All About the Duke (The Dukes' Club Book 4) by Eva Devon Page A

hands up his strong shoulders and finding the boldness to slip her fingers into his perfect, dark hair.
    In retaliation, he bit lightly at a sensitive spot on her neck. She yelped and arched against him.
    “Like that, do you?” he growled against her.
    Goodness! Just the feel of his hot breath and lips sent a delicious shiver up and down her whole body.
    She nodded, still amazed he could evoke such feelings in her.
    “So,” he gazed down at her, his face surprisingly gentle and hungry at once. “By the light of day, you still wish to have me?”
    Taking courage in hand, she locked gazes with him. “Yes, Nicholas.”
    His chest expanded in a huge intake of breath and he gave a nod. “Good.”
    It was such an odd response. Had he been nervous that she might say no? She rather liked the possibility that she could make such a powerful man nervous.
    Even so. . . She stroked his cheek and then touched his lips with her fingertips. They were so strong and so soft. Just the sort of lips to kiss her witless. “But not here. Not on the beach.”
    “Beaches are vastly overrated,” he stated.
    “Are they?” she teased. Her lips twitched. “Do many people contemplate them?”
    He shook with laughter “Too many do. Sand is quite itchy.”
    She arched her brows. “Famous! Your variety of knowledge is most fascinating.”
    He arched a dark brow. “I shall choose to take that as a compliment.”
    “Oh do,” she encouraged. “Though I do think more people, especially ladies, should be allowed to have such an education.”
    “My dear Alfred, what a rebel you are. If women were thusly educated most men would never be able to keep up with them.”
    A thrill chased her. Oh, kisses were wonderful but, ultimately, it was the meeting of their minds that was the most erotic thing she’d ever known. “And that, Your Grace, would be the point.”
    He waggled his dark brows. “Are you saying women are superior to men?”
    “If we were given half a chance,” she said, “I think we would quite surprise you.”
    He smiled. Then in that rumbling voice of his, replied, “You already have.”
    “Good then.” She grinned and, with a boldness that shocked her, took his hand and began pulling him along the beach. “Now, let’s get on with our walk.”
    “You really do make a terrible servant, Alfred.”
    “It’s a good thing then that I don’t plan to be one for very long.”

Chapter 9
    H ow in the Devil did one properly seduce a lady in disguise as a serving boy? Nicolas stared at the flowers he’d had picked from his hothouse and scowled. It was wrong. All wrong. He was going to just have to have these displayed in the hall. . . Especially after the footman had his mouth open so wide for so long that Nicholas was fairly certain a fly had flown in and out.
    He didn’t care if the servants thought he was having an affair with a man. He had enough self-confidence to not be bothered. But he didn’t like the idea of looking like he was seducing a boy or someone in his power such as a servant.
    This was only one issue in all that was wrong.
    Quite frankly, he doubted that Alfred (She still wouldn’t tell him her name) would be impressed by a bunch of tulips, no matter how much they cost.
    And perhaps Alfred had already agreed to be in his bed, but he was no fool when it came to women, especially intelligent women. The seduction didn’t begin in the bedroom and it certainly didn’t stop once a man had gotten there. Men who thought so were absolute morons who knew nothing about female pleasure.
    He let out a sigh.
    Alfred was having a bath. . . In his room.
    It had been damned tempting to linger, but he knew ladies could be fussy about such things and, frankly, he wanted her to feel powerful the first time he saw her naked, not nervous.
    How else would a young woman feel, smeared with dirt and slightly odorous.
    He still wanted to punch himself. He’d suggested her bath after sniffing slightly at the air and realizing that the