Page 43 of Her Devil of a Duke
Various candlesticks in a myriad of holders filled the room. Some on the mantelpiece over the burning fire, others on tables and surrounding a carafe of brandy he had brought up for the pair of them.
“Rafe,” she whispered, turning her head back and forth as she admired it all. “It is beautiful.”
“It’s for you,” he murmured, locking the door to make sure they could not be disturbed. He walked toward her, sliding a hand across her waist as he had done countless times before. So intoxicated by that touch, she angled her head to the side, giving him the space to kiss down her neck. He took the hint and did so, nipping playfully just beneath her ear. “Perfection. You do understand that I have nothing left to teach you.”
“Nothing?” Her stomach tightened. She didn’t want to think of their lessons coming to an end. Surely that would then mean when the snow thawed, he would send her home.
But… I do not want to leave.
She rested her hand over his on her waist, realizing something that seemed mad. If she had ever been told it was possible for a heart to attach itself to another so completely within such a short amount of time, she’d think the notion mad, but suddenly, it was not mad at all.
For it has happened, has it not?
Her fingers entwined with Rafe’s and he was reluctant to release her.
“You have seduced me so expertly, many, many times, Evie,” he continued to whisper in her ear between kisses, moving down her neck. “And you in this dress… ah.” He sighed, his chest rumbling and vibrating behind her. “It is the most delectable thing.”
Pray, do not send me away!
“I have a plan. Something that I think you might like tonight.” He released her and moved to the table.
Evelyn held onto her hope as she followed him. He hadn’t said ‘for our last night’ or anything that might have intimated it was their last one together. Instead, he beckoned her to follow him where he poured out two brandy glasses, presenting one to her. As they chinked glasses, she took a small sip, her gaze holding his the entire time. When he returned his glass to the table, he perched on the very edge.
“I have a surprise.”
“What sort of surprise?” She moved toward him. He slid his legs apart, creating the perfect space for her to stand between.
A hint of jealousy coiled in her stomach, and she wondered how many other ladies he’d had in this room, surrounded by candles, with brandy in fine crystal glasses as he talked of surprises.
Why is it that I wish to be the only one? How is it I can be falling in love with him after so short amount of time?
She couldn’t answer her own questions as her thoughts ran wild. All she knew was that she was attached to Rafe, so completely, and it was not something she could pull herself back from.
“One we can have fun with.” He reached behind him and moved the decanter, lifting it to the side to reveal a strip of black silk that had been folded up and hidden beneath it. He took the edge of the strip in his hands and held it high, allowing the material to unfold.
“The blindfold?” she repeated with a giggle. “What did you have in mind for that?”
“Something mischievous indeed.” He smirked boyishly and held it between them. “It is your choice, which of us would you like to wear the blindfold first?”
The fact he put the power into her hands was thrilling. She downed what was in the brandy glass and then placed it on the table beside him. She took the strip from him and turned it over between her palms, thinking what she could do to him if he wore it first. Yet the possibility of her being the one to wear it was equally thrilling. She would not know what he was going to do to her – the focus would be on feeling alone.
“You wear it first,” she pleaded and held the blindfold up toward him.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Rafe took the blindfold from her, finding it impossible to hold back his smile as he wrapped the material around his head, tying it behind his dark blonde hair.
“You have full control, Evie,” he said with a deep voice. “I’m yours to toy with.”
“Ah, Rafe,” she sighed with a happy moan.
Rafe didn’t know what he was going to do about Evie. He’d heard from his groundskeeper that evening that the snow was beginning to thaw. The next day, it was likely that a horse would be able to get through, maybe even a horse and cart, yet Rafe had no wish to lose Evie just yet. He tried to come up in his mind various ways he could keep her in the castle.
Since she had appeared, he’d been happy. Every day had been different, either full of their shared excitement, or just talking together, running on from one conversation to the next with ease.
When she slept beside him, he didn’t dream of the past, but looked to the future instead.
What am I going to do with you, Evie?
