Chapter 13 #2
She opened a particular package and pulled out the child-sized light pink dress adorned with matching ribbons and ruffles, holding it up for Cedric to see with a giggle.
“That includes spending quite a bit of your money,” she added with a giggle.
Her heart fluttered as Cedric chuckled; his smile was handsome and charming as he walked over to her.
“If this is how she reacts to spending my money then I certainly do not mind,” he replied, batting playfully at the full skirts of the gown.
Still smiling, Deborah slapped his hand away and put the dress back in the box.
“However, I hope you found some things for yourself,” Cedric went on, starting to pry up boxes to peek inside.
“I cannot be escorting you around London looking as devilishly handsome as I do while you wear outdated gowns,” he murmured.
Deborah rolled his eyes as she batted his hand away from another box.
“Oh, please, Cedric! The only thing you know about women’s clothes is how to take them off,” she retorted playfully, putting the last of Adeline’s boxes in the valet’s already full arms.
“It is not as if you know anything about our fashions,” she added.
“Hmm. I may know more than you think,” he murmured as she continued to help the valet organize the many packages in his arms.
“Worry not,” she remarked with a sigh, “I found some ready-made day dresses that are certainly in fashion, and I have a ball gown being made for that flower gala event you were telling me about.”
A moment later, she heard his sharp intake of breath, and she turned around. Her stomach tightened, and her eyes grew wide as she saw that he had found the nightgown. He was holding up, looking at it with dark, hooded eyes.
“Leave us,” Cedric commanded the valet suddenly, “And shut the door behind you. I do not want us disturbed.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the valet instantly replied and hurried to the door, fumbling to keep the many packages in his arms as he grabbed the doorknob and closed them into the parlor.
Deborah’s cheeks heated as Cedric’s hooded gaze moved to her, and that tightening in her belly exploded into butterflies.
“Please tell me this is not your ball gown,” he teased, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “On second thought, please tell me it is. I can already imagine the chaos we would create. London would practically set itself on fire if you wore this out.”
Deborah tsked her tongue as she walked toward him and snatched the nightgown from his hands, balling it up in her hands.
“Do not be ridiculous,” she chided, “It is a nightgown.”
She opened her mouth to tell her how she came about it, but quickly changed her mind. She did not doubt that Cedric would like her mother’s opinion far too much.
“Is it for me?” Cedric asked, smirking.
“It is for me,” Deborah insisted, looking down at the balled-up nightgown as she rubbed at the silky fabric in her hands. “I thought I would feel pretty in it.”
“You would not,” Cedric stated.
Thinking he was teasing her yet again, Deborah raised her eyes to glare at him, and her breath hitched at what she saw. Instead of that twinkle of amusement she was expecting, Cedric’s dark eyes were full of hunger as he took a slow step toward her.
“You would look more than pretty, Deborah,” his deep voice drawing into a husky tone that sent her nerves trembling. “You would look like the goddess of love herself.”
Deborah felt her blush deepen at his praise, and after spending weeks steeling herself from him, the pleasure of his words had her defenses weakening within a second.
“Try it on for me,” Cedric rasped, gently pulling the nightgown from her grasp, “I want to see how incredible it looks on you.”
Deborah’s legs grew weak at the thought of Cedric seeing her in such a revealing gown.
No man had ever seen her so bare! Yet the thought of Cedric looking at her with that desperate hunger had a rush of excitement shooting through her veins, and she decided that she was up for the challenge he presented her.
“You will have to give it back,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady and strong as she held out her hand for it. “I will need to go to my room and have my maid help me change-”
“No maid,” Cedric interrupted, letting the gown fall from his grasp and onto the nearby table. He took a step toward her, closing the space between them, and Deborah felt sparks erupt over her flesh as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around.
“Stay right here. I will be happy to assist you,” he whispered in her ear.
Deborah could not stop the shiver that ran through her as his lips grazed against her ear. Again, she was surprised by the gentleness of his touch- and how such a gentle touch made her want to give in to all sorts of things she normally wouldn’t.
Her lashes fluttered shut; heat coursed through her veins as Cedric’s soft kisses moved from her ear and slowly down the side of her throat, around the nape of her neck, and up the other side of her throat until he reached her other ear.
“Say yes, little goddess,” he whispered into her ear, “I cannot help, cannot touch, until you say yes.”
Deborah drew in a trembling breath, her need for control waning.
“Yes,” she breathed.