Page 36 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

Chapter Thirteen

The last thingWin wanted to do was kiss Sera.

But he did it anyway.

Actually, it was what he had wanted to do since he’d met her. The past few weeks, she had come to dominate his thoughts. He knew kissing her was absolutely the wrong action on his part. Even as he lowered his lips to hers, his mind was screaming at him to stop. That she was Minta’s sister. Percy’s sister-in-law. A sweet woman who undoubtedly had dreams of love in her heart.

Something he could never give her.

Instead, he took. Greedily. Oh, he started slowly at first, softly brushing his lips against her divine ones, so soft and full. His hand moved to cradle her cheek, wanting to feel her warmth and touch the satin skin. He grazed his thumb back and forth against her cheek as he inhaled the sweet scent of jasmine that perpetually clung to her. He supposed she poured the scent into her bath. The thought of a naked Sera caused his cock to stir.

Gradually, he increased the pressure of his lips against hers. Instead of the soft, sweet kiss that had started out, he wanted more. His hand moved from her cheek to her nape, holding her steady as his tongue teased the seam of her lips. He was glad he had hold of her because he was afraid the movement would cause her to withdraw. And if she did, he might perish.

Slowly, she opened to him, uncertainty oozing from her, letting him know that if she had been kissed before, this was the first time tongues would be involved. When his plunged inside, he heard her gasp. His hand continued to cup her nape and his other moved to her waist. Win stroked her velvet softness, tasting the sweetness of the lemon cake she had eaten at tea and something more. Something that was Sera alone, a taste new to him, tempting him.

He pulled her toward him until her breasts grazed his chest. He longed to taste them, as well, the rounded globes so close, calling out to him. He thought that might shock her too much so he continued plundering the sweetness of her mouth, enjoying the little throaty sighs and moans that came from her.

Her hands had moved to his chest, her palms flat against it, her fingers beginning to knead him like a satisfied kitten. He smiled against her mouth and felt her do the same. Emboldened now, he continued kissing her, but his hand crept from her waist to her breast. He palmed it, kneading it, feeling its fullness swell with his touch. Brushing the pad of his thumb across her nipple, she whimpered, making him feel powerful—and possessive. Win knew he was the first man to have kissed her like this. Touched her like this.

By God, he wanted to be the last.

She leaned into him and he wanted her closer to him. Without breaking the kiss, he managed to lift her into his lap, setting her down gently, one arm bracing her back. His hand wandered to her breast again, teasing the nipple, grazing it with his fingernail, thrilling at the sound she made.

He deepened the kiss further, knowing he had never kissed a woman this long and yet feeling as if no time at all had passed. Her hands now tightened on his shoulders, her nails digging into him. If not for the coat he wore, she would be leaving her marks on him.

Breaking the kiss, he allowed his lips to hover just above hers. She whimpered again, her way of telling him she wanted more. Softly, he bit into her full, bottom lip, causing her to stiffen and then sigh. He sucked and nibbled on it, causing her to wriggle against him, which was not a good thing.

How much time had passed? Surely, they would pull up at Woodbridge soon.

Win had to stop this madness. Cast aside all thoughts of marking her as his. He was playing with fire and knew they both had already been singed.

He kissed her hard one more time, wanting a last taste of her. No, a final taste.

Breaking the kiss, he saw how flushed her face was. Her eyelids fluttered several times and then opened, the green orbs dark and dazed.

He lifted her, placing her on the seat next to him again. Much as he hated to, he would apologize.

“I am sorry, Sera. More sorry than I can convey,” he began.

Win had expected her to meekly accept his apology. Even be embarrassed by what had happened between them.

Instead, she slapped him.

Quiet, shy, sweet Sera Nicholls slapped him.

It stunned him.

“Why the bloody hell would you go and ruin things?” she demanded, turning away from him to gaze out the window.

He swallowed, still tasting her. Still wanting her.

“Sera, I took advantage of you. It was wrong of me to do so.”

Her back stiffened. She kept silent.

“Minta will explain the rules of Polite Society to you if she already hasn’t. Unattached females are not to be alone with gentlemen, else they might have a tendency to behave in a very ungentlemanly way, as I just did.”

Silence.

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