Page 44 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
Or perhaps, when he spoke ofwooingKit, it wasn’t a sexual thing.
She swallowed, determined to discover the truth, and pressed herself up on her toes to claim his lips.
The little noise of surrender he made was worth it.
His hold on her tightened; his fingers spread across her lower back, pulling hercloser closer closeruntil their chests touched. His other hand dropped hers and rose to cup the side of her neck, fingers digging into her hair, holding her in place.
And his lips…
Dio Benedetto,his lips!
Joy rose in her as she matched his kiss, his playful sorties and strategic retreats, until she was leaning against him. In one motion, he pressed her to him, lifting her feet from the floor, and whirled.
Kit had no time to be alarmed before her toes hit the ground again and she felt the wall at her back. When Thorne moved closer, the hand that had been at her back now pressed against the wood beside her, she smiled under his lips.
Yes, he’d trapped her between his body and the wall, but it allowed him to plaster his body against hers, and she could now feel the evidence of his desire. But as Evie had pointed out, Kit had no ballocks.
Time to grow some.
Kit wrenched herself away. “Thorne,” she gasped.
But then he was leaning toward her, pressing his forehead against hers, his breathing harsh. She forgot her words as they stood there in the shadows, sharing each other’s breath.
“I want…” Thorne groaned, eyes closed. “I want to take ye someplace private, Kit.”
The jumble of emotions in her chest burst into a wry chuckle. “I have full reign of your bed chamber, Thorne.”
His lovely blue eyes had opened, peering into hers, so close she wondered if he could really see her. “I like it when you call me that,” he offered with a small smile. “It’s like ye really seeme.”
But then he took a deep breath and straightened just enough that he could see her truly. “I’ve never done this before.” As if to underscore whichthishe meant, he flexed his hips forward, and she wondered if he realized how beautifully his hardness nestled into the throbbing cradle between her legs.
“Done what?” She smiled wickedly. “Slept with a man?”
He grimaced. “Wooedone.”
“Well I have.”
Thorne blinked as if trying to make sense of the conversation. “Wooed a man?”
“Slept with one.” She likely shouldn’t tease him. She likely should just come out and tell him the truth. But Thorne wasfun. And he liked her—was attracted to her—no matter how she looked. “And I must tell you, Your Grace, you’re very much my type.”
His lips twitched ruefully. “Well, never let it be said ye dinnae ken what ye like.”
Her chuckles burst free again. She couldn’t help it; the way her blood was thrumming made her feeldelightful. “And I suppose I should be flattered that I’m the first valet you’ve wanted to sleep with.”
“I dinnae want—och, nay, Idowant to sleep with ye, Kit.” He leaned closer again. “I want to hold ye. But first, I want to make ye feel the way ye made me feel. No valet has made me feel this way.”
Since his lips were less than an inch from her cheek, Kit could forgive herself for breathlessness when she asked, “What way?” and turned slightly so her lips were next to his.
His gaze darted across her face, but he didn’t move closer, didn’t kiss her. “I feel…as if every moment of every day, I’m focused on ye. My pulse is buzzing, my heart pounding for ye. Nae matter if ye’re no’ in the room, I still ken where ye are.”
Oh.
Oh,my.
Suddenly, the way he looked at her while she played for him made more sense.
Suddenly, her hand was in his, and he was pressing her palm to his chest. “Feel that, Kit?” he whispered. “Every beat is yer name.”
