Page 24 of Good Duke Gone Cold

By this point Gregory was directly behind her. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and her back was being scorched.

“Let me see,” he breathed onto her neck as he raised his left arm up alongside her body and to a shelf above her head. “This one?” He tilted his lips toward her ear. “Too dry.” He began to draw up his right arm alongside her body to mirror his left arm. Now she was caged in. “How about this one?”

Her eyes were blurring. She couldn’t see anything. She only felt.

She felt his solid, warm chest against her back. A safeguard or a blackguard. She felt his breath against the nape of her neck. Her body was tingling from her toes, to her shins, to her spine, and all down her arms’ lengths. This odious man could entice such passion in her.

She wanted to be the proper, ambitious woman focused on herself and her dreams. She wanted to do the right thing. And at the exact same time, she wanted to focus on herself and her desires. What would happen if she gave in to desires? He said she could do this without being touched, without being kissed. So maybe she could trust him again. Maybe it was time to allow herself to truly and fully be herself. No more closing off emotions. No more hiding desire.

She didn’t know what to say, and the only word she could eke out was his name, “Gregory.”

It sounded like he let out a low growl. “Mary, tell me what you want.”

“I–I–I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. You must feel it.”

I do. I do feel it. You make me feel everything. I wish you didn’t, but here I am so overwrought by lust that I fear I’m turning wanton. The desire is relentless. I want you to be everywhere. I want to feel you everywhere. I want to kiss you again.

All the thoughts rushed through her brain in a split second, but she couldn’t share all of that with him. “I want… you.”

She felt his body mold against her. “You want me?” His entire body was pressed up against hers, and he touched his lips to her neck.

She startled. “Can’t,” she mumbled.

“Mmmm,” he hummed in her ear and the warmth crawled down her torso. “You want me, but you don’t want me to touch you. As I promised.”

She nodded.

“I think, my pet, you might be a minx.” He inhaled against her hair. The gesture felt almost tender. And then he commanded, “Pick up your skirts.”

She turned her head and found herself staring up into his lips. With the most infinitesimal move, he could lean forward and close in on her mouth. She wished he would. “Pick up my skirts?” She breathed.

“You must feel an ache between your legs. I’ll help you take care of it.”

“Oh.”

She reached down and began to grab the front layers of all her skirts, petticoats, and chemises.

“I’ll hold them for you.”

With some semblance of logic, she asked, “Wouldn’t that be contrary to you touching me.”

“I’m not touching you, only your skirts.” With less semblance of logic, she acquiesced.

He kept his left arm braced beside her and he used his right arm to anchor her to him while holding her layers between her body and his arm.

She felt exposed. The air was cool against her bare skin, but his breath was warming her up.

“Where do you feel the ache?”

“I–I can’t say it.”

“Show me.”

Hesitantly she lifted her left arm to her breast.

Gregory groaned. “Where else?”

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