Accidentally Compromising the Duke (18 page)

A charming smile crossed his lips. “Rosalie. How did you fare today?”

The joy that chased her features at such a simple enquiry made Adel wanted to grab a tuff of his hair and pull it from his scalp. His yelp would be so satisfying.

“Lady Adel taught us geography earlier. Then we came outside and observed the workings of the compass. It was rather intriguing.”

He arched his brow at the ball, and a sweet chuckle spilled from his daughter, then she lifted a small shoulder in a shrug. “I am unsure how we started playing, Father, but it was fun.”

“I saw,” he said a bit huskily. “Whenever you and Sarah play, I watch you from my study.”

Adel glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, careful to not be obvious in her perusal.

He was gripping the edges of the stone bench in a white knuckle grip.

There were several shrieks and peals of laughter in the distance, and Rosalie turned to the sounds.

“I must return inside with Sarah. We will need to refresh for dinner. Lady Adeline and grandmother have promised to dine with us in the smaller dining room. Will you join us tonight, Papa?”

“I will.”

A soft sigh of relief escaped his daughter’s lips. Then with a smile, she ran to him and pressed a fleeting kiss to his cheek. She turned to dash away but his hand darted and grabbed a hold of her. Edmond tugged Rosalie into his arms and enfolded her in a fierce hug.

Adel froze.

The naked pain of his features was unbearable to look at. Rosalie did not hesitate; she flung her arms and gripped him just as tightly. Adel felt she intruded on their moment, but was afraid to move and shatter whatever drew them together.

“I love you, Father.”

“I love you too, pumpkin,” he said gruffly. “Now go wash and change. We will all dine together, then afterwards we’ll retire to the drawing room and you can play the pianoforte for us. I heard you play today, and you were excellent.”

“Yes, thank you, Father,” she said, and Adel heard the pleasure in Rosa’s voice.

She drew away and ran in the direction of her sister. Then as if she forgot something, she twirled around and waved at Adel.

With a smile, Adel returned her farewell.

Edmond stood and walked away. She remained frozen, wondering if she should follow. Then he paused.

“Are you coming?” he asked with an imperious wave of his hand toward the lake.

She stood. “Is that an invitation to join you on a stroll, Your Grace?”

His lips quirked in a sensual smile. “Would you do me the honor of taking a turn in the gardens, Your Grace?”

“Why, yes, I believe I shall.”

He waited until she caught up with him before continue walking. They strolled without speaking, and she had no wish to break the companionable silence. They passed the gardens, and moved in the direction of the lake. They went behind a copse of trees into a small clearing. He sat on a stone bench beneath the cypress tree, hidden deep in the shadows. Adel sat beside him on the bench, desperately wanting to speak but unsure where to start. She had spied his unguarded response to her and the children cavorting a few days ago. It had been a raw and undisguised longing. He had wanted to join them. The novelty of it had left her bereft only fleetingly, and then she’d realized the improbable.

He was afraid of opening himself up to his own children.

“It would have been wonderful if you’d joined us today.”

The man grunted, but she wasn’t deterred.

“Rosa and Sarah need you.”

His gaze settled on her like a cold caress. “I have given them everything.”

Yes. Even a wife he had no intention of ever loving. She pushed past the ache blooming inside her and allowed a smile to touch her lips. “Not everything, Edmond. They need you to play with them again.”

A dark frown settled on his face, and he thrust his fingers deep into the pocket of his trousers. He seemed almost lost and her heart ached for him. Had she seen him laugh? Do something for the simple pleasure of having fun? He always appeared dark and intense. A deep curiosity to know all of him welled inside of her. “Don’t you ever play?”

Surprised chased his features. “Play?”

“Yes…you know, the art of romping, laughing, and having untold fun?”

“Of course not,” he said stiffly.

“How sad,” she murmured.

He arched a brow. “I am a duke…we do not cavort in the dirt and grass.”

She stood and walked deeper into the shadows and smiled when he followed.

“That is a pity. I think I would enjoy very much you tumbling me into the grass.”

