Page 59 of A Scandalous Kind of Duke

The comfortable carriage deposited Juno at Leo’s ivy-covered cottage late on a cold, rainy afternoon. Leo was not there when she arrived, but a cheerful maid showed her to a well-appointed chamber, and Juno happily availed herself of the offer of a hot bath.

She emerged from the water, her skin pink and fragrant, to discover a gorgeous robe had been laid out for her. It was painted with cherry blossoms, and its cool silk flowed over her skin; she whirled about on the plush rugs just to feel its caress.

The cottage was simple, the garden under her window small, but everything in the room was the height of luxury, from the robe to the flowers to the bowl of fruit. Leo must have roused a small army of staff.

Whether making her wait was part of his plan, she found herself enjoying the anticipation immensely. She savored a juicy peach and some hot chocolate, then she lay back and dozed off to a gallery of deliciously lewd thoughts.

A sound from the next room roused her from her stupor. It was early evening now, the lingering summer daylight muted by soft rain. Juno eased open the connecting door and peered into an enormous chamber, furnished with a sitting area and an oversized bed, already warm despite the chilly night.

Her eye was drawn directly to Leo, crouched before the fire, stoking the flames. He still wore his shirt and breeches, under a dressing gown embroidered with suns and moons and stars. He glanced up and smiled, that familiar smile that stirred both warm pleasure and a wicked, spiraling thrill.

Yet this room, too, was opulent, from the silken sheets to the red velvet chaise. Here a platter of fruit, cheese, and cakes, there a tray holding crystal goblets and red wine. Candles bathed the room in a soft, alluring glow, and a golden perfume burner filled the air with a heady scent.

It was lavishly luxurious. Deliciously decadent.

Infuriatingly impersonal.

“I confess I’m a touch confused,” she said. “Did you bring me here to tup me or feed me?”

“You’ll need to keep your strength up.”

He raked his eyes over her, heat flaring in his hungry gaze as if he could see right through the fastened robe.

“The robe is to your liking?” he asked.

“It’s splendid. Yours too.”

And she would strip it off him the first chance she got.

This opulence betrayed him: He had not come as Leo, but as the duke. She would strip him of his remoteness, along with that embroidered silk.

He unfolded upward, the silken threads of his robe shimmering in the firelight as he stood. She tiptoed toward him, as if he were a prey animal about to startle, and boldly fingered the embroidery on his sleeve.

“I always want to touch your clothes, but you make yourself untouchable,” she confessed softly. “I mean to touch you, Leo. All of you.”

She pushed the silk up his arm, revealing the fine tendons and veins of his inner wrist. His skin here was so soft, in contrast to the rougher hairs beyond. She pressed her fingertip against his pulse, and he swiftly evaded her to capture her wrist and explore her skin in return.

“All this luxury!” she said. “Do you mean to seduce me with lavish compliments and gifts?”

“You don’t like it?”

“Oh, Ilikeit. But you need not shower me with pretty things and pretty words. I’m here because I want you.”

His thick lashes screened his expression, as he lowered his head and trailed promising kisses along her forearm. Bliss danced inside her like a fire sprite, igniting sparks from her breasts to her quim.

Answering sparks lit in his eyes when he looked up at her.

“You don’t need me to seduce you with luxury,” he repeated.

She smiled. “Nice but not essential.”

“Or lay you down on the velvet couch, feed you grapes and sips of wine.”

“No need.”

“While I recite odes to your beauty?”

“No, no, and no.”

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