Page 20 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

His neck burned in embarrassment. “I have done it on a few occasions, Miss Goulding. I should be able to shepherd you through it.”

“Good.”

He watched as resolve seem to fill her and, for a moment, he admired her pluck.

“Well?” she demanded, sounding most impatient. “How do we start?”

“Close your eyes,” he said.

Her brow furrowed but she did as he asked. She even pursed her lips a bit, which almost made him chuckle. That would be the last thing she needed to hear, though. Her self-esteem was already on shaky ground.

Everett brought his hands to her face, framing it. Her skin was soft and warm. The faint scent of lilac swirled about him as he lowered his lips to hers and pressed his mouth to hers.

And felt nothing.

No spark.

No desire.

Absolutely nothing.

He lifted his lips and softly kissed her again, hoping something might stir within him. It wasn’t as if he were inexperienced. Despite being shy, he was far from unworldly. In fact, the women he had made love to all seemed to agree that he excelled in the act.

Everett brushed his lips slowly against hers a few times and then broke the kiss. He gazed down at her as she opened her eyes. She released his waistcoat and took a step back.

Gazing up at him, she said, “I didn’t feel much of anything, Your Grace. Did you?” She bit her lip. “Perhaps I was doing it wrong.”

“No, you did everything perfectly, Miss Goulding,” he assured her, remembering it was her first kiss. “I feel, however, that we are destined to be friends and not husband and wife.”

Relief filled her face and then her cheeks turned bright red.

“Oh, dear,” she fretted. “I actually had the audacity to ask you to kiss me. What was I thinking? This is incredibly embarrassing. Excuse me, Your Grace.”

She raced across the room, only to run headfirst into her cousin, Lady Adalyn.

“Oh!” Miss Goulding cried. “I . . . must leave.” She rushed through the doors.

Lady Adalyn turned and caught sight of Everett. She crossed the room with purpose and slammed her hands into his chest, pushing hard against it.

Anger simmered in her eyes when he didn’t move and she cried, “What the bloody hell did you do to my cousin?”

“I . . . didn’t do anything,” he stammered, wanting to protect Miss Goulding’s privacy.

“That is an outright lie. Louisa’s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.” Lady Adalyn paused. “Oh, my heavens. You took advantage of her, you bastard.”

She slapped him hard, totally catching him off guard, and he stumbled back a step.

“I will kill you, Camden!” she shouted, raising both hands.

Everett knew she meant to claw his face or attack in some manner. He grabbed her wrists and forced them down. She tripped and fell into his chest but quickly recovered, jerking free and raising her hand to strike him again.

“No, you don’t,” he said, wrapping his arms about her so that her arms were bound to her side.

The trouble was that she was now flush against him. Her soft breasts pushed against his chest. She wriggled, trying to escape, moving against him so that his manhood began to stir. That wonderful, intoxicating vanilla scent enveloped him, going straight to his head.

Her beautiful face contorted with rage. “You are a bloody scoundrel. You aren’t fit to speak to Louisa, much less touch her. Don’t think you will wed her. I won’t allow it. Do you hear me? Now, let go of me, you bloody oaf. Or I’ll—”

Everett slammed his mouth down on hers.

He didn’t know what else to do in order to quieten her. She wasn’t the kind of woman who would listen to reason. She already thought him guilty of some terrible sin against her cousin.

Instead, he quickly realized he wanted to sin.

With her.

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