Intense dark eyes assessed her and Adel stepped closer to his heat. “Come play with me,” she said softly.

Something stirred in the air between them, and her breath hitched audibly.

“Have you by any chance given yourself the task of saving me, Duchess, from imagined darkness?”

“Imagined? Your wall of icy reserve is very real.” She gave him a smile filled with delight and daring. “And you’re a chicken.”

Edmond smiled, then grabbed the edges of her gown and slid it slowly up her legs and bunched the material at her thighs. Adel quivered. The act was so unexpected, she almost fainted.

“This is the only way I want to play with you,” he said huskily, cupping the center of her womanhood.

Her breath came in a hard burst at his very surprising and provocative touch. “Then
play
with me,” she tempted, hot hope rising inside.

“I will not be weak, no matter how great a temptation you are.” With a self-deprecating chuckle he lowered his hands.

Acting on sheer instincts, she felt for the stone table behind her, and slowly sat on its edge, and then she widened her legs in the most lascivious manner. A blush heated her entire body, but she held his gaze.

“You are playing a dangerous game,” he murmured.

If he only knew. And the stakes were his heart.

“I am?”

“We are on the estate ground.”

“I have a clear memory of you saying you did not give a damn about being proper,” she said huskily.

An imperious brow arched.

“We are quite secluded,” she added, “And it’s dark.”

Edmond chuckled, and the innate carnality in the sound enthralled her.

He slid his palms along the inner curves of her thighs until he reached her throbbing core. He ran a finger through her curls and hissed at the wetness he found.

“I ache for you,” she confessed, completely without embarrassment. “Since your kiss, all I’ve imagined is your tongue doing wickedly delightful things to my body.”

Edmond’s jaw flexed, his eyes darkened, and the sudden tension in him was palpable. “Have you?”

“Yes.”

“How wicked?”

“I have dreamed of you touching me…where you are now,
every night
.”

There was a pulse of silence.

“Have you dreamed of me at all?” She regretted asking the question and braced herself for his cold rejection.

“Day and night I’ve imagine you sheathed on my cock.”

She gasped, and he laughed, a low, deep vibration that speared heat directly to the aching flesh between her thighs.

“Never have I spoken in such an ungentlemanly way to a lady. But you are not just any lady, are you?” His tone was filled with dark sensuality. “You are my duchess…and I can tell you I do not need to be asleep to think of these plump lips on my tongue.” He slid a finger through her wetness, so she was not in any doubt as to what he spoke of.

But surely she misunderstood.

“I can tell you I dream of riding you long and hard until your thighs tremble from the exertion…even as I dream of worshipping your body with slow caresses and kisses. The temptation to taste you has been truly driving me mad.”

A shock of delight shivered deliciously through her body as the explicit images erupted in her mind.
Riding her…long and hard.
Anticipation warred with hesitancy, then she stepped off the ledge. Adel fisted his hair and tugged him closer, so she could peer into the hunger in his gaze. “Then why do you resist when I ache for you similarly?”

With what sounded like a groan of defeat he kissed her, and it was glorious. His teeth tugged at her bottom lip, and she sighed. With a muffled moan she parted her lips, and he stroked his tongue inside, tasting her with sensual greed. He deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers.

He hauled her even closer up against his body, lifting her swiftly off her feet, and laying her onto the large stone bench. The hard surface hardly penetrated the haze clouding her mind.

His touch set fire to every nerve ending in her body. He pressed kisses along her jaw, and neck, down to her neckline where he inhaled deep. With a sharp tug, he pulled down her gown and chemisette and took one of her nipples into his mouth. A jolt of exquisite pleasure lanced through Adel. She arched into him, and he moved his kisses lower even as he pushed her dress higher and parted her legs.

His breath wafted over the curls at the apex of her thighs, and she trembled in shock. Surely he wouldn’t?
He is
… She gave a muffled shriek.
He is licking me.

Good heavens!
Every preconceived notion she’d held of what happened between a man and a woman shattered. Vaguely she was aware that she should be shocked, but she could not think beyond the chaotic need rushing through her veins.

