Page 89 of Dark Angel

He’s never felt this way about another girl, no matter how many have longed for his attention and touch. He never once considered inviting any girl to dinner with his family. Never once offered to dance with them or help them undress in their quarters.

Jordan swallows loudly, thinking about that last one and what he’s going to need to do in the next few minutes. Wondering if he’ll be able to control himself like a proper male should.

The door to her quarters opens and Jordan trails in behind her, taking in the sight of her room in one slow sweep. A simple four-poster bed sits in the centre, which looks quite bare. Only two pillows are fluffed on top, with the white covers neatly tucked in at the sides. All of her garments are hanging up in the wooden robe to one side and a paper screen covering where she changes for privacy is angled into the corner. Her wash chambers are off to the other side-a small room with a simple porcelain basin and tub.

The only decorations filling the room is the shelf of books that occupy the deep green wall behind her bed, a tall silver framed mirrorand a painting of her with her parents. Kora appears to be three years old in the picture.

Kora notices him studying her quarters. She’s only ever allowed Clarence and Daisy to step foot in her room before. This is scandalous, but invigorating, nonetheless. “I shall quickly find something to change into then.” Breaking their silence.

Walking briskly over to her wardrobe, she opens the doors to all of her garments hanging neatly in their spots. Kora begins sifting through all of her dresses, trying to choose her best option.

Jordan glimpses the few colourful blouses, gowns, skirts and coats she has hanging up inside. The couple of pairs of shoes that line the bottom shelf.

Kora pulls out a shiny red dress the colour of cherries she hasn’t worn in a while. It was rather expensive, and she deems it lovely enough to wear to a dinner. Kora pulls it off the metal rod when she hears Jordan clearing his throat behind her. “Green suits you better.” His words are a little stiff with nerves.

She peers back at him over her shoulder. Her hazel eyes gleaming at his, even though the room is fairly dim with only the faint oil lamps illuminating the space.

“You’re right.” Her soft voice lets out. Placing the red one back, she takes a light sage green one from the hanger and gives a small sniff of amusement. “You may have better fashion sense than Matthew, and that is saying something. That man knows how to dress well.”

Jordan thinks back to the numerous outrageous outfits Matthew has dressed in, yet he always seems to pull them off perfectly.

“I will need to change now.” Warning him as she turns to see his gaze solely focused on her.

“Oh, certainly.” And he spins around, facing the door to give her the privacy she deserves.

Moving to the other side of the screen, Jordan listens to the rustling of material being removed, and the clatter of shoes hitting the timber flooring.

Staring at the wall in front of him, Jordan can only imagine what she’s peeling off her behind the thin screen dividing them. How she’s undressing and slowly exposing herself. He curses internally, reminding himself that she’s hisfriend. Not his fiancé or wife. He shouldn’t be thinking those things about her. It’s too improper.

“Would you mind helping with my corset now?” her voice cutting through his thoughts.

Jordan turns around slowly, preparing himself to see her fairly bare. At no time in his life has he seen any girl partially undressed before, let alone fully bare. Fabrics of all sorts lie on the timber floor around her. Kora is standing still with her corset tight in place, her silk chemise underneath covering her chest down to her mid-thigh.

Jordan clears his throat, his feet feeling as though his shoes are glued to the floor.

“If you could undo the buttons, please.” She adds quietly, her throat working as she stares back at him. Flared green-brown eyes shimmer, waiting for him to move so she can relax. The skin of her cheeks pink below the freckles that dot her pale face. Her lightly coloured lips are thick and enticing.

He blinks at her, his mind wrapping around her words and as she stands in front of him in only her undergarments. His pulse leaps as heat rushes down his body, pooling below his stomach.

Without another word, Jordan’s able to un-stick his feet and walk towards her numbly. Ignoring the fact that he tramples over her garments tossed onto the floor, he closes the distance between them. He can now see how small she really is, the corset hugging her waist, pushing up her chest.

Jordan shakes his head, not allowing his gaze to fall from her eyes. She asked him to help her change, not eye rake her like a scoundrel.

Coming to stand behind her, Jordan sees the multitude of tiny ivory buttons fastened along her spine. There has to be at least fifty of them. All looped together with strings to keep her corset tight.

He steadies his fingers, which seem too shaky for the job. Plucking the first one, it pops open, revealing the smallest amount of silk beneath. One by one, he continues down her spine, watching the corset slowly peel open like an envelope.

Kora’s breathing deepens as her lungs have more room to breathe now that they aren’t as restricted, but also from the fact that his touch on her skin is electrifying. It’s like tiny pin prickles of vivacity jolting her senses awake. With each graze, she fights herself from flinching in delight.

“I should not be doing this.” Jordan’s voice is quiet yet steady. His breath grazing the skin of her back, raising it into gooseflesh.

Her head rotates so that he can see half of her face. Blush creeps down her neck as he continues unbuttoning her. Jordan is aware that he should stop, but he can’t bring himself to.

“You can stop if you like.” Offering him the chance to run away before he loses control of himself.

He plucks another button gently in response. “No.”

His finger reaches out, grazing the raised skin of her spine, and she shivers under his silky touch. Her musky jasmine scent filling his nose sweetly and enticing him just as much as the corset. His mind wanders to what she’d looked like with nothing covering her skin. Bare and on display for only his eyes. Blood drains away from his mind and he shakes his head, making himself focus.

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