Page 89 of The Duke's Wicked Widow
“Come in,” came Ellie’s voice from inside.
She didn’tsoundnaked.
He pushed open the door and had to admit, there was a little burst of disappointment when he saw she was fully clothed.
“Just…a…moment…” she muttered, more to herself than to him.
She was bent over a desk which had been pulled from its usual spot to right in front of the window—did she do that herself? The shutters were open to allow in the most light, and the desktop was strewn with papers and clippings and what looked like newspapers. Newspapers?
“If P is E, then…fook!” she blurted, tossing down the pencil and straightening.
Fawkes couldn’t help it; he was so surprised to hear that word come from her lips that a chuckle startled him. Judging from the way she twisted in her seat, it startled her too.
“Fawkes!” She pushed herself to her feet. “I—I did not realize…”
“Nay, I’m sorry, lass.” He stepped into the room, closer to her. “I should’ve announced myself. I didnae expect to find ye so deep in thought…or so foul-mouthed about it,” he teased.
She blushed, which of course had been his intent. As he clasped his hands behind his back and stepped up to the desk—pretending interest in her work—she made the most adorably awkward sounds, flapping her hands about in explanation.
“I am sorry. How terribly rude of me—wait.Whyam I apologizing? I learned it from you.”
He sent her a grin, one which caused her to pause and stare. “I was just teasing ye, Ellie. What are ye working on?”
She hesitated, peering at him suspiciously, as if uncertain he was still teasing. “I…puzzles. I enjoy doing them when I need a distraction.”
“And do ye?” Fawkes raised a brow in challenge. “Need a distraction?”
Her cheeks were still pink but she lifted her chin almost defiantly. “I have been rather…preoccupied. Since yesterday.”
Dare he hope because she’d been thinking about that almost-kiss?
Fawkesknewshe’d found pleasure in his arms—he’d made certain of it. And she’d claimed she’dlikedhis roughness, those things he’d done to her in that alleyway.
But could she be thinking about it as much as he was?
Unwilling to abandon the teasing mood, he nodded solemnly. “Ever since I mentioned yer lovely smile?”
As expected, her fingers rose to rest against her upper lip, covering her non-existent smile, and she looked away. “I know I am not…”
When she trailed off, he reached up and gently took her hand, moving it away from her mouth. Her gaze shot to him but she said nothing, even when he twined his fingers through hers.
“It wasnae a lie, Ellie,” he murmured. “Yer smile isnae perfect, but itislovely. I dinnae ken who made ye believe ye have to be perfect in order to be beautiful, but he’s more of a bastard than I am.”
Her lips had formed an adorable little “oh”, but she said nothing. He smiled. Her blush deepened.
“Ye ken when ye’re loveliest?”
Mutely, wide-eyed, she shook her head.
“When ye’re laughing. Ye ken when ye’re second-loveliest?”
She just stared, and his grin grew wicked.
“When ye’re orgasming, squeezing around my cock, breathless and amazed.”
Unless he was mistaken, Ellie had quit breathing.
As if he hadn’t just shocked her breathless, he turned back to the table—without loosing her hand. “Now, what’s all this? A puzzle? To distract ye?”
