents between Percy and Madeleine. “You should seek shelter under your parasol.”

“Indeed,” the Countess murmured, clearly not convinced. The day was not warm enough to be flushed from heat unless one had been undergoing great exertion such as the runners on thecricket field. She eyed Madeleine carefully, causing her blush to deepen even further.

“Perhaps a stroll in the shade would do her some good,” Percy suggested, standing, and offering her his hand. “I shall accompany her to ensure her wellbeing.”

“Very well,” the Earl waved his permission, and Madeleine accepted Percy’s hand.

Rising from the ground, she allowed Percy to lead her away from the gathered assemblage of families to the edge of the woods. They could still be seen by the rest of the ton, but they were far enough away not to be overheard. “What were you thinking about back there? Were you thinking about our time together in the garden?”

Madeleine’s blush returned, just as it had begun to fade. “No,” she protested.

“I was,” he admitted, giving her a lust-filled look.

Something hotter than the sun burned in her lower belly as she caught it. It caused an aching pleasure between her legs, and much like the night they were in garden, she felt wetness begin to form little rivers to run down her inner thighs.

She licked her lips. It was something that in her right senses she knew she would never do, but the motion was so primal, so basic in terms of instinct, that she did not even know she did it. Thatwas, until she saw his eyes drop down to her lips and watched with yearning as his pupils dilated, eating away that forest green until they were nearly black.

His bottom lip then dropped away slightly, as if his jaw had suddenly become unhingedjustslightly. It revealed his white lower teeth… and his reddened tongue. Her breath hitched as she then watched a bead of saliva slowly slide down his tongue from base to tip. When it reached its destination, Percy’s tongue slowly narrowed into a small tip, and then his lips unhurriedly closed before she saw his Adam’s bob as he leisurely swallowed.

Madeleine blinked quickly, her head shaking left to right as she finally remembered to draw air into her lungs. She drew in several deep breaths in a row, causing her to feel dizzy. With shaking hands, she snapped her fan open, desperate for its aid.

When had they stopped walking? Where were they? How long had they stood there? She took a look around, desperate for her bearings, and realized with both excitement and dread that they were somehow away from the others enough to not see them.

“You should not be thinking of such things,” she said in a whispered rush, fluttering her fan faster. “Weshouldnot be discussing such things. What we did was wrong and could ruin us both.”

Percy’s left brow slowly rose upward. Without a word, he reached out and clasped his hand around the one working her fan. Madeleine gasped at the touch, but before she could think ofwhat to do about it, his hand was drawing away and taking her fan with it.

Madeleine was taken aback by the sincerity of the gesture as she began to feel strong, powerful gusts fan over face. It much more refreshing than the weak, fluttering ones she was capable of currently, and she closed her eyes briefly to the comfort of it.

“Do you truly believe that?” Percy asked, his tone low, deep.

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