Page 29 of The Duke's Goddess

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A SHORT WHILE LATER, Joan was waiting for James on the shore. As per the selfless plan of James, she was completely safe and dry. Jacob and Sally had gone ahead to call for a towel and request tea to warm James up. It was a sunny day, but inside James might have a chill. Joan had opted to wait for him, just to be sure he didn’t need any assistance.

James wasn’t too far behind them, but swimming and pushing the boat had delayed him a bit.

Joan had offered to pull the boat, but James insisted on pushing it, saying he needed the exercise.

When James came nearer, she watched as he found the water shallow enough to stand in. With each step, he slowly revealed more of his body. A chiseled body that she could clearly see through a translucent white shirt. A body rippling with muscle that she couldn’t tear her gaze away from. One hand rested on the boat as he stood for a moment, The other hand raked through his hair, spraying droplets everywhere. Water sluiced down his chest, down toward…she dared not look. But then she did.

His legs were powerful, thick thighs. Clearly he exercised frequently and it paid off. And she wanted to throw herself at him. It was silly. He was fine. The entire time he was fine. There wasn’t even any danger in what he had just done. All the same, she was relieved he was fine and that he was back. And that he was wet.

Well, the wetness was just an observation. Not something she was particularly grateful for. Though…when she took a second look down over his body, she wasn’t not grateful for him being so wet.

And oddly, she felt a bit…wet. Between her legs. A liquid pooling that she had never experienced before. And her nipples were hardening, like beacons, pointing to James. Almost exactly like a lighthouse, directing him to her. Calling him hither.

God, she needed to clear her head. She was beginning to sound like Mimi and all her fantasies.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she said, feeling she needed to say something, and that was so much safer than anything else that was floating around in her head.

“Missed me?” he teased back.

She rolled her eyes. It was natural for a duke to be arrogant, often to a fault. Typically Joan’s experience with dukes was that their haughtiness was condescending, leaving only peons in their wake. But James’s arrogance was different. He was self-assured but light. Always lifting up those around him. He knew who he was. No apologies. It was different for ladies of theton. Joan knew who she was, but she had to hide much of it. Like the dagger she always kept on her person, always tucked away beyond her right side pocket where she left a small gap for easy access.

James was moving again, honing in on her like she was a beacon. Pushing the boat ashore, he grunted.

Ugh. The deep, reverberating sound shot right to her core, like a jolt. Her eyes flew wide. What was that reaction? It was like sheno longer knew or understood her body. It was communicating in a foreign language.

When James plopped himself on the grass, he patted the spot beside him.

“Don’t you want to change?” she asked, taking in his dripping translucent shirt. Pectoral muscles rippled with his movements, and all he was doing was shifting his legs so that his forearms rested atop his knees. Her eyes wanted to drift down to his breeches where she was sure she might see fabric clinging to…him. Beyond terrified to give in, she held his gaze instead.

“In a minute,” he huffed.

And God, his shallow breaths were doing something to her. Parts of her body were zinging. Those parts of her body were shouting at her. Sending her a message loudly and clearly.Danger. She should leave. Temptation was growing. But she didn’t want to go.

“We need to talk.”

Oh dear, that didn’t sound good.

“You need to tell me what’s going on.”

How did he know something was going on with her? Of course, they had so far been able to communicate effortlessly, like he was in tune with her somehow. But could he really sense her body’s physical response to him? She wasn’t close enough to him for him to feel her heat, was she? Were those zinging sensations visible?

She managed to keep her face still, and blandly asked, “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t see Sally’s reaction. What happened in the boat? Are we making progress with them?”

“Oh,” she exhaled in relief, “that. It couldn’t have gone better if we had planned it that way. Sally’s eyes were dreamily focused on Jacob. And I’m quite sure I heard Sally exclaim,My hero, when he helped me enter the boat. I don’t think she even noticed when you fell in the water.”

At that, James barked out a laugh. The sound brought a quick smile to her own lips.

“Thanks for saving me.” Despite James looking slightly incompetent amidst the rowboat transaction, she wanted him to know that she saw his efforts and appreciated him.

“Yes. About that…”

“You could have done a better job saving me in return.”

She could feel the intense heat under her jaw, crawling up into her cheeks. “And a gentleman wouldn’t remind me of that obviously awkward encounter.”

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