“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.