The Duke's Sins | ongoing

To Go Down in Flames

13~to go down in flames

The car pulled up seamlessly before the Duke's estate. The security here was tight. Still, my fist was tighter along the steering wheel until men and women in black uniform had escaped along the edges of the building.

Some of them went inside, the rest disappeared along the edges of the house, as though the very shadows swallowed their forms whole.

The Duke reached for his seatbelt.

"Wait. Not yet."

Slowly, one by one, the uniformed guards stepped out of the estate to return to their vehicles.

"Let's go."

The breeze ruffled in my hair, picking at my stray strands as I paced over to the other side.

I grabbed Jaxon's hand as soon as we were out to keep him behind me. Every one of our steps crunched along the gravel—my head darting left and right every few paces.

The Duke yanked back on my hand, pulling me into the heard heat of his chest.

"You holding my hand will only give my family the wrong message, Delilah," he warned lowly.

"It's the message we want to give." I kept my voice sharp. "Remember?"

"Do you remember?" I could hear the grin in his tone. "You're supposed to be in love with me. Not trying to rip my hand off, love." His breath fanned over my cheek, his nose a whisper over the shell of my ear.

"I told you," I managed shakily. "It's Sphinx."

His head dipped in closer, until his stubble was pressed against my cheek. "Delilah."

I ignored him, slipping my hand out of his. "Fine. But stay behind me."

"Are you always so bossy?"

I didn't bother with a reply.

"Or is it just in be—"

"Finish that sentence." Our steps paused outside the entrance. "I dare you."

"I was going to say," he slipped a hand around my waist, "that you should get used to this."

A frown creased between my eyebrows. "Get used to what?"

The air rushed out of my lungs when he pressed his lips to my cheek. It was a soft peck, polite and simple. But my back was still pressed up against his front and his hold over my waist turned steely.

"Just don't always expect it to be so," he paused, "formal."

I turned on my feet, annoyed at the red creeping up my neck. "Then what should I expect?"

"Before my family? An easy kiss." He held my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my face up. "Do you want to know what to expect in public?"

My breath hitched in my throat. "What?"

The duality of his eyes shifted, darkening like the hues of sunset—the warm brown transforming into the blue shades of the night. His attention was fixed to my lips. Fixed with a hungry gaze.

"Son! Jaxon, what are you doing out there? Come inside!"

I couldn't get away from the Duke fast enough.

The woman stood eye to eye with me, the warmth of her smile easing my nerves. Messy curls were looped tightly at the nape of her neck, a few loose wisps curtaining her face.

"You must be Delilah. Come inside, my dear. Emma will be ecstatic."

Was I supposed to curtsy? Or would a bow be more sufficient?