Page 62 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
‘Of course not.’
She looked doubtful.
‘How could I be thinking of another woman when I have you in my arms?’ It wasn’t a lie. He had not been thinking of a woman of the sort she supposed.
He bent his head and kissed her.
She stroked his back as if offering comfort as well at the pleasure of her body aligned so perfectly with his.
And he once more lost himself in the headiness of her mouth and tongue duelling with his and the heated blood of lust rushing thought his veins.
He walked her backwards to the sofa and began to ease her down onto it.
She broke the kiss.
Disappointment filled him. Was this all a tease?
‘Isn’t there a bed?’ she murmured. ‘That sofa looks much too small for a man of your size.’
His cock hardened to granite.
Barbara saw a flash of surprise in Xavier’s expression. Had she gone too far? Been too bold?
Did he expect her to behave with more decorum? Surely not?
‘There is a bed,’ he said, his voice gravelly. He picked up the lamp and took her hand.
She loved the way his warm palm enclosed hers. He made her feel feminine. Protected.
A pang of guilt tightened her chest. He was the one who needed protection. From her.
But he was a man and a duke. He would easily weather any storm.
Unlike herself. Once news of their entanglement got out, and it would as soon as she could manage it, her reputation would be ruined.
‘Through here,’ he said.
He opened a door off the hall.
The bedroom was almost entirely filled with a four-poster bed with cream silk hangings embroidered with flowers and birds.
‘How pretty,’ she said.
‘I’m glad you approve. The last tenant was a single lady. I brought the furnishings over from Woodburn.’
So matter-of-fact. The closeness she had experienced on the terrace, seemed to have faded.
Once more he had withdrawn into himself.
Was he worried about something? Her intentions, perhaps? She hopped up on the bed and lounged back on the pillows, looking at him from beneath her lashes.
‘Do you keep a mistress?’ she asked and rolled over onto her side.
His eyebrows shot up. His eyes widened. ‘What? No. I mean, not recently.’
‘Don’t sound so defensive. I only askbecause I would not like to think I was treading upon another lady’s toes. Or poaching.’
He perched on the edge of the bed and his hand closed warm and possessive around her ankle. ‘I am not defensive. But I am surprised that you think I would attempt a seduction if I already had a lover.’
