Page 63 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
"I will see you tomorrow or not at all, Cecilia," he told her, leaving her breathless as he stepped out into the corridor and outside to his waiting carriage. "It is in your hands to decide if you want to endure another boring night with thetonor enjoy something pleasurable with me."
CHAPTER 22
"Good 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 theton.
She noted he walked with more ease than he had in her home. It seemed his injuries were healing rather quickly and perhapsnow 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 soloyalto 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 façade he showed the world and she liked it. She liked him.
