Page 23 of Her Duke at Midnight
But now, with Cecily, he found himself wanting something he could not name.
For the first time in his life, he found himself looking into the bright green eyes of a lady who knew exactly what she wished for from him—a few lessons in lovemaking and nothing else—and he found himself wanting more.
And the urge, the overriding impulse inside him, was to give her anything she desired. To savor each moment with her and expect nothing else.
Those were his own rules, weren’t they?
He relished the brevity of an affair. Neat, uncomplicated arrangements that left both parties satisfied. But even now, even after one encounter, he knew that wouldn’t be enough for him with Cecily.
Adam wanted to…know her. Not just her body, or all the ways he could make her call his name when she found her release. He wanted to know what she liked, what she loathed, her dreams and aspirations.
Bloody Bennett would be absolutely gleeful when he told him.
“Forgive me if I didn’t say that properly or am proposing anything that does not interest you.” Her pretty red brows had drawn together. She’d mistaken his silence for disinterest.
Adam gently stroked his thumb across the furrow between her brows.
“You said nothing improperly, and my interest is greater than I can say.” Greater than he could make sense of himself. This was entirely new territory and he felt himself stumbling. “Do not doubt that you fire my blood, Cecily.”
The truth was that he wished to tug her hand over his waistcoat and then lower to allow her to feel how much he wanted her.
“It’s a good thing that bloody book is between us, or I’d be tempted to show you how much right now.”
She glanced down as if only just realizing she’d been holding a book against her chest this whole time.
“What is it?” Adam tipped his head to read the spine. “Astronomy?”
“It’s an interest of mine,” she said, hitching up her chin.
He understood her defensiveness. His own sister had expressed an interest in archaeology from childhood, and their parents, her nanny and tutors, even her friends, had urged her away from pursuing it in any serious manner. Alexandra, bless her, had fobbed them all off and done as she pleased. He hoped Cecily would do the same.
But her knowledge intrigued him for one very personal reason too.
“You enjoy reading about constellations?”
“Yes, and planetary bodies of all kinds,” Cecily told him confidently. “Is astronomy an interest of yours too?”
It was a strange coincidence that he’d stumbled on a gorgeous young widow who happened to share an avocation he’d once been quite preoccupied with in his youth.
“It was when I was in school. All fields of science fascinated me, but my aunt bought me a telescope, and I went up to the roof quite often to observe what I could.” He reached down and began unbuttoning his waistcoat.
“What are you doing?” She swept a glance around the conservatory as if to ensure they were still alone.
He was satisfied that they were.
“There’s something I want to show you.” He removed his waistcoat and began unfastening the top buttons of his shirt.
He didn’t mind the way her hungry gaze studied his chest. In fact, when she licked her lips, it made him want to remove every piece of clothing he wore. But for now, he wanted to show her, prove that his interest in the same subject she relished wasn’t just a ploy to win her favor.
“Adam—“
Before she could stop him, he pulled his shirt aside and bared his left shoulder to her view.
Cecily blinked and bent an inch closer. “I see stars.”
Tiny, inked stars and dotted lines—his tattoo formed the shape of the constellation Orion.
“Orion the hunter,” she murmured, and then traced her fingertip along the lines of the tattoo.
