Page 21 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
He laughed at the idea and shook his head. “On the contrary, that is something I have never said before.” Despite his honesty, he could see she didn’t appear to believe him. “Can you say you have not thought of it?”
“I…” Her lips moved for a minute as she sought an answer, but no words came.
“You certainly seemed to enjoy the kiss as much as I did.”
“How can you talk so freely of such things?” she said, covering her face with one hand.
“Was I so bad a kisser that you wish to forget it?”
“No, yes, I mean…”
“I was a bad kisser?”
“Of course not!” she said quickly then shook her head. “What I meant to say is that I still wish to forget it.”
“How come?”
“Because it was a transgression, one that should not have happened.”
“But you liked it,” he said, pointing at her as she blushed all the more. “What would be the harm in even kissing again? Kiss me now, and I’ll show you we should not regret it.”
“You have to be the boldest man I have ever met!” she exclaimed jumping to her feet. “Who requests such things as kisses so easily?”
“A man who longs for a kiss,” he replied nonchalantly as though the matter were no big deal.
“You are presuming the lady before you wants such a kiss as well.” Her wit was spoken with strength, yet her eyes darted down to his lips again. He smiled and folded his arms, still sitting on the piano stool, so that his head height was below hers.
“If you do not, then explain why you keep looking at my lips, My Lady.”
“Oh! Your behavior is outrageous,” she said, flicking her head away though there was humor in her tone. He laughed at the supposed outrage, drawing her to turn back to him, revealing that smile she had been trying to hide from him.
“My Lady, I am teasing you. We both liked that kiss, and as far as I can see, we both like the idea of another. What is so wrong in desire?”
“A ruined reputation would be the risk of that,” she said, turning away from him. “I am here for one reason only, Your Grace.” She held up the deeds off the piano. “For my estates. I want them back. I am not here to parry with you as you ask for more kisses. Now, you said you would give up the estates if another deal was struck.”
“I did say that,” he nodded slowly in thought.
“So, what deal would you accept?”
He paused before answering, watching as she clung tightly onto the deeds. Asher was past the point of knowing that lusting for her had wormed her way under his skin. This was only their second ever meeting, and his mind was awhirl, thinking of things that he had done with other ladies and wishing he could share them with Lady Penelope.
She is a danger to me.He had to accept it was the truth. No other lady had he desired as much or been so drawn to before.
“There is one deal I can think of…” He paused, wondering if it were madness. His mind was quickly coming up with a way to get her out from under his skin, but it was a great risk indeed. She was hardly a lady that wished to risk her reputation, and it would be exactly what he would entice her to do.
“Go on,” she said, placing the deeds down on the back of the piano.
I would have to stick to my rule though,he assured himself. If he could indulge in Lady Penelope a few times, then it could never be longer than his five nights.
“Spend some time with me,” he said softly, urging her to look up again. Her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.
“You are not making sense, Your Grace.”
“Then I will speak plainly, but pray, do not jump to horrid conclusions before I have had chance to explain myself.”
“You do realize that coming from a rake that makes whatever proposition you are about to say sound worse,” she pointed out, pulling a playful smile from him.
“Here is my deal,” he said, breathing deeply and deciding it was the best thing he could do to free himself of his liking for her. “I will return your estates to your family, and your dowry will be back intact if… you spend five nights with me.”
