Page 12 of An Ember for a Duke

Oh how she wished for the contact of his thumb on her lip. And more, how she wished to kiss him again. She remembered the breath of life she inhaled upon his lips under the mistletoe. Did he remember? Of course he didn’t. He would have no way of knowing she was the same woman he had kissed. But now he wanted to kiss her, seeing her face, knowing her station. Was he the type to go around kissing any woman at any time? It didn’t seemed like it. But for some reason, at this moment, it didn’t matter anymore.

When would she ever kiss a duke again? A man? Nevermind those questions, when would she ever kiss a man she was so drawn to that she couldn’t stop herself from leaning into his chest? She knew what that chest felt like and only wanted to know more.

It didn’t matter that the relationship would go nowhere. Didn’t she deserve happiness and romance as much as any woman?

Yes. The answer was a resounding, if not fleeting, yes.

And then she realized his thumb was still on her chin, but she had already made up her mind. She hoped to convey all her desire and willingness to explore him and try new things as well, but only if he interpreted her single word clue correctly.

“Here?”

The twinkle. The grin. The teeth. The quickness with which he was on his feet. Yes, he interpreted her code correctly, not that she had made it particularly difficult.

He reached down and grabbed her waist to pull her to standing. “Come with me.” He took off toward the house.

Perhaps he hadn’t understood her clue. She wasn’t sure a quick hop over to his bedchambers or hers would go unnoticed.

“I would take you to the hunter’s cabin but it’s too far. There’s a small cozy place my sisters like to sneak off to. You’ll love it.”

A thousand thoughts flittered through Adeline’s mind as she held onto the duke’s hand for all she was worth, but only one thought mattered: she would kiss him again.

The two reached a small shed not quite within sight of the house. When the door opened, Adeline was greeted with a room not nearly as cold as she would have predicted. It must be all the windows and the solid stone floor trapping in the heat. Taking a look around, Adeline observed books strewn around the room, along with plants and baubles for crafting. Candles and lanterns of all kinds waiting to be lit, sat on every shelf.

“What is this place?”

“It’s where my sisters sometimes sneak away to if they want some space for themselves.”

“It’s lovely.”

The duke was standing in front of her with his hands on her waist. How had that happened? And when? It didn’t matter.

“It’s not as lovely as you.”

“I bet you say that to all your women.” Where had that come from? Perhaps there were still some small remnants of logic left in her brain corresponding to her heart telling her to exercise caution.

“You may not believe me, but I don’t just say that. And now I can’t believe myself, but…I have to say that I would love to kiss you.”

“Yes.”

“To which part?”

Excellent question. To all of it. She probably didn’t believe him, but she didn’t care. She wanted her kiss. She wanted her moment with the man that brought out the woman in her.

But she couldn’t tell him any of that. That was certain to send him running away. In fact, the most that she could make out was little more than a whispered, “Kiss me.”

And then his lips were on hers, and they immediately found their place. They remembered these lips from the other night. Her body’s response was more than she had ever experienced. She wanted this man. All of him. And though she knew she could never have him, she knew she could have him once, fully.

Her body slammed into his and she released a moan that should surely scare him away. Only it didn’t scare him. It triggered him.

His tongue dove into her moan and traversed her mouth, sparing no caution. Her nipples, now hardened nubs, were clawing at his chest, clamoring for something more. Something more, now please.

Perhaps she had spoken those desires aloud because his hands were untying her gown and yanking the bodice down with such fire she was certain she was about to be burned. But she didn’t care. She did not care. There was only one care, to know him. To be with him. To have him.

“Your Grace,” she heaved.

He pulled back with shock and she could see the contrition in his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He panted, “I never–”

“Don’t be sorry. I want more.” She said it. She finally said it aloud. She had a desire and she was going to squeeze it for all its juices.

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