Page 37 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“How interesting,” Penny said, placing down her napkin and standing from her place at the table now that dinner was over. As they finished, Asher had quickly dived into the next room to retrieve the book for the purpose of having this discussion. “For I checked over the book myself this afternoon, and I am convinced that he does.”
She took the book out of his hands, teasing him with the brush their fingers made before splaying the book out to the opening pages.
“It is here categorically. Every time he talks to her, he is teasing her playfully.”
“Playfully?” Asher repeated. “On the contrary, he is even quite mean to her on occasion!”
“That I cannot deny, but he loves her still.”
“He does not,” he said, mimicking Penelope’s stance as she put the book down on the table, and they both folded their arms. “This is hopeless,” he laughed. “We have both read over the book and can’t come to an agreement on our wager. So, neither of us wins our bet?”
“No kiss for you then,” she said teasing him. That smile made him long to lean forward and take that kiss anyway.
“Or… there is something we could do,” he said, holding up a finger.
“What is that?”
“We could each collect on our wager, deciding that there is no right answer to our question. Therefore, you get to hear another secret, and I,” he paused, lowering his folded arms and stepping toward her, until they were within touching distance with his head tilted down to her, “get a kiss. What do you say?”
She didn’t hesitate or wait. She reached up toward him straight away and kissed him. He was so surprised, it took him a second to respond. The passion with which she kissed him made him all the more ardent. Soon, he had lifted one hand to her waist to angle her body against his own, and the other hand lifted to play in her hair. He was quickly pulling her caramel-colored hair out of its updo, so that he could play with the tendrils and run it through his fingers.
She moaned a little into the kiss. He longed to hear more of such moans, but he had made a promise, and it was one he would not break.
When their lips parted from each other, he could feel the thrill of it as though they were still kissing. He continued to hold onto her as she did him with her hands buried in the lapels of his jacket and their heads bent toward each other.
“Well, that was quite a kiss,” he said a little breathlessly, trying to clear his throat, hoping it would clear his mind a little from the desire-filled mist that had descended. “It is your turn, Penny. What secret would you like to know?” he asked.
“I…” She paused, chewing her lip for a minute. He nearly kissed her again at the sight, but he refrained. “I would like to know something rather personal,” she said in a nervous whisper. “You do not have to answer my question, but it might help me.”
Feeling curiosity bloom at her words, he encouraged her on, continuing to play with her hair as he did. He wrapped the tendrils around his fingers a few times, feeling the soft and silky nature between the pads of his fingers.
“I lost my father earlier this year,” she said, looking down in the center of his chest.
“I heard; I am sorry,” he said in a gentle whisper.
“Thank you. Some days, I feel like the grief will never end. My godmother tells me you lost your father too.” The words made him pause before he continued coaxing her hair down, still playing with the silky threads until her hair fell completely past her shoulders. “Do you feel like that sometimes? As though the grief might consume you?” she asked, looking up to him.
The question shocked him at first, for she was asking him about grief, yet seeing the genuine wonder in her green eyes, dazzling in the candlelight, he could see how much this meant to her. Hearing this answer would matter to her more than many other secrets would. He smiled sadly, seeing the way she was clinging onto him with a kind of hope.
“I do,” he confessed, deciding it was best to tell the truth. She sighed instantly.
“Good, then I am not going mad.”
“Far from it,” he assured her. “Feeling as though we are suffocating in grief, believe me, that is quite normal.” She nodded slowly.
“How do you manage to cope with it?” she asked. “When it all gets too much?”
“Distraction mostly,” he said, leaning down toward her again. “Trust me, Penny. Distraction is sometimes the best way to know there are still great things to be enjoyed in life.” He kissed her again, loving the way she kissed him back. This kiss was just as fervent as the last, but their hands were softer this time as though their conversation had broken down a barrier between them.
When their lips parted, Penny surprised him with her next words.
“I should go.”
“What?” he said, still holding onto her. “But… I asked you to stay the night.”
“You surely understand that I cannot?” she said, her forehead still resting against his. “I have been here for hours as it is. The moon has probably nearly crossed this house completely by now. I must go. If I stay until the morning, someone may see me leave.”
He didn’t want her to go. The strength of the feeling surprised him, but he dutifully released her. He pulled his forehead off hers and lowered his hands then looked to her hair, realizing how much of a mess he had made of it.
