Page 54 of Never Dare a Duke
But he wasn’t her husband—would never be her husband. And he didn’t deserve the honor of her innocence.
Even though she’d taunted him with it. Oh God, she despised herself, she thought, almost bruising her sensitive flesh trying to hide her breasts.
And then she felt him tugging on the back of her gown. She stiffened.
“I’m only loosening your garments so you can repair yourself,” he said shortly.
She had no choice but to believe him.
Christopher swore at his shaking hands, forcing them to obey him. Each hook on the old-fashioned gown slowly came undone to her waist, then he was able to loosen her corset strings.
She was still trembling as she waited, with all the temerity of a frightened fawn. By the devil, he’d almost ravished her, seduced her, taken her innocence—he was positive shewasinnocent.
She wouldn’t be innocent for long if she kept throwing herself at men.
If her inexperience was obvious, her delight in the new ways he’d pleasured her was transparent. Her breasts had been like the sweetest berries to him, her nipples as pink as new rose blossoms. And he’d pressed himself between her thighs, aching for the release she could give him. Even fully clothed he’d almost forgotten himself in his passionate delight of her.
Until she’d stopped herself—stopped him—from making the worst mistake imaginable: seducing a virginal young lady.
She was shaking before him, covering her marvelous breasts.
“Shall I lace you up?” he asked, feeling as if he almost didn’t remember how to speak.
She glanced over her shoulder, eyes downcast, not quite meeting his gaze. Her cheeks were rosy with passion, and several more curls had fallen to lie artfully across her bare shoulders. After a shy hesitation, she nodded.
He pulled on her corset laces and started to tie them up.
“Please, tighter,” she said in a quiet voice.
“Tighter?” He was doubtful.
“I need…they require…”
And then he understood. “More support?” His tone was dry, stiff, as stiff as his control. The breasts he’d just held in his hands must need a great deal of support.
She gave a quick nod, and he tied tighter, then hooked her all the way up. When she would have stepped away, he put his hands on her shoulders, where the skin was bare above her tiny sleeves. His fingers spanned to her neck, and he felt the flutter of her pulse. With his fingertips, he caressed her softly, slowly, feeling the trembling that spread throughout her body.
“Lust has not addled me into forgetfulness.” He kept his voice low, with just a touch of threat. “You were here without my permission, and I don’t believe the reasons you gave.”
“How strange,” she said with growing firmness, “for you acted as if you did.”
“I took what was offered. I am a man, not a saint. Unless you had tried to kill me, I would want you regardless of what you’ve done. So end it, and tell me what is going on. Because you have not convinced me to forgive you with this performance. I guard my privacy too well.”
“I’ve told you the truth,” she said.
And now she really was giving a masterful performance. He heard nothing but bewilderment and a trace of anger in her voice.
“Offended by my accusations?”
She said nothing, but as he leaned over her shoulder, he saw the stubborn set of her mouth.
“Then be offended—and take my warnings to heart. Stay away from my sister, for I don’t want her hurt by whatever happens between us.”
“I would not hurt her! And I cannot rebuff my hostess. Why do you not tell me to leave and be done with it?”
She knew he wasn’t going to do that, the little minx. She was getting too confident by half.
“I don’t want to hurt Lady Gwen,” he said, trying to hide his frustration—and his amusement. “I don’t think she knows what you’re doing, but she seems to love you dearly.”
