Page 41 of The Duke's Bartered Mistress

Yes. This was what she wanted. This was the right time, and she knew how to do it.

She met his eyes. “May I choose your next book?”

Demon clearly hadn’t expected that, judging from the flash of surprise in his pale eyes, but he nodded mutely.

She released his hand and jumped from the settee, making a beeline for the small shelf in the corner. She’d found what she was looking for a few days ago, tucked discretely between collections of sermons by someone with a sense of humor.

Turning back to him, she clutched the small blue book to her chest and tried to remember how to breathe. “This-this is one of my favorites. It is a medieval text, transcribed recently and published by the Highland Rose press.”

He’d sat up, and now reached for the book with a curious expression. But when he could see the cover, his brow rose.

“A Harlot’s Guide to the Forbidden and Delightful Arts,” Demon murmured, flipping open the cover. “Interesting choice.”

He did not appear surprised to see the collection of coital positions, each one on its own page, each with illustrations and explanations. This is his library. Perhaps he was the one to hide the book it its place.

The thought of Demon studying these sexual positions, of reading about pleasure and intimacy, sent another spike of arousal through her. Georgia kicked off her shoes, then reached for the buttons of her gown. She’d worn a simple one tonight since dinners were so informal, and now she was pleased she’d be able to remove it herself.

The gown pooled at her feet drawing his attention. “I told you I was married before, did I not? I…I have tried every position in that book, Demon.”

It was questionable if he’d even heard her words. He was gripping the edges of the book, staring at her like a starving man might stare at a buffet of cheese. The thought made her bold.

You just compared yourself to cheese.

Nothing wrong with that. She liked cheese.

Holding his gaze, she stepped from her bloomers and pulled her chemise over her head. When she emerged from the linen, she reached up and began to pull the pins from her hair. She was naked save for her stockings, her toes digging into the fur of the rug under her feet.

The poor man didn’t appear to be breathing.

“And now, Demon,” she whispered, shaking her head so her hair fell down around her shoulders, “I want to try them with you.”

Chapter 9

He’d known she would be a work of art.

There she stood, thick brown curls framing the most perfect body he’d ever seen. She stood with a hand on one hip which accentuated the curve of her thighs, the triangle of curls between her legs, and her tits… Christ, her tits. Each would fill his palm, tipped with large pink areolas which matched her lips.

He positively ached to touch her.

Demon’s throat was dry, fingers cramping from how hard he was squeezing the book.

What are ye doing? Dinnae let yer guard down because of a pair of tits! Try no’ to forget why she’s here, what ye need her father to agree to!

Bellicose crock-waffles! In all his years working undercover for the Crown, in all his missions, he’d seen more than a few naked women. He’d even had those who’d tried to seduce him like this, for money or information or revenge. Sometimes all three.

And not a single one of them—nothing in his past, in fact—compared to the sight of the nearly-naked woman before him.

Because she was nervous. Georgia was trying to hide it, but she was nervous in a way which told him she wanted this. And she was holding his gaze, not looking away from his scars.

He fought for control of his body, but the way his cock throbbed against the inside of his trousers told him it was a losing battle.

Why are ye bothering? She’s yers, and she wants ye.

It was that thought which pushed him to his feet, the book finally dropping, forgotten, to the floor. “Georgia,” he managed to whisper, uncertain how to follow that.

She stepped forward until her toes touched his shoes, until he could see the little bumps on her skin as the cool night air caressed it.

“I want you, Demon,” she whispered, lifting her hand to his ruined cheek. “I want to kiss you as I find pleasure.”

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