The Duke lay in his bed, his thoughts consumed by the memory of the mysterious lady. Her beauty and grace haunted him with an intensity he had never known. Meeting her had been the most magical moment of his life, and from the instant he saw her, he knew she was the one... THE ONLY ONE for him.
Lady Danbury entered his room quietly, careful not to disturb him. The sight of Simon still awake at 2 a.m. surprised her. This was unlike the Simon she knew; he had never been so lost in thought before.
Clearing her throat softly, Lady Danbury brought Simon back to reality. He snapped out of his reverie, rising from the bed to face her.
"Yes, Lady Danbury? What do you need?" Simon inquired, his voice betraying a hint of distraction.
"I have it," Danbury said, holding up a piece of paper in her hand.
"Okay, then. Good night," Simon replied, his mind still partially elsewhere.
"Not before you tell me what you were thinking about," Danbury asked slyly, arching an eyebrow.
"Me? Nothing much... Nothing at all," Simon answered, slightly flustered by her directness.
"If you say so." Lady Danbury sensed there was more to Simon's thoughts than he let on, but she decided to respect his privacy and bid him good night before quietly leaving the room.
Simon lay back on his bed, his mind restless and consumed by thoughts of the mysterious lady he had encountered. Her presence lingered in his thoughts with an intensity that kept him awake. Suddenly, the sound of a carriage halting outside pierced the silence of the night. Curiosity and hope stirred within him.
He rose swiftly and approached the window, peering out into the darkness. There, a considerable distance from his house, he spotted a figure stepping out of the carriage. Even from afar, he sensed it might be her—perhaps the enigmatic woman who had captivated him earlier.
Driven by an urgent desire to see her again, Simon descended the stairs with silent footsteps, mindful not to alert Lady Danbury or anyone else in the house. He quickly adjusted his appearance, smoothing down his hair with a nervous hand, and stepped outside into the cool night air.
The journey to the carriage felt like an eternity. Every step fueled his anticipation and longing. As he reached the spot where the carriage stood moments ago, his heart sank at the sight of the carriage being empty. Disappointment threatened to overwhelm him, but just as he turned to head back, a figure caught his eye.
There she was, standing before him in the soft glow of moonlight, a vision of grace and beauty that took his breath away. It was Daphne Bridgerton.
Time seemed to stand still as they locked eyes. The world around them faded into insignificance, leaving only the two of them in that poignant moment of recognition and longing.
Without a word, they moved towards each other, closing the distance with hurried steps until they stood face to face. Simon could feel the warmth of her presence, a magnetic pull that drew him closer. And then, as if driven by an unseen force, they embraced tightly, their hearts beating in sync with a rhythm of undeniable connection.
"I wanted to see you again," Daphne whispered, her voice carrying a mix of relief and longing.
Simon held her at arm's length, his gaze unwavering. "You have no idea how much I wanted this," he confessed softly, his voice tinged with emotion.
At that moment, words seemed insufficient to convey the depth of his feelings. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her with a passion that spoke volumes—of desire, of longing, of a yearning that had found its answer in her.
His intense gaze bore into hers, filled with a hunger that mirrored her own longing.
Without hesitation, he again started kissing her passionately, his lips capturing hers in a heated embrace. His kiss was a blend of urgency and tenderness, sending a surge of electricity through Daphne's veins. His hands roamed over her back, pulling her closer as if he couldn't get enough of her warmth.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned in to taste her neck, savoring the delicate skin beneath his lips. He trailed soft kisses along her jawline, sending shivers down her spine. His touch was electric, igniting a fire within her that she hadn't known before.
Sensing her motionless presence, the Duke leaned back slightly. "My apologies," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "Let me escort you back to your carriage."
She nodded silently, her heart racing as he took her hand and led her towards the waiting carriage. Every step felt charged with tension, the air heavy with unspoken desire between them.
Simon struggled internally as he fought the overwhelming desire that surged through him. Every fiber of his being yearned to give in to his impulses, to hold her close and lose himself in her embrace. But he knew he had to resist; he had to be the gentleman he was raised to be, even though it tore him apart to do so.
Watching Daphne walk in her intricate dress, Simon couldn't resist the urge to intervene. "Please. Allow me," he implored.
Daphne looked at him, puzzled by his sudden insistence. "Allow you what?" she questioned, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of anticipation.
