Free When Seducing A Duke by Kathryn Smith Page B

a better comparison, like a child caught doing something she oughtn’t.
    “Oh! Hello, Grey.” She glanced away. “Um, blue seems to be very favorable this year.”
    Arching a brow, he nodded at the periodical in her hand. “Beg pardon. I thought you were reading a ladies’ magazine.”
    “I am,” she replied with a coy smile. “But fashion is not one of its main areas of interest.”
    With an expression like hers—very much like the Cheshire cat in that book by Lewis Carroll—he doubted it was an article on housekeeping that put such becoming color in her cheeks.
    “May I?” he asked, holding out his hand.
    Her grip on the magazine tightened, reluctant to give it up. “Only if you promise not to tell Mama you saw me reading it.”
    Oh, this was trouble. Still, it was none of his business what a grown woman of three and twenty read. He was curious, that was all. “I promise.”
    She hesitated, then put the pages into his hand.
    Placing his finger between the thin sheaves to mark her spot, Grey flipped to the cover. Christ on a pony!
    The magazine looked fairly harmless—the sketch on the front showed a demure young lady in a stylish gown and hat, sitting on a park bench. Only upon closer inspection could one notice that the object of her attention—and rapturous smile—was the young man bathing in the lake just on the edge of the page. He was bare-chested—quite possibly bare everywhere, but that key part of anatomy was carefully hidden with a line of text that read, “Ten ways to keep a gentleman at home—and in bed.”
    He didn’t want to see what she was reading. He had heard of this magazine before. Voluptuous was a racy publication for women, filled with erotic stories, advice, and articles about sexual relationships, how to conduct oneself to avoid scandal, etc.
    He could take her to task for reading it, but what would be the point? No doubt the information in it would serve her wisely someday. He gave the magazine back to her. “I have to confess, I’m a little surprised to find you reading such…material.”
    She shrugged. “I was curious. My parents were so happy in their marriage, so very much the opposite of most of what I’ve heard. If I’m to make a match as good as theirs, I need to know as much as I can about how to have a satisfying marriage.”
    Grey almost groaned. The image of Rose “satisfying” herself filled his mind with such clarity it was difficult to remember he’d never actually seen such a delightful sight. His body stiffened at the delectable images his mind conjured, and he had to fold his hands in front of him to hide his growing arousal.
    “There’s just one thing I don’t understand,” she remarked, setting the periodical aside for a moment.
    “And that is?”
    She tucked her skirts around her legs, denying him further glimpses of her ankles. “Would you by chance know what gamahuching is?”
    Grey would have thought himself far beyond the age of blushing, but the heat in his cheeks was unmistakable. “Good lord, Rose.” His voice was little more than a rasp. “That is hardly something a young woman brings up in casual conversation.”
    Oh, but he could show her what gamahuching was. He’d be all too happy to crawl between those trim ankles and climb upward until he found the slit in her drawers…
    Rose shrugged. “I suppose it might be offensive to someone of your age, but women aren’t as sheltered as they once were, Grey. If you won’t provide a definition, I’m sure Mr. Maxwell will when I see him tonight.” And with that threat tossed out between them, the little baggage returned her attention to her naughty reading.
    His age? What did she think he was, an ancient? Or was she merely trying to bait him? Tease him? Well, two could play at that game.
    And he refused to think of Kellan Maxwell, the bastard, educating her on such matters.
    “I believe you’ve mistaken me if you think I find gamahuching offensive,” he replied smoothly, easing