Page 22 of His Forbidden Duchess
Eloise hesitated then mimicked his movements, taking a small bite. She went slow, trying to make her lips and tongue move as Felix had shown her. It wasn’t easy at first, but she caught on rapidly.
Felix gulped, suddenly aware of how close she was. He had not expected her to pick it up so quickly, nor had he expected to feel a strange heat creeping down to his groin as he watched her.
“My, my, Eloise. You are a very apt pupil,” he murmured, his voice rougher than he intended.
He wasn’t sure what surprised him more: the sudden heat in his nether regions or the fact that Eloise of all people was thecause of it. To his growing frustration and undeniable arousal, he realized he was no longer simply teaching her. He was drawn to her, utterly mesmerized by the sight of her sensuously eating that sweet, and he cursed himself for his weakness.
Eloise blinked, seemingly unaware of the effect she had on him, but Felix felt the heat of his desire as it churned in his blood.
He cleared his throat before continuing, “Just remember that confidence is key. Mortcombe needs to believe you know exactly what you are doing.”
Eloise straightened up, determination flashing in her eyes. Whatever had occurred between them had disappeared, and they had resumed their business-like relationship. “I will show him. He will not know what hit him.”
Felix grinned, the challenge sparking something in him. “That is the spirit. Just do not trip over your own feet in the process. You would not want to embarrass yourself again.”
“Ha! As if you are one to talk about embarrassment,” she shot back, and he felt that same rush of exhilaration at their banter.
He leaned closer, his voice low and teasing. “Just remember, if this doesn’t work out, you will always have a future as a professional eater.”
Eloise laughed, shaking her head. “I will keep that in mind. But first, let us get back to work on my seduction skills, shall we?”
Felix nodded, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “Onward, then. The world of wooing awaits.”
Just as Eloise was about to delve deeper into her newfound strategies, Hannah’s voice cut through their playful exchange. “Eloise! We need to head back.”
Eloise turned, forcing a bright smile as she saw Lady Brimsleigh approaching. “Of course, Hannah. I was just?—”
“Chatting with His Grace, I see,” Hannah interjected, her tone teasing. “You two seem rather intimate.”
Felix raised an eyebrow at Eloise, a smirk playing on his lips. “Intimate? I assure you, we were merely discussing the intricacies of sweets.”
Lady Brimsleigh chuckled, the corners of her eyes crinkling with amusement. “Sweet talk, I presume?”
Everyone burst into a chuckle at her witty comment, but at the same time, Eloise felt her cheeks heat up. “Yes, quite literally,” she replied, attempting to deflect any implication of a deeper meaning.
Hannah glanced between them, her curiosity tempered by a hint of concern. “We should really be going, Eloise. It is getting late.”
“Of course,” Eloise replied, her tone steady. She turned to Felix, a touch of regret in her voice. “Thank you for the… insight.”
Felix nodded, his expression turning earnest. “Anytime, Lady Eloise. I look forward to our next lesson.”
As Lady Brimsleigh began to usher them back, Eloise felt a flicker of disappointment at their time being cut short. She couldn’t help turning back to Felix one last time, her heart racing at the prospect of their next meeting. “Until next time.”
“Until next time,” he echoed, watching her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
Both duos went their own separate way, and as Hannah and Eloise walked home, Hannah spoke with curiosity. “So, is something taking place between you and the Duke? You two seemed rather… friendly back there.”
Eloise felt her heart skip. In an effort to maintain her composure, she took a calming breath. “Oh, it is nothing, really. Just discussing the latest fashion in sweets, you know how it is.”
Hannah raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Is that all? Because the way he looks at you?—”
“Oh, that is utter nonsense, Hannah,” Eloise interjected a bit too quickly. “He is a friend of Jeremy’s otherwise he would never even look at me twice.”
Hannah hesitated, her tone shifting to a more serious note. “Eloise, I know you think he is just a friend of your brother’s, but he is a rake, and rakes are dangerous. You should be careful around such men.”
Eloise nodded though a twinge of uncertainty nagged at her. “I appreciate your concern, but I can manage him. He is not interested in me in that way, I promise you. More to the point, I am not interested that way in him.”
Hannah studied her for a moment then sighed. “I just do not wish to see you get hurt. He has a reputation, and it is not just idle gossip.”