She caught her breath and then couldn’t exhale. Edmond licked her folds, parting them, and then he covered her nub with his lips, sucking it delicately. Only something wicked could feel this good.

The moan of delight came from deep in her throat.

Her hips arched to him, her thighs quivering with tension. She couldn’t help but bury her fingers in the thick strands of his dark hair and hold him closer to her. More… She needed
more
of him. His wicked tongue stroked her to the brink of ecstasy, and then he slid two fingers deep inside her narrow slit. Her core flamed at the sensual pain, and despite the sharp bite of discomfort, sensations peaked in her belly and on a wordless cry she shattered as bliss seared her.

Edmond gently kissed the inside of her quivering thighs and lowered her dress. He helped her to stand and her weakened knees would not allow her to walk. Adel stumbled against him, and with an embarrassed laugh she glanced up, and froze.

His cheekbones were tightened with savage need. The brilliance of his eyes glittered, and it was then she felt the tempered restraint in his touch, and she could almost feel the battle he waged.

She lightly skimmed her fingertip over his cheekbone, and he gripped the tip, then flattened her palm to him and gently pushed it to her side. “It is as if you are in pain, Edmond.”

The desire in his eyes dared her. She slipped her hand from his, and not releasing his magnetic gaze, cupped his hardness…and instinctively squeezed.

He shuddered. His eyes drifted shut and he tilted back his head, the muscles of his throat working as he swallowed. He looked so primal in this moment; his face a mask of hard-edged sensuality because of
her
touch.

She squeezed again, harder this time, and a low rough growl of need rumbled from him.

“How do you find release?” she asked softly. If he felt something akin to the sharp painful edge she’d been suspended on before she shattered, it could not be pleasant.

“Tell me how to please you, Edmond.”

He finally lowered his head and snapped his eyes opened.
Oh
.

She swallowed. In that moment she was glad he was showing restraint, for she instinctively knew if he took her then, he would be too untamed.

He gripped a loose tendril of hair between his thumb and forefinger, firmly tucking it behind her ear. “I will not deny you pleasure again,” he said.

Elation filled her but she directed her thoughts on what he did not say. “But you will not take pleasure with me?”

He cupped her cheeks. “I derived immense satisfaction from seeing you flushed and coming apart on my tongue. I can still taste you.”

Her heart tripped.

“You are a passionate and sensual woman, Adel. It would be a sin to not please you when you are in need.”

She flushed her body to his. “I am in need now.”

He chuckled lightly. “Were you not pleased?”

She was, so thoroughly she felt boneless. But wasn’t there more? She was sure they had not explored the
it
as yet. “I want everything, Edmond.”

Tension invaded his muscles. “I will not risk you.”

“How can you be so resolved that I will be at risk? Every woman is different.”

“There have been dozens of deaths every day for women in town from childbed complications since my wife died. Medicine has advanced, yet the rate of death has not slackened.”

His voice was blank, devoid of all emotions. It was perverse of her, but she preferred the man who showed rage and pain. Grief could be soothed, pain could be comforted, but this coldness was almost impossible to shatter.

“Then do not risk me,” she said softly.

Surprised flared his eyes wide.

Then he dropped his forehead to hers. “I promise you I won’t. You are young and vibrant. You have much to live for. You do not deserve to have your life snuffed out because I cannot control my baser needs.”

Oh, Edmond
. “Are there no ways to prevent me from becoming with child?”

“Yes. But they are not foolproof and some are very unpleasant.”

“I am willing to try.”

“These are not methods suitable for a lady.”

She arched a brow. “Who are they suitable for?”

“Mistresses.”

Adel had heard some whispers of Cyprians…fallen women. Was he to take a mistress? Adulterous liaisons were the norm among the
ton
and were even seen to be expected in men with wealth and power such as Edmond had. Anger stirred inside. “Are you implying you have a mistress? Let me be honest, I will not have it, Your Grace.”

A fleeting smile touched his lips. “You wouldn’t, would you?”

“No!” she growled.

“I would never dishonor you so,” he said with sincerity.

The rage that had been climbing dissipated. “Oh.”