Page 12 of The Duke

She didn’t respond. And that concerned him.

“Have you already found something that concerns you?”

She sat up straight. “Your press advisor will be given an opportunity to respond to anything I print. We, of course, will seek your response.” Her voice had switched tones, and he now saw the reporter take the reins. While he loved her strength, he did not enjoy the receiving end of the wall she built.

“You’re right.” He tugged at her to lean back again toward him.

“About what?”

“We should keep this part of our lives separate.”

She cautiously snuggled back in under his arm.

“For now.”

“Ugh. Trane.”

“Well at some point I think we should come up with a plan, or talk about what you will say. Or something.”

“I don’t work for you.” Her voice had gone quiet, and he realized the error of his words.

“True. You’re right. Look Phina. Here’s the truth. I want you to write the best, most accurate article you can write. Help everyone see the importance of caring for our environment, cover the summit and all the powers at play there. In that way, we will be working together on this.”

She nodded.

“Now, you never even mentioned your favorite chocolate by your plate that I noticed you ate first.”

She wiggled against him. “If it is Torren chocolate, it always gets eaten first. And last, and in between.”

“I have another piece.” He dangled it in front of her and then he leaned back, inviting her to come across him.

Her eyes lit and darkened with a yearning that lit a reaction in him. He reminded himself to take things slow. But she would make that difficult. Especially as she now leaned across him, reaching for the chocolate. He shifted so that she stayed in his arms. “Open it.”

Her lips close to his, he felt the breath of her response and her heart drum against him. “Now?”

“Mm. Hmm. It’s new.”

She pulled her hand from under him to open the piece and then placed it on her lips, melted the chocolate and then spread it on his mouth, parting his lips to find his tongue.

He took a small bite and then she popped the rest in her mouth. “Mmm. Trane. This is...” She closed her eyes and he waited. When she swallowed and opened her eyes, he ran his finger along her neckline and then back up and into her hair. “Phina.” He could not wait any longer. He wanted to press his mouth to hers and never stop.

She fell back to the couch at his side, lying next to him. He shifted so his face hovered above her own and slowly, lowered his mouth.

She raised up to meet his lips and he cradled her in his arms. The softness of her response to him undid him and forced him to take care, to be in control. She trembled and her lips moved with such a hopeful hesitation, his heart almost broke. If he began this experiment to see if they could work, he had to make it work. He could not break her heart again. Then he responded to her hesitation with an insistent pressing and pulling of her bottom lip, covering her mouth with his own over and again until she responded with the same. They lost themselves to each other until he shifted, covering her and rotated too much and landed on the floor. “Doh.”

She peeked over the edge of the couch, her hair deliciously mussed. “Are you ok?”

He opened one eye. “Get down here you.” He pulled her off the couch and she landed on him. But the moment was lost and they laughed more than anything. Shortly after, she pushed off of him and stood. He felt cold, the space between them charged with yearning.

“I have to go.”

He didn’t move, only nodded. “OK.” It was for the best. He told himself it was for the best. But she stood there, desire flushing her cheeks, happiness brightening her eyes and he forgot all the reasons she should not stay the night. Perhaps it would be better to have a staff member about when they were together.

She swallowed twice. “I do have to go, right?”

He groaned and rolled to his side. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Laughing, she turned. “Ok, I’ll go.”

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