“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.
“Pleasetell 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 forme,” 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! Yetthe 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.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“This is not what I was expecting,” Deborah murmured.
Behind her, Cedric chuckled. His touch was quick and deft, drawing out the ties of her gown expertly.
“And pray, what were you expecting?” Cedric asked, smoothing the loosened gown down her shoulders and over her waist. The fabric dropped to the floor with a soft rustle, and Cedric’s fingers moved back up to her corset, working that free next.
“Something more…seductive?” Deborah offered, glancing over her shoulder. “You are Redwyne the Divine after all.”
“Oh, you do love to remind me of that, don’t you?” Cedric mused as her corset joined her dress on the gown.
“Shall I remind you of something as well?” He whispered in her ear.
Deborah shivered, then nodded.