Page 67 of A Bargain with the Rakish Duke
Kenneth winced in sympathy. “Ouch. That must have been quite a tumble. I hope someone was there to catch you.”
“Are you offering to be my personal protector,Your Grace?” Beatrice asked coyly, allowing her fingers to intertwine with his.
“Always,” Kenneth replied, his tone suddenly serious despite the playful glint in his eyes.
Beatrice’s breath caught at the intensity of his gaze. She cleared her throat, continuing her story, “It was quite the ordeal. But you know, even as I lay there on the ground, crying and cradling my arm, I remember thinking that I couldn’t wait to try again.”
Kenneth chuckled, shaking his head in admiration. “That’s the Beatrice I know. Always ready for another challenge, no matter the risk.”
She met his gaze, her smile softening. “Well, what about you? Surely you have some tales of youthful misadventures to share. Or were you always the perfect, well-behaved little Duke?”
Kenneth laughed, his eyes glazing over with memories. “Perfect? Hardly. Oh, I have my fair share. Although my adventures were more calculated.”
“Oh?” Beatrice leaned in, her eyes alight with interest. “Do tell. I’m most intrigued to hear about the wild escapades of young Kenneth Spencer.”
“There was one time when my friends and I decided to ‘borrow’ my father’s best hunting horse for a midnight ride.”
Beatrice’s eyes widened. “Kenneth! How daring! Hmm. Perhaps I find this rebellious streak of yours rather attractive.”
Kenneth’s eyes flashed at her words. “Is that so? Perhaps I should misbehave more often, then.” He shook his head. “It seemed like a grand idea at the time,” he continued, his grin turning slightly sheepish. “Until we got lost in the woods and couldn’t find our way back. We spent hours wandering around, trying to retrace our steps.”
“And did you find your way home?” Beatrice asked, already guessing the answer. She leaned closer, her breath warm against his cheek. “Or should I have been there to guide you?”
Kenneth’s breath hitched at her proximity. “Had you been there, my dear, I doubt I would have wanted to find my way home at all.”
Beatrice snorted, slapping his arm playfully.
Clearing his throat, Kenneth shook his head ruefully. “Eventually. But not before my father had noticed the horse was missing and sent out a search party. Let’s just say, he was notpleased when we finally turned up, dirty and exhausted with the horse in tow.”
Beatrice giggled, picturing a young Kenneth, his hair tousled and his clothes muddy, facing his father’s wrath. “Oh, I can only imagine.Though I must say, the image of you all disheveled is quite appealing.”
“Is that so?” Kenneth murmured, his eyes darkening. “Perhaps I should arrange for us to get lost in the woods sometime, just the two of us.”
Beatrice felt her cheeks flush at the suggestion. “And what would you do then, husband?”
His eyes darkened further at her question. “I would show you all the animalistic ways I could make you mine.”
A shiver went down Beatrice’s spine. One minute he was the uptight Duke, the next he was a man who would push her up against the tree and rip off her dress.
And oh, how she craved the latter.
“We do not need to get lost in the woods for you to do that, Duke,” Beatrice heard herself respond.
Kenneth growled, and in a moment, he had her on her back with her wrists pinned above her head.
“Careful what you wish for, Duchess,” he whispered in her ear, sending tingles down her neck, her chest, her stomach, and finally to her most secret parts.
“What if I do not want to be careful?” she teased, looking deep into his blue eyes.
“Then I shall make sure you get exactly what you’re asking for,” he replied, his voice a smoldering promise.
And with that, he claimed her lips with his own.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Beatrice shuddered as Kenneth’s lips slid down her neck, his teeth digging into her soft flesh.
The pain mixed with pleasure as his hands roamed over her body.
