Page 31 of A Rescue by the Rakish Duke
“Thank you, Thomas,” Gwendoline said sweetly. In the back of her mind, though, she was worried about him despite his rudeness. “I’ll keep that in mind, and I hope we can work together in the future. The future can be today.”
However, her husband had other plans.
“You may now leave, Thomas.” Damian dismissed his trainer with a wave of his hand.
Gwendoline frowned at the gesture. The older man merely bowed and retreated, leaving husband and wife alone in the courtyard.
Thomas’s departure brought Gwendoline’s attention back to her husband’s appearance. Her eyes fell to the hard, glistening muscles in his chest. That naked chest moved right in front of her as he gulped in the air. He was either still breathing hard from the sparring or trying not to laugh.
Oh, he was definitely trying not to laugh.
Gwendoline’s nails dug into her palms as she clenched her hands into fists. Must she make a fool of herself?
“And now that he’s gone,” Damian said, smiling slyly at her, “shall I show you a move or two?”
Gwendoline blinked, momentarily taken aback by his offer. “You’d… teach me? A move or two?” she stammered like a child.
Damian shrugged, but there was nothing nonchalant about his offer. His eyes glinted playfully, making her heart skip a beat. “I know you were curious. So, why not? Let’s show Thomas that ladies can spar with the best of them. Or are you afraid? Perhaps you were here because you were curious about something else…” he trailed off suggestively as he continued to hold her gaze.
She refused to look down at her feet, although she could feel her cheeks flushing. Instead, she lifted her chin at the challenge.
“I’m afraid of no such thing.”
Damian’s smile grew wider.
“And I am curious about sparring. Your Grace.”
He looked like he was about to burst into laughter, but she glared at him until he regained his composure. Somehow, she regretted seeing him revert to his brooding self. His smile had a way of disarming even those with the coldest hearts.
Hers had long since melted, but she wouldn’t let him know that. Not now, not ever.
“Good,” he said, clearing his throat and closing the gap between them. “Your dress might be a hindrance, though. You do need to move. Keep your balance.”
He rolled his shoulders back as if to say, “Look at me right now. That’s why I’m half-naked.”
Gwendoline glanced down at what she was wearing. At that moment, she could feel each inch of the fabric suffocating her. She’d heard of women wearing corseted blouses over breeches or loose dresses with no petticoats. Suddenly, the lace and silk no longer felt like a luxury, but a burden.
Of course, women’s dresses weren’t suited to swordplay. Even Damian had to rid himself of his shirt. She sighed as she felt herself reddening even more at the reminder of her husband’s naked torso.
“Should I take it off, then, dear husband?” she asked insolently, her hands on her hips. The movement pushed her chest forward.
It was Damian’s turn to look embarrassed. He froze, his eyes widening. Gwendoline could swear that a faint flush had spread up his neck.
“That won’t be necessary,” he mumbled, sounding dejected.
Her heart sank. She was merely jesting. She didn’t mean to make him so uncomfortable that he’d refuse to show her how to spar.
She brushed it aside and said, “Show me what to do, Your Grace.”
Damian hesitated. His eyes searching hers as if he could not read her. He was trying to decipher her thoughts, making her wonder if she had a chance at winning at Devil’s Draw—a place she wouldn’t be allowed to be anywhere near in the first place. It was a place for people like Timothy.
Anger bubbled inside her chest.
Damian nodded as if he was encouraging himself. Then, he startled her by walking behind her. His hands were gentle butfirm when he adjusted her stance. The guidance and warmth of his touch seeped through her gown. Yet, she also felt a shiver running down her spine while heat pooled between her legs.
Oh, contradictions.
Gwendoline tried her best not to wriggle her body against his. What would it feel like if she pressed her bottom against his hips?
