Page 65 of The Duke of Ice
“I rather thought sneaking in through the servants’ entrancewasdiscreet.”
She laughed harder, shaking her head.
“Will this be a problem?” he asked. “Of course not. Otherwise, you would have had me leave.”
Taking a deep breath, she wiped at her eyes. “My maid will set things right with Mrs. Spindle.”
“What about your butler? He seemed perturbed. When he wasn’t confused, that is.”
Violet started laughing again, and Nick put his hand beneath her elbow. He guided her up the stairs. “Let’s get to your chamber.”
She paused on the next landing, gasping for breath. “Do you know where that is?”
He hesitated before saying, “No.”
“So, let me understand,” she said, trying not to laugh again and failing. “Your plan was to sneak into my kitchen and skulk about my house until you happened upon my bedchamber?”
“I don’t, as a rule, skulk—”
She waved a hand to cut him off and managed to stop laughing for a moment. “Oh, I think you skulked plenty at Hannah’s party.”
“Skulking is not the same as brooding.” He snaked his arm around her waist and drew her tight against his chest.
The laughter left her in a whoosh, but her elevated heart rate didn’t calm. If anything, her pulse increased. “I suppose it isn’t.”
“Now, would you like to lead me to your chamber, or should I continue with myplanright here?” His fingers curled into her back and his other hand clasped her waist, holding her firm against him. The fabrics of her night rail and robe were much thinner than her regular clothes. She could feel him—his heat, his hardness,everything—quite distinctly. Her knees threatened to give way, and she could just imagine toppling him down the stairs. This night only needed that.
No, this night needed him to take her to her chamber.Now.
“Up to the next floor, turn left, first door on the left.” She sounded breathless and desperate. Which made sense since she was both of those things and so much more.
“I don’t know.” He lowered his head and lightly brushed his lips along her neck, causing her to shiver. “There’s something delectably naughty about our current situation.” He licked a path to her ear.
“The servants could come up at any moment.”
“Exactly.”
Oh dear, the servants. What on earth would they say? She imagined Chalke would congratulate her—she’d said many times that she only wanted to see Violet happy. But Mrs. Spindle? Or worse, Lavery? He would be shocked. Knowing that didn’t change her mind.
She tangled her hands in the thick, dark crop of his hair. “I don’t care where we are, so long as we’re together.”
His hand moved up her back and cupped her neck, positioning her so that he could take her mouth. And take it he did. His lips crushed hers in reckless abandon, his tongue sweeping inside to claim what she would freely offer.
After a thorough and quite pleasurable exploration, he swept her into his arms. She clasped her arms around him as he strode up the stairs. He managed to open the door to the first floor with his hand and keep hold of her quite securely. He easily found her chamber, and once they were inside, he carried her to the bed, where he laid her gently on the coverlet.
“Shall I lock the door?” he asked.
“I’m not sure it’s necessary,” she said wryly. “Everyone knows you’re here. I daresay we won’t be disturbed.”
He stood near the bed and swiped his hand over his mouth. The light from the candle next to her bed flickered across his handsome features. “Should I go? I didn’t mean to create a mess.”
“It’s not a mess I can’t tidy. And anyway, I don’t care.” She’d spent too many years dreaming of him, wanting him. There was no way she would turn him away. Not now. Probably not ever. She knelt up on the bed and drew her robe away from her body, then dropped it to the floor. “Come here.”
He moved next to the bed and looked down at her, his eyes a dark, turbulent gray.
“You are overdressed, Duke.”
“Perhaps you’d like to remedy that, my lady.”
