Page 31 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
He found his body had stirred completely now, not only lusting for her but ravenously needing her. Had she wanted it, he would have happily lifted her skirt and placed her on this card table, finding her center with his own and slipping inside of her. He could thrillingly imagine the way she would cling to the table beneath her as he lifted her thighs higher…
“You look lost in thought, Your Grace.” Her words snapped his attention back to the moment as Lady Penelope began to deal out the cards.
“I was a bit,” he said, breathing deeply. “You distract me quite a bit.”
“So many words I am sure you say to all the other ladies,” she said with a shake of her head. “Here, let us play another round.”
“I’ll win this one,” he said triumphantly.
“Remember that thing about pride coming before a fall.”
This time, despite her warning, he did indeed win by just one point. “It was only one point,” she said, counting up her cards in desperation as though looking for another point.
“You have counted those cards three times already,” he said between chuckling. “You have most definitely lost. By one point. So, I get to collect on my wager?” He turned his attention to her. He pulled on the underside of her chair another time, sliding her toward him, so he could lean into her.
“Wait one minute, I want to check again – mmff!” She was cut off as he lowered his lips to hers in a kiss.
It was instantly ardent with his lips moving fast against hers, and Lady Penelope responded with apparently just as much need. He passed a hand around her waist and easily lifted her out of the chair. She made a sound of surprise into the kiss before he settled her on his lap with both of her legs hanging down one side by his hip.
He made the kiss as deep as he could, claiming her tongue and dancing with it, until they were both arching against one another. Her hands buried themselves in his waistcoat, but one started travelling, moving up his chest before clinging to the open neckline of his shirt, taking a stolen touch against his exposed skin. He growled in the back of his throat at the touch.
She snapped her lips away from his, the sound having brought her to her senses. Yet, he held softly to her, unwilling to let her part from his lap just yet. She was panting, catching her breath as he was trying to do.
“I think you liked partaking in my winnings as much as I did,” he said with glee. She slowly removed herself from his lap, looking a little trembly as she returned to her seat.
“You are a brazen man indeed.” She settled herself, straightening her dress as he collected the cards and shuffled them.
“That I cannot deny. Again?” he said as began to deal out the cards. “I’d certainly like the chance to win another kiss like that.” As she lifted the cards, she was trying to hide her smile with their patterned surfaces, but he saw the smile anyway.
They played the next round in relative silence, offering a word here and there to count up their points until the final card was played, and Lady Penelope practically cheered in delight. “I won!” she said. He threw down his cards, pretending to be very put out indeed.
“Damn, I wanted another one of those kisses.”
“Instead, you’ll have to tell me more secrets.” She giggled as she pushed the cards away and swiveled in her chair to face him completely, fixing her full attention on him. “I know what I want to ask this time. Why five nights?”
“What?” he asked, startled by the question.
“There has to be a reason to your five-night rule. What is it?”
He couldn’t answer that; he had no wish to. It was a secret he kept locked in his chest, and he had no wish to share it with Lady Penelope.
“I think our game might have come to an end.” He tossed the cards onto the table.
“What? How can that be?” she said. He stood to his feet as she followed him. “I paid up when I lost; it is your turn to pay up,” she said with triumph, placing her hands on her hips. Her words made him laugh warmly as he turned back to her.
“It seems I owe you something then, but I cannot answer your question.”
“Very well.” She folded her arms, regarding him with a frown. “How do you intend to make it up to me then?”
“I can think of one very good way,” he said and crossed toward her. She lowered her hands from her hips in surprise as he stopped so close in front of her that she had to tilt her chin to look at him. “You asked me earlier what I did to ensure ladies enjoyed my company. Perhaps I could show you something of it?” he offered, leaning down toward her.
“N- no,” she said, stammering. He was not surprised, for he had expected the refusal.
“Of course,” he said with a smile. “Just let me know if you would change your mind, and I would be glad to show you.”
“What happens in this room… in this house,” she paused and bit her lip, “no one need ever know of it, do they?” Her question made him frown in curiosity.
“I give you my word,” he said with feeling. “No one need ever know.”
