Page 37 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“When I was younger. I wasn’t always the brightest of pupils. When I couldn’t arrive at the answer, I often wished no one knew who I was. I’ll wager you were an exceptional student.”
“Why would you think that?”
“You have intelligent, expressive eyes. You’re always watching, observing, striving to calculate where we’re going before we get there.”
“You deduced all that in our short time together?”
“I’m a keen observer, Lady V. It’s why I’m so skilled at what I do.” The smoldering look in his eyes implied he was referring to a great deal beyond the photography. It included kisses, touches, and far more intimate encounters. “Before we’re done here, I hope you have the opportunity to experience all my skills.”
“You’re not frightfully arrogant, are you? Both times I came here, you were a solitary figure against the wall. No ladies hovering about.”
“Because most know I make the selection. And I only select each lady once.”
“Yet you selected me twice.”
“It seems where you’re concerned, I’m making a good many exceptions. On the other hand, we’ve yet to complete my purpose or yours in being here. So perhaps it’s simply an extension of our first encounter. Now lie back.”
It was silly to want to talk with him more, to want to get to know him better. But Grace, blast her, was correct. How could she be intimate with a man who was more stranger than friend? While she had come here only to pose for him, now she was considering him posing for her, while she took liberties—
“A change of heart, Lady V?” he asked.
“No, I ... a spurt of nerves, but they’re gone now.” She rolled down onto her back, looked up—
Jerked upright. “Oh, dear God, there’s a mirror there!”
He laughed, a deep, rich, rumble that made her smile, made her glad she had the power to elicit that response even if it was at her expense.
“I suppose I should have warned you about that,” he said.
“Whyis it there?”
“Some people like to watch themselves while they’re ...copulating.”
“Oh.” She had planned originally to be bedded with her eyes closed tightly, but if she did that, she would miss the beauty of his form. Still, she didn’t want to watch the actual coupling. She considered what she knew of the act. “Ladies, you mean. Ladies like to watch.”
“Men as well.”
“It seems that it might be rather difficult since you’re on top.”
“I’m not always on top.”
“Are you not?”
“No. Sometimes I’m on bottom. On my side. I’ve been known to stand.” He wrapped a large powerful hand around the bedpost. “Sometimes I kneel. There are all sorts of positions.”
“Do you know them all?”
“I doubt that. But I know a good many. I can share them with you when you’re ready.”
She didn’t know if she’d ever be ready for all that, but she was intrigued by the possibilities. She had envisioned them coming together only once but, as she was beginning to realize she might never have enough of his kisses, perhaps there were other facets to him of which she’d never have enough.
Suddenly, barely aware of him moving, she found herself cradled in his arms. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to place you where I want you, before you lose your nerve. My subjects don’t usually talk so much. It’s better to just get on with it. I’m going to touch you, but you can stop me if you become uncomfortable with my attentions.”
As he walked around the corner of the bed, she felt delicate when she never had before in her life. Having inherited her father’s features, she’d always felt unfeminine, almost boyish. It hadn’t helped that she’d loved climbing trees and following after her brothers.
He set her down gently in the middle of the mattress as though she were fragile glass. With his hands coming to rest on her shoulder and hip, he rolled her slightly. “On your stomach but not all the way. Extend your left arm up. You can rest your head on it. Your right hand here, near your ribs to provide some support.”
