Page 63 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
My dear Duke. The words felt like a caress.She is playing a part.“As have you. Though one wonders who has been paying you compliments for you to practice.”
His muscles tensed before he even realised what he was doing. Adele’s soft, teasing laugh eased the tension. “If I did not know any better, I would think you were jealous.”
Warner forced his jaw to unclench and flashed her a smile. “Is it not the kind of thing husbands do?”
“Then your jealousy is simply a part?” She let him dip her low, the smell of roses rose around him, filling every corner of his mind.
He did not answer, simply spun her away from him.No. Yes.Some part of him knew that he should be concerned by whatever he was feeling. The fact that his heart skipped at her smile, the way he felt pride at the way she held herself. But there was no room for that concern.
The band struck up another song, and Warner knew that he should end their dance. He could see a man approaching them, his eyes fixed on Adele. But he did not let her go.
Adele arched an eyebrow at him but did not move away. The band struck up again, and they began to move once more.
“And do you intend to dance only with me tonight?” Adele asked her voice full of teasing lightness.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether or not you will let me.”
“And here I thought that no man could stop you from getting what you wanted.”
“Then it is lucky that you are no man.” Warner chuckled. “Our marriage would be rather awkward if you were.”
When she laughed, it stole his breath, and he could not help laughing too. He loved the sound of it, the way it seemed to leap from her so completely unguarded. He wanted to keep making her laugh, and some part of him knew that it should scare him, but he did not care.
He let himself get lost in the joy of her. He wanted her to enjoy tonight, and that would be so much easier if he was enjoying himself too. After all, she seemed uncannily attuned to his own mood.Besides, I doubt any man with a heart to feel could not be moved by the sound of her laugh.
The curve of her body against his hand, the way she moved as though they were not two bodies but one. She followed as he led, trusting him as he turned her. They moved as one across the dance floor.
“For someone so controlled, you are a rather wild dancer.” Her smile was broad.
“I would have thought you enjoyed a little wildness, Adele.” He grinned back at her. “After all, you are the one who insists I should cede control every now and then.”
“And you are not afraid?” She canted her head towards him.
Yes.“What is there to be afraid of when you are in my arms?” He saw her eyes widen and felt something tug in his chest.
Her eyes darted between his, her lips slightly parted. Her hand was like fire through his shirt. “You say the most beautiful lies to me.”
“And why are you so sure it is a lie?” he asked.
“Because we are simply playing our parts,” she replied, her smile dimming slightly.
“Just because we are, does not mean we cannot enjoy the parts. This is your ball, Adele. These people are here to celebrate you.” Warner did not take his eyes from hers, simply gestured slightly with his head to indicate the people around them. “They have been reading about your kindness, your generosity for weeks. And now, they get to bask in your radiance.”
“Our radiance, you mean. Our kindness and our shared generosity,” Adele retorted.
“No. Yours.” The music stopped, the world fading completely from his awareness. “You are the one who should be adored. I am simply the lion, waiting in the wings, ready to terrify them into obedience.”
“You make me sound like some princess, and you, the dragon set to guard me.” She shook her head. “I do not want a dragon. And I have no wish to be a princess.”
“Then what do you want?” His voice was deep as he lost himself in her eyes.
“I want…” Adele licked her lips, her eyes wide.
“Yes?” Warner’s eyes searched her face for the tiniest bit of emotion.
