Page 9 of Duke of Wickedness
The duke’s dark laugh sent a shiver down her spine, though not one that she found unpleasant. Instead, she had the immediate sense that she would like to feel that kind of shivery feeling again.
“There is nothing here for you, little bird,” he said. “Nothing that you need to see here.”
“I told you to stop calling me that,” she protested. He stepped forward again. “And it isn’t up to you what I do or do not see.”
Another step. Even in the dim light, she could now see the gleam of challenge in his hazel eyes.
“I think,” he said, voice low, “that you will find that itisup to me what you do or do not see in my own house. Just as it is up to me what I call you—little bird.”
The last words came out lilting, mocking. Ariadne wanted to be furious about that, but instead she felt hot. Her stays were suddenly too tight.
Part of her wasn’t even certain why she was pushing so hard about this. It would have been far wiser to scurry along back to her carriage, to return home and to pray that the duke never mentioned this to Percy. But there was another part—a stronger, louder, more determined part—thatneededto know.
“I won’t tell anyone about it,” she breathed. “I—whatever is going on in there. I won’t interfere. I won’t ruin it.”
The duke had crept forward so slowly, so purposefully, that she had scarcely realized that he was within arm’s distance until he grabbed her swiftly around the waist, turning her so that he was between her and the door. They were pressed together in an instant, her hands to his chest, his arm wrapped securely around her, his face mere inches from hers.
“No,” he told her. “Butwemight ruinyou.”
If these words weren’t arresting enough, it was then that she saw it. The windows were covered by heavy curtains; that was what had kept the light inside. But someone moved past one of them, dislodging it just a little, letting some illumination spill out…
And letting Ariadne catch a glimpse inside.
“Oh,” she breathed. “Oh.”
Even as David cursed inwardly, he took a moment to appreciate howdelectablelittle Lady Ariadne Lightholder looked as she took in the scene of debauchery before her.
Not that she was so little anymore, was she? Lady Ariadne had never been someone to whom David had played a great deal of attention; when he had invited her to that house party several years prior, she’d been fresh off her debut Season and altogether too young and innocent for David’s tastes. He had only invited her to get to Catherine, whom he’d suspected would make a good fit for his friend Percy.
Not that any of them ever thanked him enough for how right he had been about that.
Now, though, he was noticing. And it wasn’t just that she was pretty—though she was that, with her shining golden hair and her wide, blue eyes.
It was the curiosity. He’d always had a weakness for curious women with adventurous spirits.
Still, he reminded himself as he struggled to resist stealing a peek down at where her breasts were crushed oh so sweetly against his chest. She was not for him. She was not forthis.
It was hard to remember, however, as she stared through the gap in the curtains to watch a woman, naked down to her waist, ride the gentleman beneath her, the place where they were joined obscured by her skirts. The man’s expression was filthy, his head thrown back in apparent pain and ecstasy as the woman seized him by the hair and pulled his mouth up to hers for a probing kiss.
“Oh…my,” Lady Ariadne said again.
David positioned himself between her and the window.
“There,” he said, his voice calmer than his emotions. “Now you know, you cheeky girl.”
Her bright gaze shot up to meet his, her cheeks a fetching bloom of pink.
“What was that in there?” she demanded, her breathlessness somewhat undermining the authority she was clearly seeking to access.
He gave her a knowing smirk, one designed to irritate her. Indeed, her cheeks flushed darker.
“I am sympathetic to your plight, little bird,” he crooned, watching her lashes flutter at the nickname. So she didn’t hate it as much as she claimed, then, did she? “You’ve always been a good girl, haven’t you? You’ve always followed the rules, stayed quiet, not made a nuisance of yourself.”
He couldn’t resist reaching up and caressing her cheek, just one swipe of his thumb against the curve of her face. “But that means you are far from ready to throw yourself into the belly of the beast, sweet girl. You would only be chewed up and spit out.”
“But—” She paused, her tongue darting out to wet her lower lip. It took all of David’s control not to groan. Oh, but shewastempting. He’d meant what he said, however. This was far too much for someone like Lady Ariadne Lightholder. The kind of debauchery that happened at his parties was for the experienced hedonist, not for this sweet, little neophyte.
“But what if I don’t want to be good anymore?” she asked quietly.
