Page 22 of Lily and the Duke
Was that what Lily wanted?
To never know what Gabriel, the imposing Duke of St. Albans, wished to say to her?
What hewantedfrom her?
More importantly, what she might be willing togivehim?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Gabriel regretted bringing Lily to the large house in the quiet London Street the moment the two of them stepped into the narrow hallway after entering through the back of the house.
They had been admitted by the security guard once Gabriel had ensured his carriage was safely in the hands of the groom who had run out from the stables.
There was no sign inside the house of the scantily dressed ladies who lived here, mainly because it was the middle of the afternoon. He knew that was because most of them would be enjoying a well-earned sleep after going to bed in the early hours of this morning.
But there was still an odor of smoke and alcohol from the entertainments the evening before, when the house would have been alive with music and the laughter of half-dressed and beautiful women.
Gabriel had arranged with the hostess that the only person visible during their visit would be the security guard, who would show them to a private room.
Seen in daylight, their surroundings were far from salubrious, and Gabriel realized belatedly what a totally unacceptable establishment it was to bring a lady. To have broughtLily.
He reached out to grasp her arm and halt their progress down the hallway. “It was a mistake to bring you here.”
“Did you mean me any disrespect by doing so?”
“No!” he protested. “Absolutely not,” he added in a softer voice. “I simply wished to be alone with you.”
Lily nodded. “Then you should know that, unorthodox as it is,thisis undoubtedly the most excitement I have ever experienced in my life!” Her eyes glowed and her cheeks were flushed as her gaze darted everywhere at once. Presumably so that she did not miss seeing a single feature of the establishment.
Gabriel could feel a smile curving his own lips as he took in her unfiltered reaction to the novelty of their surroundings. “You do not wish to leave?”
“Certainly not!”
“Wine and refreshments have been set out for you in the parlor, Your Grace,” the guard informed them as he showed them into the private sitting room Gabriel had requested in a letter. The madam of the house had confirmed by return that such a room would be made available to him, along with the refreshments.
“Thank you.” Gabriel dismissed the other man.
Lily turned once the guard had left and the door closed behind him. “You can have no idea howwonderfulit is for me to be allowed to see something as scandalous as this residence when my life is usually so narrow and regimented into what is believed to be proper.”
A spontaneous reaction, Gabriel hoped, which might make Lily open to the suggestion he was about to make.
A suggestion he knew to be highlyimproper, but the intensity of his desire for Lily gave him little choice but to at least make it to her. If her answer was no, then he would have that same lack of choice when accepting her answer.
Gabriel literally felt as if he was going insane with how deep his need was to kiss Lily again. To caress and make love to her.
His cock was growing sore from how many times a day he gripped it in his hand and pumped it to completion. Only for that disobedient member to plump back into arousal again mere minutes later.
Gabriel now found it impossible to think of anything or anyonebutLily.
“So.” She turned to him now. “What is the subject of this conversation you wish to have with me?”
Gabriel had grown to admire Lily’s straightforwardness since they became better acquainted. But he now wished it were not quite so forward as this.
He drew in a deep breath before speaking. “I would like the opportunity to show you what a waste it would be if you keep to your decision to remain indifferent to men and the physical enjoyment you might find together.”
Lily eyed him skeptically. “You have seen my mother. Would you really wish me to suffer the same deep dissatisfaction she feels for her life?”
Gabriel shook his head. “That will not happen to you.”
