Page 26 of The Duke's Goddess

She didn’t budge. “What happened?” In fact, she leaned closer to him, giving him an even clearer view.

He groaned.

“We hit a rock, James.”

The urgency in her voice caused him to glance behind him. Sure enough, there was a boulder in the middle of the pond.

Irritated more by his body’s reaction than their small boating accident, he cast the blame her way. “You didn’t think to warn me that we were headed toward a boulder?”

“I didn’t see it behind your mountainous frame.”

She thought he was big?

“Your shoulders are too broad.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

Flustered, she answered in a rush. “No. I mean, yes. I mean…erm…that’s not the point. I just couldn’t see around you.” And then, probably because the air between them had grown thick, she added, “Or maybe it was your big head I couldn’t see around.”

He laughed, jarring the boat.

“Oh, James. Don’t laugh,” she scolded.

“Why not? It’s funny.”

“You’re rocking the boat.” And then she went down on her knees in front of him. Down on her knees! She was practically between his legs.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s a small puncture in the boat.” Her voice was panicked. “Water is seeping in.” She looked around the empty boat. For what, he did not know. Hammer and nails? A bucket? “Quick. Give me your stocking.”

“What?” he screeched. That was certainly a sound that he had never produced before.

“I need to plug the hole.”

“Use your own stocking.”

But really, that was the wrong thing to say. He knew that it was the wrong thing to say when he watched her lift the hem of her dress to reveal rim ankles, and—he couldn’t look. He also couldn’t let her continue.

“Nevermind. I’ll give you mine.”

But he must not have been working fast enough, because as he unlaced one shoe, she was working on his other.

“Don’t move, James. You’re moving the boat too much.”

But he had to move. He had to get his sock off. He had to do something to not think about her potentially between his legs, touching his foot. Skin to skin.

And then the potential disappeared and became reality. Shewasbetween his legs. Pressing up against his cock (now semi hard),mumbling to him not to move (which he didn’t dare do), and thrusting forward. Toward the hole he could only presume. With stocking in hand.

He squeezed his eyes shut. No one could see them, which at this precise moment was both a blessing and a curse. For this was a scandalous position to be found in. The curse however, was that if he didn’t row them back fast enough, they might sink. And even if she could swim, her numerous layers would weigh her down. And though now more than ever he wanted to see her skinny dipping (for then he would have firsthand knowledge of the answer to his question from earlier), he didn’t think that skinny dipping in front of so many guests would preserve her reputation.

“Hurry up, Joan.”

“I’m almost…there. Yes.”

“I don’t need your commentary on it,” he said, gripping the oars with power from the almighty above.

But she didn’t quit. “So close.” He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw.

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