Page 74 of The Dark Duke's Virgin

She stood back from the table, hands folded behind her back in a way that pushed her chest forward. She wore a simple gown, loose but easier to pull off quickly because of it. Just yesterday, in a similar circumstance, Frederick had pulled her into this very study, lifted an identical gown over her head, sat her on the edge of his desk, and buried his head between her thighs until he had her screaming.

His heart began to race as he thought of doing the same. His hands around her body. His lips over her heaving breasts. Perhaps a hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming as he slipped his fingers inside of her. So easy to do… to forget why he had asked her here… to live in ignorance… to taste her one final time?—

No!He gave his head a shake, set his expression to a more stern one, and ignored the way his member throbbed between his legs.

“I am sorry to pull you away from my daughter’s lessons,” he began simply.

“Oh…” She sighed. “That is quite all right. To be honest with you, they were not going so well today.”

He frowned. “And why is that?”

She clicked her tongue. “Isabella was not happy to learn about the new governess starting in two days’ time—she accused me of trying to leave her, as if it was my idea. Worse was when Esther came skipping into the room to announce that her estate would be ready to move back to sooner than we thought.”

“Is that so?” he asked, studying her now for her response.

“I have just spent the last hour with Isabella assuring her that I was not leaving her, but…” She looked away sheepishly. “… I can only lie so much.”

He almost scoffed at that—the irony of her not wishing to lie—but kept his cool for he saw an opportunity. “And is it a lie?”

Hey eyes went wide for a moment, clear surprise at the directness of the question, but as had been her way these last few days, she was quick to cover it. A sly smile, and she walked close to the table. “Let us not talk about that right now…” She reached the table and perched herself on the edge, tracing her fingers across the top. “Surely, there are other things on your mind?”

Again, Frederick felt that same pull that was so common when he was alone with Miss Dowding. To reach out and take her hand. To pull her onto his lap. To kiss and taste her and have her as he so wanted to do… A growl escaped his lips, but he forced himself to smother it.

“Answer the question,” he said instead; his voice was sharp and commanding.

She blinked and pulled her hand back. “Excuse me?”

“You have avoided answering it for a week now.” Slowly, he forced himself to stand, so he was looking down at her. “And I would like to know. When my grandmother leaves, will you be joining her?”

“Oh…” She leaned back, taken by surprise, her cheeks flushing and nerves growing. She looked away, half made to stand…

“I… I have not really thought about it.” An obvious lie.

“Yes, you have,” he said as he stepped around the table. “Do not say otherwise.”

“Your Grace…” She leaned back further when she saw him coming. “What you ask is… it is not any easy question to answer.”

“But you have thought about it.” He stopped in front of her, careful not to get too close. “I know that you have.”

Was that excitement behind her eyes? Eagerness? As if she had been waiting for this moment, for him to press her. She licked her soft lips, moisture forming on them. He yearned to reach out and run his finger along them, to slip that finger back in his mouth and taste her…

“I will admit I was upset when Isabella accused me of leaving her; I - I have grown very fond of her these last two weeks.”

“I have noticed.”

“And us,” she continued. “When we first met, I admit that I did not like you very much.” She was looking away, but a soft chuckle, and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes, letting him see what she thought looked like truth in her words. “But a lot has changed.”

“It certainly has.”

“And you…” She licked her lips again, reached out, and stroked his arm. He stiffened at her touch but did not pull away. Even he was not so strong as to do that. “What would you like?”

“That was not the question I asked.”

She laughed softly, nervously. “But it is a relevant one.”

“Still, not the one I asked.” There was an angry growl in his voice, one she clearly took as arousal.

Her eyes flashed. “I do not want to leave Isabella…” She spoke carefully, as if choosing each word specifically. “I fear what it might do to her. And as for us…” She took his hand and held it. “I… I admit that I would like to see where…” She was shaking, struggling to control her breathing, breasts heaving beneath herdress. “Yes,” she said finally. “If you wish it, when Esther leaves, I will stay.”

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