Page 33 of A Duke But No Gentleman
“I would not wish you to think that I will surrender my virtue to you.”
And have you treat me as casually as you did the redhead.
Blackbern stalked toward her.“I like how you flirt with me.”
“You do?”She smiled and moved again, keeping out of his reach.
The duke grinned as they circled around each other.“Indeed.”He feinted left, and she gleefully squealed when his fingers brushed her hip.“You tease me until I would sell my soul for a taste of you.”
Imogene smirked at him.“That does not seem very sporting of me.”
“You are worth the challenge and the torture.”
He abruptly lunged for her.Imogene shrieked and ducked under his outstretched arms.She ran in the direction of the folly, but Blackbern was close on her heels.He easily caught her against him and they tumbled onto the grass.She was breathless from the chase and her side ached from laughing.
Imogene was grateful he had ruined her outing with her friends.
Blackbern rolled onto his side and she reclined on her back.He tenderly smoothed away the strands of hair covering her face.
“I must look frightful,” she said, her discomfort growing at his serious expression.
“Not in the slightest.In the sunlight, the hair curling around your face looks like spun gold and honey.Your eyes remind me of a cloudless sky, and your lips—”
“My lips?”she echoed.
“Forbidden fruit,” he murmured, tracing the contour of her shapely lips with his finger.“Which happens to be my favorite sweet—and the one temptation I cannot resist.”
To prove it, he leaned forward and kissed her.His mouth was gentle and coaxing against hers.She felt his hand on her shoulder, and he pulled her closer so her body molded against his.Blackbern tasted like salt and sunshine, and a flavor that seemed to belong uniquely to him.Her lips parted, and to her delight he took advantage of her silent invitation.His tongue speared into hers and dueled with hers, the soft press of flesh against flesh making her lightheaded.
A wordless sound of disappointment hummed in her throat when he stopped.
“Blanket,” he muttered.He grasped her hands and pulled her to her feet.“Your dress is too lovely to ruin, and I know the perfect place for our picnic.”
“Your Grace,” she said, when he left her to retrieve their basket of food and the blanket.
“Tristan,” he corrected, over his shoulder.“You can call me Blackbern in front of others, but it would please me to hear my name upon your lips.”
His stride was purposeful as he returned to her.His fingers tangled with hers, and he led her to the folly that had intrigued her.
“How old is it?”she asked, squinting against the sunlight.
“The foundation dates back to the sixteen hundreds,” he said, not even glancing up as they climbed the stone steps.“The main structure was built ninety years ago by one of my ancestors.I was told my grandfather used it as a hunting lodge, but it was already in disrepair when I was a young child.”
Imogene stood on the stone terrace, and admired the view.“Perhaps you should be the one to restore it?”
“Perhaps,” he said agreeably.He shook out the blanket and smoothed the fabric with the edge of his boot.“I have other estates that have required more of my attention.Like my father before me, I have been content to rent the house and surrounding lands to tenants.”Once he was satisfied with his efforts he joined her and took a moment to enjoy the lake view.His arm curled around her waist.“I had forgotten the beauty of this old place.”
They stood in comfortable silence, watching as several ducks glided over the mirrored surface of the lake.Imogene was also keenly aware of the duke’s closeness.She could feel the heat of his body against her back, the quiet intimacy of his hand on her left arm, and the light caress of his jaw as it brushed the side of her head.
She was wholly aware of him—and the fact that they were alone.
“You have no tenants?”Imogene asked.She had not seen any signs of a family in residence on their arrival.
“The house has been empty since January.The new tenants will be moving in next month,” he said, turning her until she faced him.“Does it concern you that we are alone?”
“Not in the slightest.”
Blackbern frowned at her swift reply.“Maybe it should.Your company inspires some rather wicked thoughts.”
