Page 47 of Wedded to the Forbidden Duke
Particularly when, every so often, those green eyes flashed up at him.
She had indeed been quite busy with preparations for dinner, and Ian had made use of the time away from her to tend to his usual business. But several times she had come into his office to ask his opinion about a course or a place setting. Or else he would run into her in the hallway.
And she would say something in that tempting, suspiciously sweet tone of voice; would make some witty remark, some innuendo-bearing quip, that would damn near bring him to his knees.
Of course, as the day went on and she continued to tease him thus with no sign of release in sight, the less he felt a desire to fall to his knees…and the more he felt a desire to bring her tohers.
He wanted to taste her lips.
He wanted to feel the vibrations of her moans as they reverberated through both of their bodies, united in lust.
He wanted to tear the dress she wore from her, slowly, peeling off piece by piece and layer by layer until she was as desperate as he was, and to tease and tempt her and bring her pleasure she could have never imagined.
When they had stood next to each other in the hallway earlier, to greet their guests, she had pressed her hip against him in a way that was so subtle as to be imperceptible to anyone else in the room, but was enough to nearly drive him wild with desire. If they had been alone, he swore to himself he could have pressed her up against the wall and made her scream with pleasure right then and there.
The fact that dinner was so long only served to draw out his torture longer. He could not help but watched, transfixed, by the movement of her neck when she took a sip of wine, or the decadent curve of her lips with each bit of food that passed through them.
And while it was indeed a fine meal, in fine company, he could not help but wish the dinner were over already so that he could take her up to bed.
Even now, he was carried away by visions of what he might do to her were it just the two of them eating alone. Hoisting her up onto the table. Parting her skirts right then and there. Tasting every sweet inch of flesh as he drove into her, making her cry out his name?—
Ian realized Cecilia was still looking at him, awaiting a response. He cleared his head. “Yes,” he said. “I did. It was a dessert I much hope to repeat, very soon indeed.”
It was not his finest response, but it would do.
Cecilia smiled back at him, more self-assured pleased with herself than ever.
Her smirk only served to further confirm what Ian had been suspecting all day: once the dinner was over and they were alone once more, he was going to absolutelyruinher with pleasure.
After a moment of maintained eye contact, Cecilia cleared her throat, still looking at Ian but nodding her head in Zachary’s direction.
Zachary had scarcely spoken a word all evening, and it was easy to see why. Whenever Nancy was speaking, he stared at her raptly, clearly in awe of her beauty and vivacity; and when she was not speaking, he stared at her with just as much wonder, only nodding nominally at whatever the others said.
It was very sweet, to be sure. But it would not do much to help the man in winning the girl’s hand in marriage, if he could do little more than stare at her like a dog at an empty supper bowl.
Ian took Cecilia’s hint and turned to his friend. “Lindbury, you have been awfully quiet all evening,” he said jovially. “What is on your mind, old friend?”
“Hm?” Zachary startled to, as though he had been very far away, and tore his gaze from Nancy to look back at Ian. “What was that?”
Ian barely bit back a laugh. God, it was actually quite funny, seeing his friend so smitten. “You know, weren’t you telling me about a book you quite enjoyed in your letter, the other week? I know Miss Banfield is quite a reader, as well—perhaps she might enjoy the recommendation.”
“Oh, yes.” Nancy turned to Zachary with bright eyes as she continued, “I am always in search of a good book, my lord.”
“Books, travel, music—it seems the two of you have quite a lot in common,” Ian said casually.
“Do you enjoy music as well?” Nancy asked Zachary.
Zachary cleared his throat. “I—well. I am most certainly not as accomplished as you are, Miss Banfield. I have never studied pianoforte. Nor do I listen to it very often. I mean, as often as I ought! I should certainly like to more. You convinced me as much.”
Nancy’s brows rose. It was the most Zachary had spoken all evening, and all came out in a quick, stumbling ramble—but it did not seem to put her off, at least. “Did I? How so?”
Zachary flushed further, his eyes going nearly as wide as Nancy’s. “I only mean to say that—you made a very good case forthe instrument the other week, at Cecilia’s musicale. You have quite the gift.” He took a quick sip of wine, and Ian noticed his hands were slightly trembling.
As the two of them fell into an easy conversation, Ian’s gaze could not help but drift back to his wife.
He was pleased to find Cecilia looking back at him.
“It seems they have quite a lot in common indeed,” he said, voice pitched low enough to not interrupt the others’ conversation.