Without another word, Simon gently took her hands and placed them around his neck. With a swift, confident motion, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Her body pressed against his, and he could feel the heat radiating between them, stirring a deep thrill of excitement tinged with nervousness.
As he carried her towards the waiting carriage, every step reverberated with an intensity that seemed to electrify the air around them. Daphne's heart raced as she gazed up at him, her breath catching in her throat at the closeness between them.
Gently laying her down inside the carriage, Simon's eyes held hers for a lingering moment. "Have a good night, Miss," he whispered softly, his voice laden with unspoken emotions.
Daphne, her mind swirling with the intensity of their brief encounter, felt a rush of conflicting emotions. She wanted to reach out, to pull him close and defy the rules that bound them. Yet, she also understood the complexity of their situation and the precariousness of their budding connection.
As Simon closed the carriage door, the finality of the moment hung heavy in the air. Daphne watched him through the window, her heart beating wildly with the memory of his touch and the lingering taste of their stolen moments together.
Simon stood outside the carriage, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, battling the urge to run back to her. He knew he had to let her go, at least for now, despite the ache that gnawed at his heart. Deep down, he prayed that their paths would cross again, that fate would grant them another chance to explore the undeniable chemistry that simmered between them.
Turning away from the carriage, Simon walked back towards the darkness of the night, his thoughts consumed by the woman who had captivated his heart in a way no other ever had.
"No, come back," Daphne cried out, her voice echoing with urgency and longing.
Simon, driven by an undeniable desire to be near her, hurried back to the carriage. With purposeful strides, he climbed inside and settled across from her, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that spoke of his unwavering resolve. The air in the carriage grew thick with unspoken emotions.
Daphne turned away, her fingers trembling as she struggled with the zipper of her intricate dress. She cast a fleeting glance at Simon, her eyes facing him with a mixture of vulnerability and desire. "Would you?" she asked softly, her voice a whispered plea.
Simon's heart pounded in his chest as he heard her request. Without hesitation, he moved closer to her, his breath mingling with hers in the confined space. His hands, though nervous, were steady as he reached out to help her. The touch of her skin beneath his fingertips sent a shiver of anticipation through him, igniting a fire that threatened to consume them both.
Carefully, Simon traced the path of the zipper down her back, each movement deliberate yet filled with reverence. As the dress loosened, revealing more of her bare skin, he couldn't tear his gaze away from her. The dim light inside the carriage cast shadows across her face, accentuating the delicate curve of her lips and the softness of her features.
Daphne turned to face him fully, her eyes locking onto his with a raw intensity that mirrored his own. In that moment, words became unnecessary as their silent understanding deepened. The air crackled with unspoken tension, their proximity heightening the awareness of each other's presence.
"Continue," she whispered, her voice husky with anticipation, her breath mingling with his.
Simon obeyed, his fingers trembling as he slid the sleeves of her dress down, revealing more of her delicate shoulders and neck. He leaned in, placing soft, lingering kisses along her collarbone, tracing a path of heat across her skin. His lips explored the contours of her neck, leaving a trail of fiery kisses that made her gasp with pleasure.
His hands moved to her breasts, caressing them gently through the fabric of her gown. He could feel her heartbeat quicken beneath his touch, her sighs growing deeper with each tender caress. Simon's own breath hitched as he felt her response, his desire for her growing stronger with every passing moment.
Unable to resist any longer, he knelt before her, his hands deftly removing her sandals and then her socks. His lips followed the trail of her legs, kissing her ankles, her calves, moving slowly upwards. He worshiped her knees with soft kisses, feeling the tension in her thighs as he moved higher, his lips leaving a trail of fire along her skin.
He looked up at her, meeting her gaze filled with longing and desire. Daphne moaned softly, her body trembling with anticipation as he leaned in to kiss her there, igniting a wave of pleasure that coursed through her entire being.
His hands gently slid up her sides, feeling the softness of her skin, tracing the curves of her body. He kissed her passionately, his lips craving more of her.
And as Daphne's moans grew louder, echoing through his mind, Simon was abruptly awakened from his reverie.
It was just a sweet, sweet fantasy, a vivid dream that left him breathless and yearning for more. The taste of her lips lingered on his own, the memory of her touch still warm against his skin. He closed his eyes, savoring the fleeting sensations that had felt so real, yet now slipped away into the realm of dreams.