Page 7 of The Duke and the Widow
“That brings us to the most important requirement. No talk of marriage.” She glanced up at him to ascertain his reaction. “If you are seeking your duchess, I am not the woman for you to keep in your company. I have no desire to wed.”
“It should seem we are on the same page in all things, my lady. I am most certainly not seeking a duchess, nor do I wish to wed for a very long time, if ever.”
She smirked at him. “If you are truly agreeable to the arrangement, then you are welcome to sneak into my bedchamber, Duke.”
He stopped walking and turned her to face him. “I have a couple of requirements of my own.”
Well, perhaps the man would make things interesting.
“Go on, Your Grace,” she said, nodding for him to continue.
“I won’t make any grand gestures of love, nor do I expect anything from you, other than your sole attention.”
She eyed him curiously. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that even men avoiding marriage don’t wish to share the woman they take to bed. So if you have something going already with Craven, or any other gentleman, this won’t work.”
Rosina laughed. “Nick? Oh, my dear duke, I would never take up such a relationship with the man. Nor do I have any other arrangements.” She paused to smirk at him. “So can I also assume you won’t be sneaking off to alcoves with the simpering misses who are clamoring for your attention?”
“I told you already. I only came here for you,” he replied, his eyes already consumed with desire. “So now that we have settled those terms, that brings me to my last requirement.” He paused and drew a breath. “Even though our arrangement isn’t one based on feelings, I still get to kiss you.”
She couldn’t help but lick her lips from thinking about kissing the man. She wasn’t opposed to kissing as it would heighten the intensity of the wicked things they would do. “I hope you will use your mouth on me in many ways, Your Grace.”
His breath hitched from her words, and she glanced at his crotch, catching sight of the large ridge that took shape. She glanced around and noted they were far away from the others and there was a tall row of bushes beside the house.
Rosina pushed him back against the side of the house, behind the cover of the bushes where she knew they wouldn’t be seen, and pressed her hand against the bulge, gripping him. He certainly wouldn’t disappoint. “Do you wish to kiss me now, Duke?”
He didn’t speak and responded by pulling her against him and pressing his lips to hers. The electricity of their lips touching unleashed something inside of her, and she immediately opened to him and swept her tongue into his mouth. He seemed timid in the kiss, but she reasoned she had caught him off guard.
She tasted the tea on his breath from breakfast and massaged her tongue harder against his. Enjoying the low growls he released into their kiss, she pressed her body harder against his.
They couldn’t continue much longer without the risk of someone coming upon them, and she was already going to be in a state of dissatisfaction until later that evening, when he visited her for the first time. She suckled his tongue and gave his bottom lip a light nip before she pulled away.
Placing her hand back into the crook of his arm, she pulled him away from the house so they strolled in the open again. “Does that mean you shall come tonight, Duke?” The double meaning in her words was completely intended, and she smirked at him.
“You must show me where your chamber is, minx. I am uncertain how I will wait until tonight.”
She shrugged. “At least it shall be worth the wait.”
“I have no doubt about that, my lady.”
Rosina didn’t doubt it either. She hadn’t wanted a man as much as she wanted the one before her in a long time. The realization frightened her only for a moment until she reminded herself that it had been a bit since her last encounter and her body anticipated what she knew would await her that evening. If the size of his bulge in her hand was any indication, she was in for a thrilling evening, indeed.
Rosina separated herself from the duke after their stroll. Many of the guests would assume that they had become friendly, but it would be best to avoid constantly remaining in each other’s company if they hoped to keep the rumor from spreading beyond the house party after they all departed at the end of the fortnight. She hoped that though the guests might suspect, they would long forget to spread the gossip once they returned home.
She had been seated near the man at dinner, which made it only proper that she engaged him in a bit of light conversation along with the other guests who sat nearby. It had been a pleasant meal, with lively conversation. One of the more enjoyable evenings she’d had in a long time, she realized. It surprised her how much she enjoyed speaking with him, and the surrounding guests, about all manner of topics.
After dinner, they all congregated in the salon, and she did her best to avoid ending up in the same groups with him. She had been successful at maintaining distance between them, but it didn’t stop her from glancing at the man every chance she got. There was something charming about the handsome duke, and it affected her in ways that alarmed her. Not enough to change her mind about coupling with the man, but enough that she didn’t wish to think any further about why she had such a reaction.
If she were honest with herself, she was nervous about his visit to her chamber later that evening. Her confidence in her prowess in the bedchamber was strong, yet she had an intense desire to please him more than she had with the other partners. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since Ry. She closed her eyes and drew a steadying breath at the memory of her dear husband.
“Everything all right, my lady?” a rich baritone asked beside her. She glanced up at the duke and gave him a small grin.
“Have you changed your mind about our arrangement?” he asked, concern in his furrowed brow.
She shook off her previous thoughts. “No, Duke. Of course not. You recall which chamber is mine?”
“Take a left from the grand staircase and then the fourth door on the right,” he whispered, his bottom lip brushing her ear. She shivered from the sensation that coursed through her body.
