Page 61 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
Happy?
Excited?
Nervous?
What a fool he was allowing this woman tempt him into doing something so outlandish.
He rubbed his cheek against hers. He should put a stop to this right now.
She turned within his arms, her arms slid around his waist and leaned into him.
Something inside him seemed to snap. A sort of breaking sensation in his chest. Painfully sweet.
He stiffened, disliking the feeling. ‘This is madness.’
He realised he had spoken out loud.
‘Totally mad,’ she agreed. ‘And we really must not be away too long or we will be missed.’
He lifted her hand from his shoulder, kissed the back, the palm, and her wrist.
What had made him do such a strange thing? The feel of that delicate palm against his mouth had been and incredibly tender experience.
His body had tightened yet he felt almost weak.
She shivered.
‘Are you cold? Let us go indoors.’
Inside, with the lamplight glowing on her face, her lips were curved in the most tempting smile he had ever seen.
Desire choked him.
He could not speak.
He kissed those smiling lips and lost himself in the pleasure of her response. The urge to throw her down on the nearest rug and plunder and pillage was nigh overwhelming.
He broke the kiss. ‘Barbara.’
She swept a lock of hair back from his face.
‘Xavier,’ she murmured softly.
He loved the sound of his name on her lips. So few people ever used his first name.
His father had.
He presumedhis mother had.
His stepmother had always used the title he had inherited at birth. Lavrock. Viscount of. His stepmother was all about titles, so Great-Uncle Thomas said.
He shuddered.
‘What is it?’ she whispered, gazing at him intently.
‘Nothing. An old memory.’
‘Not a pleasant one, I’m thinking. A past lover?’
