Page 27 of Wedded to the Scottish Duke

“We need to stop,” he whispered.

“We?”

“Ye started it,” he reminded her, his lips curling into a challenging smirk he could not hold back.

“You pressed me against the wall and…” She let her hands drop to her sides.

“Ye didn’t exactly protest.”

She rolled her eyes at him, and he couldn’t help smiling. She even gave the smallest of smiles, the color blooming on her cheeks bright enough to see in the dim light.

“There,” he whispered.

“What?” She lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“A blush.” He nodded at her. “I knew I had an effect on ye.”

“Arrogant man.”

“Intoxicating woman.”

Then that sound came again. They both jerked their heads away this time.

“If we’re seen, I’ll be ruined.”

“It could just be an animal,” he assured her. “I’m looking forward to our next lesson.”

Clearly, she’d had enough. She drove her hands abruptly into his chest, pushing him back.

“We shouldn’t have done that. It should not have happened.”

“Ye didn’t seem to mind a moment ago. Wait, Celia? Lass?” he called after her, but she wasn’t listening.

Rather than running back into the ballroom to avoid him, she sprinted off into the garden instead.

“Celia?” he barked after her, but she didn’t even hesitate.

With the skirt of her gown in her hands, she ran with all her might away from him.

Keith stared after her, turning to lean against the wall.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

He couldn’t regret it, though. This infatuation with Lady Celia would surely pass. Perhaps in the meantime, he just had to burn her out of his system.

He could return to the ball. He could try and please his mother, perhaps even talk to Lady Alicia and consider her as a bride, but he would rather dive into a bog than return to that room.

Instead, he stepped off the terrace and walked through the garden, choosing to return to the house a different way. If he had his way, it would not be the last that he saw of Celia tonight.

How can I let it end there? With one kiss?

He hadtastedher once. He had to taste her again.

Celia cursed at herself as she flung her chamber door open and marched into her room, making sure to kick it shut behind her.

“What in God’s name did I just do?” she cried at the ceiling as if the heavens would somehow answer her.

“Ow,” she muttered a moment later, reaching down to rub her leg through her gown.

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