Page 4 of Duke's Daring Bookworm
“The moon shone behind you, making you look like a fallen angel, and I wanted to know how it felt to be kissed by the Devil. I’ve never been kissed before.”
“Never been kissed?” he asked slowly, sounding unsure of these words, like they couldn’t be right.
“No,” I shook my head too hard and when the room spun again, I balanced on Duke to keep from falling over. “Never been kissed. Never had sex. Never had more than a few bad dates before the guys ran for the hills. Well, the ones that didn’t try to force me to have sex when I didn’t want to, but those ones were gross and mean.”
Duke’s fingers tightened around my arms on the edge of too much before he relaxed them.
“Did anyone… has anyone forced you?” A growl vibrated his words, and I thought that if any of my past dates were here, they would be scared right now.
“No. My dad taught me how to kick a guy in his balls and poke out his eyes. Though I haven’t needed that one. I don’t go places alone with them. I know how to be safe.”
I leaned my head on Duke’s chest and felt it rise and fall with his rapid breathing. He seemed to be the one needing comforting right now. Odd. I didn’t question it, though, and wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him tight.
“So you see,” I said after a bit, still holding onto him, “I’ve never been kissed, and I wanted a kiss and I trust you, you won’t hurt me or force me to do anything I don’t want to do. So I did it. I kissed you. I’d like to do it again.”
“Lily, you’re drunk.” That’s not a no, I realized. I looked up at him, hoping he would say yes. “Ask me again when you are sober, and I’ll think about it.”
I smiled and might have squealed. A real kiss. I just had to remember this and ask again after I sobered up. I didn’t realize I waved my hands until Duke pulled his head back to avoid being collateral in my excitement.
I stepped away from him, ran over to a notepad I kept by the fridge, and pulled out a fresh piece of paper.
“What are you doing?” Duke asked from where he still stood by the door.
“Writing this down so I don’t forget.” I couldn’t help the excitement in my voice as I scribbled down:ask Duke for a kiss and maybe even sex. My writing tripped and fell over itself on the sticky note, and I hoped I would be able to read it in the morning.
I stuck the paper on the fridge, right next to the water dispenser, so it would be easy to see tomorrow.
I turned to see Duke standing right behind me. Good thing, too, because I almost fell again, and he caught me before I toppled over.
“And maybe even sex?” he asked as he read the note. His voice pitched higher than usual, and he seemed alarmed by my addition to the note.
“Maybe.Maybesex.”
He looked down at me and then closed his eyes, just breathing deep before shaking his head and helping me to my room. I swear he muttered something under his breath about me killing him, but my bed called to me, and I wanted to answer that call.
“Good night, Lil,” he said as he turned out my light and left.
Sleep claimed me before I even heard the front door close.
Chapter Two
White and green stared back at me from my computer screen. They were the brightest lights in an otherwise dim room. The words on the screen might as well have been children’s scribbles for all I could understand of it.
Dammit.
I rubbed my face and leaned back in the too opulent leather chair. The large walnut desk was empty except for the computer and a heavy wooden placard my grandpa gifted me that read ‘Samuel Pennington CEO’ in shining gold lettering. I wasn’t the CEO, not yet, and I didn’t think anyone would be here if they didn’t know who they were talking to. He insisted, though, said it was tradition. I didn’t have the heart to keep fighting with him—about the name, the job, or the placard.
I wasn’t going to get any work done like this. My new responsibilities pressed down on me, swallowing my timeand sanity, and the first date I’d had in months was a bust after seeing Lily drunk at the bar.
My cock twitched as I remembered how she looked in the little purple dress that poured over her, hugging her every curve. Her cherry flavored lips felt like sin, all soft and wanting.
Fuck.
Don’t think about Lily.
Logically, I knew drinking didn’t make you a different person. It didn’t give someone ideas they didn’t havebefore. It didn’t change who you were deep inside. All it did was let that inside person come out to play, good or bad. It just opened a door. I had been drunk often enough myself to know that.
Logically.
