Page 53 of The Duke Says I Do
She didn’t laugh, although she could tell that he didn’t want to dwell on his extraordinary extravagance. Her voice shook with emotion. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me. Thank you.”
“Then life has shortchanged you,” he said. “I intend to treat you like the treasure you are.”
Before her boggling mind could summon some response, he went back to murmuring praise to the horse. She heard him pat the horse’s neck. “It’s all right, Poll.”
When she spoke, she’d gained a little control over her tumultuous reactions. Her voice emerged with a dry edge. “Poll? Isn’t he a gelding?”
“Apollo and Dionysus. But that’s too much of a mouthful for a sensible man.”
“Dionysus?” She took a guess. “Di?”
“Right first go.”
They each took a horse and led them into the stalls. “They’re all set up with food and water.”
Alaric was checking Poll’s feet on the other side of the chest-high partition. “Yes, a housekeeper and a gamekeeper, a married couple, live here when I’m not using the house. On the rare occasions when I host a hunting party, I send staff from London. I wrote to the Johnsons last week, requesting them to prepare everything. They’re visiting their daughter in Godalming right now.”
Portia brought Di up to the filled manger. She rubbed him down, as he drank noisily from the bucket. She’d been in astate since she’d arrived at the lodge, but the familiar rhythm of settling a horse calmed her.
She patted Di’s shoulder and went to stand in the aisle. “Your new horses have lovely manners.”
“Yes, you did me a favor when I bought them.” He came out of the stall and shut the gate behind him. His coat draped over his arm, and he was in his shirtsleeves.
For a long moment, Portia studied him. By heaven, he was a treat for the eye.
He regarded her with a quizzical expression. “What?”
Color flooded her cheeks, which was mad when so far she hadn’t done anything to raise a blush. “You’re so handsome. You quite dazzle me.”
He blushed, too, which she found charming. “What a load of nonsense.”
She loved it when he revealed this unexpected boyish side. She saw it when he was with Jupiter and now with his horses. And with her. It wasn’t something that he allowed free rein in society. If he had, perhaps it wouldn’t have taken her so long to realize how likable he was. “It needs to be said.”
“Then thank you,” he said with more of that charming self-effacement. “Shall I show you the house?”
She squared her shoulders and summoned all her courage. “Not yet.”
He guessed at least part of her intention. “You want a kiss?”
She wanted more than that. But a kiss made a good start. “Yes, please.”
Chapter 13
Granville loved how open Portia was about her desire. Being a duke put one at the top of the aristocratic order. But nothing in his life compared to how powerful he felt, knowing that this one remarkable woman couldn’t keep her hands off him. It made him feel ten feet tall.
The first time he’d kissed her, she’d wrapped him in sunshine. The week since had kept that glow alive. Away from Portia, the world was cold and sharp and unwelcoming. By heaven, he intended to stay as close to her as he could.
Which meant responding to her every overture.
He let his heavy coat slip from his hand and drew her into his arms.
All day, he’d kept a short rein on his passions. Now they were alone, and three days of joyous exploration lay ahead. He could hardly wait.
When she yielded, all willing femininity, he abandoned restraint without a second’s hesitation and took her lips with desperate hunger. On a soft growl of encouragement, she opened her mouth to his sensual invasion.
Heat flooded him, turned his veins to rivers of fire. He couldn’t doubt how much she wanted him. It was clear in the way that she pressed close and in the flicker of her tongue around his. It was in her muffled little sounds of pleasure, incoherent pleas to keep going. To give her more.
Her rich scent, floral soap and aroused woman, tinged with horse sweat, filled his senses. Became the air he breathed. Blazing darkness crammed his head, so that everything outside the circle of Portia’s arms receded to nothing. It all disappeared,except Portia and the aching heaviness of his balls. He was immediately hard for her.
