Page 6 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
But it did give him a chance to stare back at her, which he allowed himself to enjoy for an extra few seconds while she collected herself.
She had eyes like violet gemstones and a figure worth imagining under her powder blue dress. The creamy hint of cleavage above the neckline of her chemise spoke of ample breasts where a man could circle his daring tongue for days.
Her milk chocolate hair, tucked into her feminine hat, was glossy and shimmered in the sun. William wondered if it was as warm to the touch as her soft hand in his. He imagined unfurling those silky strands over his chest as she straddled his bucking hips in the dark.
“Beg your pardon, Sir. Forgive me, it must be the shock of your … of our collision! I think I’ve hurt my ankle. Could you help me to that bench for a moment? If you would be so kind.”
William nodded and continued holding her hand as she hopped. But his impatience won out. The duke impulsively lifted her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way.
“Oh! Please, that’s not necessary, Sir. But thank you.”
He felt the young woman’s hip press into his belly as he gripped her thigh with one hand and her waist with the other. He could feel her staring at his face again, but this time, he looked straight ahead. They were at the bench within seconds, but William hesitated to put her down again.
He didn’t want her soft lilac scent and comely curves to stop helping his body awaken from a long, loveless slumber.
It had been far too long since William savoured holding a beautiful woman. But if he didn’t put her down right now, she would soon feel his pressing desire.
“There you go, Miss. Shall we find a doctor?” Willam asked as he set her gently on the wooden bench near a potted tree. Then he knelt and, working from instinct after many injuries at sea, lifted her hem and pressed his bare hand to her ankle to assess the damage.
The woman yelped and pulled her leg back with a jerk. William peered up at her again, then realized what he’d done. Her look of horror was about much more now than just his face. He had intimately touched her. And in public.
Was he so used to an informal life that he no longer remembered the rules of polite society? Turns out Edward wasn’t the animal between them after all. It was him.
“Eleanor? There you are!”
Another young woman was coming their way, and no doubt, could see he was holding her friend’s foot like a fool. William released it and stood upright at record speed, then stammered a quick apology.
“I’m sorry, Miss. My mistake. Ice the ankle to help it heal. I’m sure your friend will help you now. Good day.”
William turned on his heel and headed quickly back around the same corner from which he came. He felt the beads of sweat sliding down his forehead scar as he rushed to escape more shocked looks from strangers.
Once past the building where he’d slammed into the pretty brunette, he pressed his back against a brick wall in the shadows of the nearest alley.
Breathing hard, William replayed the scene in his mind. It must have lasted only minutes, but the embarrassing encounter now felt like years of his life had flashed by.
This was exactly what he’d wanted to avoid in London. The awkward moments of beautiful women gaping at him while he made every misstep imaginable.
He could take the stares of other men and even children. But when a woman like that one – only real and touchable in dreams – recoiled in his presence, it was like having a blade plunged slowly into his heart.
A blade he might gladly give to that woman he injured just to be close to her again.
Just thinking of her again made the crotch of his dark trousers tighten from more lusty thoughts. Though he could never imagine courting such a woman, his body already craved one night with her. One passionate night of those crystal-violet eyes looking past his wounds and into his soul. Holding her close as he plunged again and again between what he imagined were nether lips just as luscious as the kissable ones on her pristine face.
It took the duke another few minutes to recover from this fantasy, but thoughts of the woman’s reactions to his touch did the trick. William wiped the back of his neck with his handkerchief and took a deep breath. It had been a mistake to come out into public this soon. And in these ridiculous clothes. Though he stood alone now in the shadows, he felt completely exposed.
This is not the life I want to live. And that was not the kind of woman I want to ever run into again.
The duke collected himself and had a new epiphany about how he could avoid such encounters in the future. He would have to run his risky idea past Edward first but felt confident his friend would eventually agree.
Maybe there was a way he could take care of his noble responsibilities without the ton knowing he was a duke at all.
In the meantime, William had what was probably another uncomfortable encounter awaiting him today. He wasn’t looking forward to finding out the true state of his father’s affairs. If the solicitor’s concern was any indication, the situation might be dire.
William checked his pocket watch and started again towards the solicitor’s office. This time, he took a different route, peeking around every corner first.
Chapter 4
Eleanor watched the tall, muscular man who’d carried her to the bench disappear around the corner. As he nearly ran away from her, she felt a tiny trickle of sweat bead at the peak of her top open lip, then slip down onto her tongue.
