Page 29 of The Duke of Distraction
Felix turned.“Is there a problem?”
“Yes.If you’d come with me?”
Felix followed him out, pausing near Anthony on the way.“I need to see to a problem.Keep the ladies in here for now.”
Anthony nodded.
Outside the drawing room, Gerald informed Felix that Crawford had become ill and could no longer take his place in room five.
Felix frowned.“That leaves us one short.I’ll just take his place,” he said.“I know where it is.”
Room five was the smallest, barely more than a closet next to the library.He greeted the footman assigned to the closet before going in.Once inside, the footman blindfolded him.“All right, my lord?”
“Fine, thank you,” Felix said.Then he was plunged into darkness, and he waited.Who would it be?It wouldn’t be Sarah, of course.Or Mrs.Alnwick.She’d said she had number two.That left one of the Misses Conwyn or Christie, Miss Reynolds, Miss Saunders, or Tyrrell’s daughter, Miss Smithson.None of them were particularly remarkable in Felix’s mind, though the elder Miss Conwyn was very attractive, if quiet.
It was several minutes before he heard murmured voices and then a light knock followed by the opening of the door.Experienced as he was, his heart picked up speed.This was a rather scandalous game, he realized.When he’d thought of it, he hadn’t imagined playing it himself.He’d thought he’d be the organizer and nothing more.Now he found himself basking in the thrill of secrecy.
Another body joined him in the small space, and the door clicked shut.He recalled what Sarah had said about scent and inhaled deeply.He didn’t smell anything.
He felt the brush of skirt against his leg, and then he smelled her—the faint scent of roses, which he could attribute to many women.
She moved, and her hand brushed the front of his pantaloons.His cock jumped at the sensation.They only had one minute, so he might as well make it good.
He felt for her, finding her waist and sliding his arms around her to pull her flush to his chest.
Her soft gasp filled the small space.He moved one hand up her spine and felt her shiver.He searched for—and found—her nape, then cradled her neck to establish where she was.Brushing his thumb over her cheek, he tipped her head to the side and pressed his lips to hers.
He meant it to be a gentle, sweet kiss, but it seemed his partner had other ideas.She splayed one hand against his collarbone and curled the other around his neck, pulling at him as her lips moved over his.And then her tongue slid into his mouth.
His body, already succumbing to arousal, came instantly alive.Rational thought tried to intrude and caution him to go slow or, better yet, stop, but he had one minute to kiss this sweet mouth, and he was going to take it.
He cupped her nape and bent her back slightly as he met her inquiring tongue.She hesitated, but only briefly, before she opened herself to him completely.She pressed against him from breast to groin, and his cock hardened.This was not what he’d intended with this game.He hadn’t meant to participate at all, and here he was, eagerly locked in an embrace with what amounted to a stranger.
But, God, it was divine.Her fingers curled into his coat, and she grasped his lapel in her fist while her other hand moved up his neck into the base of his scalp, her fingertips massaging his flesh and tangling in his hair.He held her tight against him, relishing the feel of her body perfectly matched to his.Her breasts were full, her waist slender.He moved his hand lower and felt the curve of her hip and behind.At his touch, she twitched, pressing farther into him.
Lost in her embrace, he drove his tongue into her mouth, kissing her more deeply than he’d ever dreamed he might.This was supposed to be a charming, slightly scandalous endeavor, but this was something far more.This was heat and desire and erotic promise.
The sound of a bell broke into his lustful haze.With great reluctance, he pulled his head up from hers, taking in a deep breath.But he didn’t let go, and neither did she.
She dug her fingers into his nape, urging him back down.He barely needed her to ask.Angling his head the other way, he kissed her from a new direction, eager to taste her any and every way he could.It was never going to be enough, but it was all they had.
She met his kiss, their tongues tangling as their hands moved over each other.She put both hands on the sides of his neck, beneath the collar of his shirt, and caressed him with her warm fingers.
He massaged her hip, pulling her against him so that she had to feel his erection.He shouldn’t do it, but she moaned into his mouth, and he was absolutely beyond himself.Desperate to make this moment last, he brought his hand up and grazed his thumb along the underside of her breast.She quivered, and her fingers dug into his flesh.
A loud knock on the door interrupted them once more.
“Time to finish,” the muffled voice called through the door.
Felix tore his mouth from hers and forced himself back against the wall behind him.“Go,” he grunted, his body aflame.
The door opened, and all the heat in the space seemed to leave with her.Realizing he was out of breath from kissing her, Felix fought to regain control of his body, taking deep breaths to slow his heart and hopefully calm his raging cock.
Bloody hell, that had been far more than he’d bargained for.He whipped the blindfold from his face and cursed the damn thing for adding to his incredible arousal.
Once Felix had himself under control, he exited the closet and handed the blindfold to the footman without a word.He strode back to the drawing room and was a bit surprised to see he was nearly the last one back.Only Blakesley came in behind him.
The ladies were all seated while the men stood.Everyone looked about the room in an almost comically surreptitious manner as they tried to determine whom they’d kissed.Felix did the same but had absolutely no idea.
