Page 6 of A Scarred Wallflower for the Duke
For a moment, Georgina stilled in his arms, taken aback by the feel of him. In spite of herself, she could feel a warmth beginning to spread out from her core, and she cursed her treacherous body. But he was right. If they were caught in here, she would be ruined. If they were found alone together, they would be expected to marry. And she knew there was no waythatwould happen once he saw what lay beneath her mask.
“Let me go,” she murmured against his hand.
“You promise not to cry out again?”
She nodded.
Vincent let his arms fall, and at once, she missed the feel of them. But he did not back away. He stayed standing just inches from her, one arm on either side of her head, keeping her pinned against the wall.
Georgina’s heart was thundering, half with fear and anger; half with something else entirely. She could feel Vincent’s eyes boring into her, looking far too closely.
What does he see? Can he sense my imperfections, even beneath my mask?
His hand shifted a little toward the ribbons keeping her mask in place. Georgina flinched violently. “No. Please,” she begged. “Do not remove my mask.”
“Calm yourself. That is not what I was about to do. I would never.” He gave her a crooked smile. “If you wish to remain a lady of mystery, then you shall.”
Georgina felt her panic subside a little.
Vincent traced a finger along the edge of her jaw. The feather-light touch sent shivers of excitement through her entire body. “I was merely going to say that it should not be long until one of my footmen finds us. Or until whoever locked us in here returns.” His vivid blue eyes met hers.
“So perhaps we ought to make the most of our time together,” he said.
ChapterFour
“Make the most of our time together?” Georgina repeated. Her voice caught in her throat. “What exactly did you have in mind?” She heard the faint tremor in her words. Hoped Vincent had not noticed it. The last thing she wanted was for this overconfident man to know how much he was affecting her.
Not that she could do much to hide it.
She could feel her body pulling instinctively toward his. Could feel heat gathering between her legs; could feel her breasts straining against her corset. She hated that she was feeling such things for such an arrogant, self-important man. But then again, she did not hate it at all. Never in her life had she dared to imagine she might be on the receiving end of such a scandalous proposition.
She was mistaken surely. She was so overcome with desire that her brain had scrambled Vincent’s suggestion. Because how could a man like him ever want someone like her?
He took another step toward her. “Well,” he said, his nose grazing hers, “you see, I have always wanted to kiss a mysterious woman. Someone as intriguing and dazzling as you.”
He finds me intriguing. He finds me dazzling.
Georgina’s heart was so loud in her ears that she was sure Vincent could hear it. His lips hovered an inch from hers, and she could feel his warm breath on her skin.
I could not. This is far too scandalous. It could destroy me. I—
Before her train of thought found a conclusion, Georgina’s lips were on his. Had it been her doing or his? She had no idea. The only thing she could make sense of was the feel of his mouth against her own. His kiss was no gentle, testing thing. It was fiery, consuming, his tongue parting her lips and tangling with her own, as if pushing her, seeing how far she would go. The blaze inside her intensified, and she heard a faint moan escape her, Vincent swallowing the sound.
At the back of her mind, Georgina could hardly believe it. She was actually kissing a man. And kissing a man as fine as Vincent. She pressed her body instinctively against his, needing more of him, searching for friction against the fire between her legs. She gasped at the feel of his hardness against her center.
Am I truly responsible for making him feel such a way?
It was dizzying. Unmooring. And Georgina could not get enough. “Vincent,” she heard herself whisper.
He broke the kiss for a moment, cupping her chin in his broad hand. “I want to take you,” he murmured, his breath ragged. “I want to take all of you. Will you allow me?”
Georgina heard herself moan in response. As scandalous and wrong as this was, she knew she would never have a chance to feel such things again. Besides, her body was so alive with pleasure, she knew she could not stop now, even if she wished to.
“Yes,” she murmured, her lips searching for his again. “Yes, I will allow you.”
Vincent groaned in response and kissed her hard. He took her hand, leading her to the chaise. He eased her back onto it and lay over her, his broad body dwarfing her own. He kissed her again, pinning her beneath him.
“You are perfect,” he murmured. “In every way.” His hand found the hem of her gown and slid up over her stockings, before gripping the bare skin of her thigh. Georgina closed her eyes, lost in the dizzying sensation.
