I follow Duke around to the back of the club. His hand is on the small of my back the entire time. Tingles dance up and down my spine and I’m shocked that I’ve managed to not fall in these ridiculous shoes I put on for the night. Duke’s bright yellow Audi comes into sight. He unlocks the car and opens the passenger side door. As I pass him the scent of his cologne engulfs me and I swear I get a little weak in the knees. Duke is so close that the slightest move from either of us will have us chest to chest. My skin prickles with unnecessary anticipation. I may be completely in love with Duke, but as I have always said, I am nothing to him. Disappointment wraps around me, smothering me like a warm blanket. After what feels like a bucket of cold water which is really just disappointment, I slide into the seat and he shuts the door. No matter what I can’t help but watch as he walks around the front of the car.
Once he’s settled and has started the car the music takes over the silence that sits between us. His choice of music has always thrown me for a loop. James Bay plays through the speakers and before I realize it Duke already has us on the street and moving toward whatever destination he has decided on. As we come to a stop at a red light I glance at him. His large, strong hands wrapped around the steering wheel makes me wonder what they would feel like if they were tangled in my hair while his lips claim mine. The car suddenly feels hot and stuffy. I attempt to distract myself. “Where are we going?”
Duke looks over at me, his blue eyes pinning me to my seat. I fight the urge to squirm under his watchful stare. “It’s a surprise,” he finally admits.
My eyes roll and Duke raises his eyebrows in question. “I hate surprises.”
He shakes his head. “No one actually hates surprises, Penelope. That’s just something people say thinking it will make them seem less demanding of sorts.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you but you’re wrong.”
Duke pulls the car into one of the port parking lots. “I’m never wrong.”
“I know it’s rare for you but it’s true. At least when it comes to me. Surprises should be fun and exciting but I’ve literally never had a surprise work out that way.”
A cocky smirk graces Duke’s handsome face. “Well, there is a first time for everything.”
Duke kills the engine then climbs out of the car. The passenger door opens and there he stands like some form of God under the moonlight. “What are we doing here?”
“You said you didn’t want to go home. Neither do I. My boat seemed like a good solution for the both of us.” Duke moves to the trunk of the car before I manage to get one leg out of the car. I join him and see him rummaging through an overnight bag. He produces some clothes and shoves them in my direction. “Here. They won’t fit perfectly but they’re something.”
I look down at the gray sweats and black t-shirt in my arms. “You keep clothes in your car?”
Duke shuts the trunk and shrugs his shoulders with one arm full of clothes. “I do. You never know when they might come in handy.”
“Do you spend a lot of nights away from your house?” I ask as I follow behind him toward his boat. He never answers but eventually we reach his boat. He takes my hand, helping me on board, then leads us below deck. “Are you just going to ignore my question?”
“I was planning on it.” I shake my head and drop the clothes onto the leather sofa against the wall. “Penelope, you aren’t the only one searching for freedom in this suffocating world. Some of us are more discreet about it but it doesn’t mean we don’t want it as well.”
I scoff. “The Duke Parrish wants freedom?”
“Don’t act so surprised.” I watch in fascination as he starts to unbutton his shirt. My eyes zero in on the action of his fingers. “Freedom is elusive for those of us in this part of society. We are never free from expectations and obligations. I’ve accepted mine for the most part but that doesn’t mean it’s what I want. I just believe there are battles you fight and some you accept. I decided not to fight this battle the way you do.” The last button is undone and I watch as he strips the shirt from his body. His golden skin looks amazing under these muted lights.
I cross my arms in an attempt to keep my hands to themselves. “So, why bring me to your boat?”
“You asked for freedom…this is my freedom. I’m sharing it with you for the night.” My eyes seem to be unable to look anywhere else as his dress slacks hit the floor and he steps out of them. Duke is completely unphased by my presence. He slips on a pair of basketball shorts. When he turns around and notices I’ve been watching his every move his eyes darken, jaw clenches just like my body. “I’ll head up so you can change.” Duke makes a dash for the stairs, leaving his clothes scattered. However, I finally feel like I can breathe with him on the deck. Only problem is…when I take a deep breath I’m surrounded by him.