Chapter Twelve
An hour later,the crush of carriages in the street was enough to block traffic for two straight days.
Percy spied a disgruntled coachman waving from the top of a lion-crested carriage—hiscoach and man, he reminded himself—and Percy returned the man’s hand signals with a clipped, “Move when you can. We will walk.”
The man’s eyes widened, surprised, no doubt, that the new Duke of Grandfellow was versed in the common language of servicemen. He tipped his hat in understanding.
Danny, of course, missed nothing.
“Always a surprise,” she said as they skirted the traffic and crossed the road to a quieter side street. “Any other hidden talents, Your Grace?”
Oh, what he could do with hot wax and a splattering of whipped milk.
“It wouldn’t be any fun if I told you,” he said.Showingher, on the other hand...
A playful finger traced his bicep, and Percy felt the light touch down to his groin.
“I couldn’t persuade you to reconsider?”
God blast it all, the sound of her husky voice was worse than torture.
“Put that smart mouth to good use, and I’ll divulge every last secret I know,” he challenged, not caring if national security could handle the breach when he sang like a bird.
Those flirting eyes widened. Licking her lips, she glanced at the quiet alley, the cramped layout of the buildings casting long shadows even in the middle of the day. “Here?”
“Why not?”
Her curiosity got the better of her. “What do I do?”
Jesus, she couldn’t be serious? “Get on your knees.”
He made the command in jest.
Despite knowing her fearlessness, hehadbeen teasing. The alleys at the edge of St. Giles Rookery—a route his distracted mind had taken by rote—weredeserted this time of day with most residents working their shifts at the local mills. They werealsoinvested with filth and prostitutes on a good day, pickpockets and cutthroats on a bad.
A heightened sense of danger taking hold because of the woman at his side or old paranoia out of self-preservation rising to the surface, Percy’s gaze swept the dark alcoves and the nearby roofs for unwelcome eyes.
It wouldn’t be prudent or safe to linger here. He’d whisk Danny somewhere safe andthenthey could resume their fun.
But Danny had no intention of waiting. She dropped down in front of him, her clever fingers working open the fly to his trousers without a word of instruction or encouragement. He had to stop this.
“Danny—”
“Shh. I’m concentrating.”
Percy was mesmerized by the lovely V between her brows until the last button slid through its hole and his cock sprang free, pointing due north with confidence.
Her shocked gasp was quickly followed up with the exclamation, “My, you’re large.”
Percy gritted his teeth as her compliment brushed hot air across his crown. “Thank you, my dear. I do try.”
Her fingers tickled his length in a querying touch.
Cock jumping, Percy pulled back. He’d taken this too far. The woman was magic and mayhem. Instead of disgust and outrage at his tasteless teasing, she was compliant. Interested.Innocent.
Her hands were instantly there, stopping him from wrestling himself back into his stays. “I’m not done.”
“Trust me, darling.” He restrained her with a light circling of her wrists. “What I had in mind isn’t for a lady, and I’m a rutty scumbag for suggesting it.”
