Page 10 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
Thoughts of Gabriel seemed to be the order of the night, in fact.
Deciding that lying in bed chasing sleep was doing her no good, she got up to get a warm glass of milk from the kitchen to soothe her unsettled nerves.
The late duke would always give Gemma warm milk to help her sleep in the beginning when her parents passed. It was soothing and brought up great memories.
Gemma exited her bed chamber quietly, not wanting to draw any attention to herself from the staff or even Gabriel, as their rooms were just down the hall from one another.
As Gemma strode down the corridor, her gaze inadvertently flicked towards the partially opened door of Gabriel’s bed chamber.
Strange, she thought to herself.
Gemma walked closer to the door and stopped, taking a peek inside. She took in a deep breath at the sight before her. Standing in the dim candlelight was Gabriel with his clothes discarded. His lean and muscular form was on full display. He looked like the statues that she had seen at museums in London.
He was the epitome physical perfection. The striking lines of his body illuminated in the soft light took her by surprise, her knees going weak at the sight. This was surely a detour from just seeking out a glass of warm milk.
Caught off guard, Gemma took a step back and quickly averted her eyes. Her cheeks flared red with embarrassment at her unintentional voyeurism. She did not mean to take in Gabriel’s nude form. It was improper and unladylike to look upon a naked man. If she was caught, there would be serious consequences.
Gemma’s heart drummed wildly in her chest as she retreated, warm milk a distant memory. She stumbled back to her bedroom with her hand over her heart, wondering exactly how she was going to get to sleep now.
The image of Gabriel’s naked form persisted in her thoughts and ignited a heat that kept sleep at bay. She found that her own hands traced the contours of her own body as she recalled Gabriel, standing in all of his glory.
Gemma knew that sleep was going to evade her mind as she spent the next several hours going over every curve of Gabriel’s body in her mind. Her thighs rubbed together as an unfamiliar sensation began in her lower abdomen. She tried her best to ignore its persistent heat. She felt improper but she couldn’t help it. Something was stirring deep within her very being.
Gabriel’s physique was exquisite and deserved to be admired. Alone in her chambers, scintillating thoughts overwhelmed her. Gemma felt a bit debased. As if she committed a heinous crime when all she did was take an unexpected peek at Gabriel’s body. How would she get this image from her mind now? It felt as though it would simply continue to be replayed, over and over.
How was she going to face him in the morning? Would he know that she saw him naked? What if he had caught her? Her sharp intake of breath was loud.
Gemma’s face flushed even redder at the thought of him knowing she had seen him in his most intimate state.
She continued to toss and turn as sleep evaded her, but this time for good reason.
***
Gabriel woke up to the bright light slipping in between his curtains that he failed to close all the way the night before. It was not an entirely terrible way to wake up.
His naked form was cozy beneath the covers, and this meant that waking up completely might be far more challenging.
The morning was meant to have him meet with Hugh, and Gabriel wondered if he could fake sickness to get out of it.
He was feeling unwell at the thought of meeting Hugh. Very unwell, indeed.
Just as Gabriel was about to call for someone to tell Hugh he felt under the weather, there was a knock at his chamber doors.
“Your Grace,” Kingsley’s voice rang through the door. “Lord Anderson is in the office waiting for you. Do you need assistance dressing?”
Gabriel’s stomach formed into knots.
Hugh was already here.
“Thank you, Kingsley, I can dress myself.”
Gabriel got out of bed and stretched his taut muscles as he gazed at himself in the mirror. He knew he was attractive with his soft brown hair and tan skin, but he always wondered why he had trouble settling down. In life, a man who would be a duke likely needed to be in full possession of himself, body and mind, to complete the duties within the estate and within the Ton in an acceptable manner. Yet, the idea of settling down, especially after Lily, unnerved him.
He knew part of the conversation with Hugh today would involve finding a wife during the upcoming season, but Gabriel wanted no part of that. As it stood, Hugh had been ever so intent on making sure to let Gabriel know that he would not be able to shirk his duties now that he had returned. The directive to find a wife on top of the duties of a new duke simply seemed like too much.
Shaking his head, Gabriel went to his closet and chose appropriate garments to wear for the day. He would be sure to be both comfortable and confident even as he dreaded all of the details that would be heaped upon him.
After dressing, he exited his bed chambers and made his way towards his father’s office where he knew Hugh would be waiting, perhaps rather impatiently.
