Page 49 of The Duke's Vice

Without a second thought she stepped through the door, pulling it shut. She pulled the curtain that covered the door in place. Asher eyes adjusted to the darkened box, she noted the Duke didn’t fully turn to meet her, only turned his head slightly to the empty seat next to him.

Her heart was pounding in her ears as she cautiously stepped towards the empty chair. Her knees were wobbly and she was afraid they’d give out before she even made it the three measly steps that were needed.

Her body was a tight ball of nerves as she lowered herself into the chair. She thought for sure he would be able to hear her heart beating within her chest.

“Ah, Lady Mouse, funny finding you here.”

Beatrice swallowed over the lump forming in her dry throat.

“You invited me, did you not?”

Graham chuckled lowly, its sound winding around her like a warm blanket.

“I did say our next meeting would be at the opera. I was curious if you would take the initiative or if I needed to formally invite you.”

Beatrice sat still, her eyes unfocused on the actors on the stage. They were bright blobs of moving colors to her. While her eyes were trained on them, her mind was directed to the man next to her. Every breath he exhaled, every shift in his body felt as ifit was being projected right into her mind, causing her to be on high alert.

“I must say, I am quite impressed you came to find me and not the other way around.”

Beatrice pushed out a breath. If only he knew that just by looking at her he had called to her. The more time she spent with him the more she doubted she had any control of her body.

It was both terrifying and exhilarating. She had always been a big proponent of women’s rights but always fighting to be seen was exhausting. To be in the sights of someone who was looking for you was intoxicating.

Beatrice made a mental note to remember why she was doing this. He was simply a means to an end. She wanted, no, needed her list to be completed so she felt ready to face the world as an experienced, and single, woman.

She turned to face him. “Why are you sitting in the back row?”

Graham rose his eyebrow sardonically. “My, my, my. I take you to one voyeuristic party and all of a sudden you’re ready to steal the spotlight from the actors.”

Beatrice shook her head as she rolled her eyes. “I have no intention of stealing anyone’s spotlight.”

Graham lifted his arm and laid it across the back of her chair. She felt the heat of his body as it opened to her. She wanted desperately to lean into his side but she was unsure of what she should do.

The scene from the book, so vivid in her mind a few moments ago, was completely lost to her now. She couldn’t remember what the woman did, if she instigated the scene or if the man did.

Was the Duke expecting her to play the woman’s part as portrayed in the book? She couldn’t remember how it went.

“I can practically hear you thinking.” Graham murmured in her ear.

As she tried to formulate a response, her mind received a sensation alert from her shoulder. Beatrice turned her head slightly to her left to see the Duke’s finger drawing lazy circles on her skin.

Goosebumps erupted and she shivered.

“Cold?”

Beatrice shook her head ‘no.’ She felt like a complete dolt. Perhaps she was not ready for this. Disappointment and embarrassment mixed within her. She felt this way at the midnight party as well. How many more times must she feel like this to realize that perhaps her mother was right?

Beatrice felt the Duke shift beside her. When she turned, she found his eyes watching her.

“I think I agree with your mother.”

Beatrice’s eyes widened, horrified.

“You think too much, it must be from all the reading you do.” Graham’s words came out with a smirk.

She opened her mouth to reply but it was captured by his. Shock at the quick contact quickly dissolved into want.

Beatrice pressed her body into his as her hands came to his chest. Graham pulled her tighter, his one hand rested at the back of her neck, while his other one grabbed her outer thigh.

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