Page 26 of A Duke But No Gentleman
“I tend to get distracted when a lady is wiggling on top of me,” he said dryly.The corners of his mouth curled as she huffed and sputtered over his outrageous remark.“Nevertheless, I would have eventually gotten to the finer points.”
“I wish you would stop referring to our accident as something wanton,” Imogene said.This time the warmth creeping up her neck was embarrassment.“You make it sound as if I deliberately ambushed you.”
“It was a memorable encounter,” he said, the source of her discomfort sounding too pleased with himself.“I have never had a lady throw herself at me in such a manner.”
“Good grief,” she exclaimed.“What will it take to make you stop mentioning it?My mother—”
“A kiss.”
Imogene gaped at him.She could not have heard him correctly.“Your Grace—” she began.
“You asked my price,” Blackbern reminded her as he signaled the horses to halt.Still grasping the reins, he met her stunned gaze.“I must admit that I enjoy teasing you, but if you wish me to stop, you must silence me with a kiss.”
“No.”
“A simple kiss.What is the harm, Lady Imogene?”he asked, sounding as if he demanded kisses from every female who crossed his path.
The notion of kissing the duke made her tremble.Her gaze dropped to his mouth.She thought of his full, firm lips pressing against her mouth.Unconsciously, she licked her lips to moisten them.His eyelids narrowed as he watched her and waited for her to decide.
The choice was hers.
“I do not know.We should not,” she said, trying to think of a good reason why she should not kiss him.
“You know you want to… and we should,” he said, his eyes silently daring her to take the risk.“Just lean forward and kiss me.It is not overly complicated.”
Imogene was torn.She knew she should tell him to go to the devil for tormenting her with his childish dare.However, the woman in her wanted to know how his lips felt against hers.
“Your word.”
He grinned at her.“I promise it will not hurt.”
Before she could choose the coward’s path, she leaned forward and kissed him.Hastily, she withdrew.
“I am not your cousin or father, Lady Imogene,” he teased.“You can do better.”
Imogene sighed.Naturally, he would not make this easy for her.She leaned forward again, her gaze resting on his mouth.He had a beautiful mouth.She closed her eyes and lightly brushed her lips against his.
Once.Twice.Thrice.
Soft featherlike kisses.On the fourth pass, she lingered a few seconds as if to test them both.When his lips parted, she pulled away.
“Are you satisfied, Your Grace?”
Blackbern shut his eyes as if he was struggling to find the right words.When he opened his eyes again, what she glimpsed had her stomach fluttering.
“You are full of surprises, Lady Imogene,” he murmured as he shook his head.“Your kiss has granted you a reprieve.”He gave her a long side-glance.“For a few days.”
Imogene stifled a groan as he urged the horses forward.She should have expected the duke’s reprieve would only be temporary.
Chapter Eight
Almost five days had passed before she encountered the Duke of Blackbern and Lord Norgrave again.She might have believed the gentlemen had lost interest in her as her father had predicted.There had even been moments when she was so distracted by her growing circle of admirers that she forgot to search the other theater boxes or the ballrooms for them.
A part of her would have relished tossing her betrothal to another gentleman in their faces.She could just imagine Blackbern’s reaction to the news.He and Norgrave might not be in love with her, but they were too arrogant to accept that she preferred someone else’s company.
She glanced at her dance card and noted the name written down.Before she could move away from the marble column, an arm came around her waist and lifted her slightly off her feet to gain her compliance.Her backside was pressed against a warm, muscled wall that was unquestionably male.
“Miss me?”
