Page 8 of Best Duke Ever

But her hands were too quick, and both of them fisted around his lapels.“Edward, there’s no one I trust more than you.I want you to show me the different kinds of kisses.What if I do find myself in a situation where I’m unprepared.”

She had a point.He didn’t want her to find herself unprepared.Then again, he also didn’t want her to find herself prepared.Especially if it was for another man.

“Please,” she spoke on tiptoes, trying to meet his gaze.

“Fine.I’ll show you one.”

“Five,” she bartered back.

“Two.”

“Four.”

“Three.”Three?What was he thinking?He couldn’t kiss her three times and not walk away unscathed.But the hope in her eyes…he always couldn’t walk away from them.“That’s my final offer.”

“I’ll take it.”

Damn it.He was really going to kiss her.His stomach folded itself in half while his throat clenched around a giant lump.

What was the minimum he could offer her while keeping his sanity?He took a deep inhalation and braced his hands against the door again.It would be for the protection of his heart that he not touch her.

“One,” he leaned in and pressed a soft, slow kiss to her cheek.He could feel the gentle puff of air release from her lips, and it tickled its way across his jaw.

Damn.He was in trouble.He needed to stick to his plan.He dipped his head and brushed his nose against hers as he ducked to the other side.Heart hammering.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“Two.”His lips found her other cheek and lingered.Infinitesimally longer than the previous kiss.Or so he thought.He couldn’t be sure.Time was a meaningless concept.

“Edward,” Lenora’s hoarse whisper was almost his undoing.He needed to stick to the plan.If ever there was a moment he needed to just stick to the damn plan, this was it.

“Three.”He lifted his chin and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead.There.He had done his duty.

“Edward,” Lenora pleaded.Her voice was gravelly.“That was not three different kisses.”

“Yes, they were.One on the cheek—”

“Edward.”Her voice was more demanding.“That was just three kisses on three different places.You must show me more than just how my grandmother might kiss me.”

“Trust me.Those were not kisses from your grandmother.”

“Then show me—”

He couldn’t stop himself if King George himself had sauntered into the room.His lips swept across hers.Lightning shot through him, and one of his hands gripped around her neck.When she gasped, he crashed his mouth against hers.

Her hand was already in his hair.Gripping.Tugging.Pulling him closer.He dragged his tongue along the seam of her lips.She opened.

The most intoxicating taste of whiskey was on her tongue.Their tongues whirled around each other, dancing.

Her moans clutched at his heart.

When he pulled back to kiss down the column of her neck, she mumbled, “Oh my God, Edward.”And then she arched her back into him.

She was so willing.So ready.So responsive.

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