Page 27 of The Duplicate Duke
“An angel isn’t full of color.It’s white.”
“How do you know?”asked Miles with a grin.“Have you seen one?”
He had her there.“Well, no.”She tapped her finger against her bottom lip, her foot joining in.“A rainbow!”
“Oui,”said Mama.“Very good.Who is next?”
“I will,” said Miles, leaning forward, hands on his knees.
My first is an animal’s coat;
Many trees in my next you may place.
My whole, to your grief, will denote
That time has made work with your face.
“The animal coat is fur,” said Gwen, eyes narrowed in concentration.“Say it again, please.”
He repeated it, grinning as they concentrated.
“Trees, tree line,” mumbled Mama.“fur sad, furfrown, furline, furrow!”
“Well done,” admitted Miles.
An hour later, Mama yawned.“I’m done to a thumb, my dears.I’m off to dreamland.”
Gwen glanced at her mother, who winked when she saw Miles wasn’t looking.It was time.When they were alone, she rose and ambled to the piano.“Shall we play another game?”she asked.
Miles joined her at the piano.“Anything you desire.”
She turned to him.“Anything?”
He nodded.
“Let’s playQuestions and Commands,” she said with a triumphant grin.
“All right, shall you begin?”
“Yes.Question—do you want to kiss me?”
His mouth fell open.“I beg your pardon?”
“Do you want to kiss me?It’s a straightforward question.”She watched as his amber eyes locked on to her lips.
“I-I cannot answer that.”He swallowed.
I have him on the run, she thought.“Then my command is to do just that.”
“Do what?”he asked warily, taking a step back.
“Kiss me.”
She thought he would argue, try to find a way around the command, ramble on about how inappropriate her demand was.Instead, he closed the space between them in a blink, his arm around her waist, pressing her body to his.Her hands went to his chest as his lips descended on hers.Soft, like velvet rubbing back and forth, the hint of strawberry still lingering on his breath.
Gwen closed her eyes, clutching his waistcoat, praying her knees held her up.He broke the kiss, feathering her neck with kisses.One hand pressed against her lower back, the other cupped her cheek as his mouth claimed hers again.Her body hummed, soaking in his warmth, feeling his hardness against her soft curves.She moaned softly.
Then his mouth was gone.Her eyes flew open, and she saw him smiling down at her.“My turn,” he whispered in her ear.
