Page 12 of Her Duke of Sin: Lady Be Wicked
“You do not need to prove anything to me,” she snapped out. “You’re a duke and I am…”
“Everything,” he said. “A title isn’t who I am, Juliette. It’s just something I have by an accident of birth. What would I be if I had been born a pauper’s son? Would I be nothing then?”
She frowned. “None of that matters because you’re not a pauper’s son.”
“Would you like me better if I renounced my title?” He stared at her intently. “Or have I already lost any chance of earning your respect?”
“Your title is not important.” She frowned. “Not to me.” Juliette had never looked at him and saw the Duke of Sinbrough. He had the arrogance of a duke and more, but he wasn’t just one thing to her. “You don’t need to stop being a duke for me.”
He smiled. “I suppose that is good because I doubt I could without dying.” Gideon shrugged. “I want you.” Gideon said it as if that was enough to make it so. “But I understand why you would be reluctant to become involved with me.” He sighed. “That is not why I’m here, either. That kiss…” Gideon closed his eyes and blew out a breath. “It devastated me…” When he opened his eyes, that desire she’d felt earlier blazed within them. “I did not come here for that. We were supposed to spend the evening together. I had plans, and you disappeared on me.”
Juliette didn’t know what to make of any of that. She had loved that kiss too, and she had to be honest with herself. She wanted him, too. He was everything she had always wanted but never dared to hope for. If she was going to be a spinster for the rest of her life, shouldn’t she have at least one night to reminisce about? One night where she good look back and smile. One night of passion to keep her warm on the cold nights she spent alone?
“I am sorry,” she whispered. “My fear sent me running. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You never need to be afraid of me,” he said. “What can I do to ease your concerns? Tell me and I’ll make it happen. You’re far too important to me to dismiss any of your feelings.”
This was all too much. He made her feel so many things all out at once. Perhaps she should shift their focus onto something more attainable. They also needed to relocate to a room that was not her bedchamber. With the bed so close, she was starting to consider all the possibilities and wonder if the gossip about his prowess as a lover was true. “You needn’t worry about me.” She stared into his eyes. “I won’t run anymore.”
“Good,” he said in a firm tone. “Now about my plans…”
Her lips twitched. “You still wish to spend the evening with me?”
The wicked grin that filled his handsome face should have worried her. Instead, it filled her with anticipation. “Darling Juliette,” he began. “I want to spend every evening with you.”
She swallowed hard. Lord help her… She wanted that, too. “Then perhaps we should make a slight change of plans.” Juliette had an idea. One that would guarantee he left her bedchamber, and give her one whole day with him.
“What is your suggestion?” He lifted a brow.
Her first impulse was to demand he kiss her again and then they retire to her bed… She shook that thought away. “I have tomorrow to myself.” She had made a list for the servants to follow and the housekeeper would ensure it was all taken care of. It was only her need to oversee it all that kept her following the servants around and checking the progress. “We can have the cook pack us a basket and then go for a ride. Have a picnic on the grounds. Just the two of us.”
Gideon smiled. “That is similar to what I had planned for tonight. All right. We will convene at breakfast. I will arrange the picnic. All I need is for you to join me. Can you do that?”
She licked her lips and nodded. “Yes.”
He closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers again. It was a brief kiss. One of affirmation more than anything, but it sent shivers straight down to her belly, regardless. “Until tomorrow, darling.” With those words, he left her alone in her room.
Juliette pressed her fingertips to her lips and sighed. How would she ever manage to sleep now?
Gideon whistled as he finished dressing the next morning. She had promised him the entire day. Surely she wouldn’t find a reason to dismiss him again. They had made progress the night before.
He’d kissed her…
He wanted to kiss her again. Gideon wanted the right to kiss her every day for the rest of his life. This day with her… It meant everything to him. He didn’t understand how she could set aside her responsibilities and gift it to him, and he would do everything within his power to ensure she didn’t regret it. He prayed she wouldn’t come to wish she hadn’t given him this chance.
After he had left her bedchamber, he had gone down to the kitchen and charmed the cook. They were still cleaning the kitchen from the evening meal. The cook had promised him that she would pack a basket for their picnic. All he had to do was retrieve it after breakfast and ensure Juliette joined him. They would go to the stable and have a couple of horses saddled, then they would explore the castle grounds.
Most of the guests were not early risers. A buffet was set up on the breakfast parlor, so those that wished a morning meal could have one when they were ready to start their day. He found Juliette already in the room. She wasn’t eating, though. Her focus was on another woman. The same woman he had encountered in the library the previous night. What was her name again? Katie…
“Here is the list of things that need to be finished,” Juliette was telling her. Her blonde hair was plaited and twisted into a bun, and she wore a sensible riding outfit. “I am trusting you to take care of this. I will not be at the castle to ensure these tasks are completed.”
“You need not worry, Miss Adams,” Katie said. “The housekeeper has the list you gave her, too. I will ensure this one is completed to your specifications. The guests will be taken care of.”
Juliette nibbled on her bottom lip and he found it utterly adorable. He wished he could walk over to her and press a kiss to that abused lip. “Thank you,” Juliette said. “I realize I can be overbearing…”
“You’re not,” Katie reassured her. “There are some that are far worse than you are. Trust me.” Katie beamed. “You are a gem and you can use this time to yourself. Now sit and eat something. You never think of yourself.”
Juliette laughed, and Gideon smiled. He was glad that she was keeping her promise. Gideon couldn’t wait to have her all to himself again. He would definitely kiss her at the first opportunity. When they were alone and no one would notice how much he desired her. She turned and their gazes met. There was a light in her eyes he hadn’t seen before. She smiled at him and then strolled to his side. “Your Grace,” she greeted.
