Page 33 of A Duke to Undo her
It was part of him, of course. She knew enough to know that it was the part that made him a man. Now she was learning that it made itself most evident in passionate embrace.
“Cassius,” she moaned as his hand reached under her skirts and drew up one of her legs to his waist, caressing her naked thigh above the garter of her stocking as he kissed her again. “Oh, Cassius.”
Josephine gave little judders of consternation and enjoyment as the duke caressed both of her thighs and then unexpectedly tossed up her skirts, baring her most intimate parts to the air and his eyes, and shifting himself down her body. Most shocking of all, he pressed a kiss into the damp triangle of fur under her belly and she felt his tongue briefly touch against her flesh.
Dear God, what was this he was now doing to her? The pleasure was searing and Josephine wanted more. Then a voice sounded, followed by the faint but approaching beat of horse hooves.
“Josephine!? Cassius!?”
They both froze. The duke recovered himself first, quickly drawing down Josephine’s skirts and pulling her to her feet. Their eyes met and held one another, deep green and deep blue, each full of forbidden longing.
“It’s Benedict,” he said in a low voice, stating what they both knew, before calling out to his brother. “Benedict! We’re over here! Benedict!”
“Cassius,” Josephine spoke his name again, without having her next words in hand.
Maybe she spoke it only for the pleasure of addressing him so intimately one more time out here before civilization returned to claim them both. The duke said nothing but reached out and caressed her face before Benedict and his horse became visible.
“Over here,” the duke called out again, his voice regretful as he withdrew his hand and took a step back from Josephine.
“There you are!” said Benedict Emerton with a sunny smile, evidently seeing little to be concerned about. “Did you get lost? I expect that was my fault. Mother and Cassius certainly think so.”
“Apollo was frightened by a badger and hurt his foot,” Josephine explained. “Then we got lost.”
“Dear me, you silly old boy,” said Benedict to the horse and then gave a little laugh. “It looks likes someone has seen to your foot already.”
“I’ve done what I could with my pocket knife, a handkerchief and Lady Josephine’s brandy but he’ll be out of use for a week or two at least,” the Duke of Ashbourne said brusquely, returning the flask to Josephine from the grass and stuffing the wad of petticoat in his own pocket as if to hide it.
“It sounds like you’ve both been having fun out here,” joked Benedict. “At least we’ll have a good story for dinner tonight.”
Neither of them gave any answer to this remark, Josephine feeling herself blush bright red, and the duke turning away to examine Apollo’s foot one more time.
“It’s good you found us, Benedict. Now you can give Lady Josephine a ride back to the house on your horse and I’ll lead Apollo. If he’s limping too much, we’ll drop behind but I don’t want to slow you down. Mother is doubtless worried by now, and Lady Elmridge too.”
“Yes, Captain,” said Mr. Emerton, with a smart salute to his commanding older brother. “I shall deliver Lady Josephine straight back to Mother and all will be well.”
“Are you ready?” the Duke of Ashbourne asked Josephine, coming to stand behind her.
She turned to look at him, aching to be pressed against his body once more, his lips on hers. When the duke boosted her up onto his brother’s horse, Josephine gave a gasp that had nothing to do with nervousness or fear and everything to do with being lifted again in those strong arms.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” said Benedict Emerton cheerfully. “I shall ride carefully, or at least more carefully than you ever do.”
Despite herself, Josephine laughed.
“I feel quite safe with you,” she told the blond man quite truthfully.
Indeed, it was true. She felt not a whisper of nervousness or excitement of any kind, despite sitting across the front of his saddle, supported by his arms. If Benedict Emerton had not come, would she have had to ride back to the house with Cassius Emerton?
At that thought, her heart began to race again. Looking back she saw the duke mount his own horse and take up Apollo’s reins, his eyes still fixed on hers.
“I am so glad that you’re both here,” Josephine told Madeline and Rose once the three of them were all ensconced in her bedroom back at Ashbourne Castle. “I’ve so missed having youto talk to. The other young ladies here are such miserable wretches you wouldn’t believe.”
Madeline had arrived in the early afternoon and Rose a few hours later. Both had been disturbed to find Josephine missing from the party and spent their first hours at Ashbourne House comforting and calming Lady Elmridge. Now the three of them were meant to be dressing together for dinner.
“That is not a kind remark, Josephine,” Madeline chided her. “Nor is it judicious given an acquaintance of only three days.”
“Well, anyway, they don’t like me,” Josephine shrugged this off, “even though I’ve never done anything to them. I can tell that much with my own eyes and ears in less than three days.”
“Oh never mind all that,” Rose dismissed these pedestrian concerns, eager for a different kind of story. “Tell us about how Mr. Emerton rescued you from being lost in the forest. That is what I want to hear about. How romantic he looked, carrying you back on his horse like that!”
