Page 70 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Heat exploded withinCaroline the moment Luke’s lips touched hers. His hands fastened about her waist, holding her in place as he hungrily kissed her. This wasn’t the slow, leisurely exploration from before. Instead, it was hot. Demanding. Possessive.

As if he truly wanted her. As a woman.

Not a friend.

Her hands pushed into his dark, thick hair, kneading his scalp. She heard a low growl and he yanked her against him, his hands moving from her back to her waist. And then lower. Luke fingers traveled down her buttocks, causing a delicious sensation to build inside her. Then he cupped her rounded cheeks and squeezed, causing her to whimper. She felt no cold. No wind. Only the heat of his body pressed against the length of hers as he kissed her senseless.

She slid her hands to the nape of his neck, playing with the ends of his hair. He broke the kiss, as breathless as she was, his lips sliding down the side of her throat to where her neck met her shoulder. He lingered at the sweet spot, pressing hot kisses there and then grazing his teeth along the sensitive skin. Her head fell back as a shiver darted through her.

Then she felt something new between them, hard, pressing against her belly. Caroline dragged a hand down his chest, all the way to where the pressure occurred. She placed her hand between them and touched it.

This time Luke was the one to gasp.

Quickly, she realized what was happening and moved her hand away.

“No. Go ahead. Touch me, Caroline,” he said hoarsely.

Curious, she did as he asked, gliding her hand up and down along the length of hardness pressing against his trousers. He closed his eyes tightly as if in pain. She squeezed it and he moaned, his grimace becoming a smile.

He placed his hand over hers and said, “That’s enough,” and lifted her hand away. He caught the tip of her glove in his teeth and pulled. The glove began sliding from her fingers. Impatiently, he released his hold on it and used his hand to remove it all the way.

Taking her wrist, he turned her hand palm up and kissed its center, sending chills through her. He kissed each of her fingers, one by one, saving the thumb for last. Luke grazed his teeth along the pad and then his tongue flicked across it. Suddenly, his mouth engulfed it, his tongue dancing deliciously along her thumb.

“Oh!” she cried, as he continued laving and sucking it, causing an odd stirring at where her legs joined.

He slowly pulled her thumb from his mouth, his eyes holding hers.

“Do you know how you affect me, Caroline?”

“No,” she whispered, her heart beating rapidly.

“You make me feel strong and yet weak at the same time. I want to hold you. Kiss you. Claim you as mine.”

“I thought... you considered us friends.”

He laughed, low and rich. “Is this how friends behave toward one another?” His arms came about her and held her tight. “There is no other woman in the world for me but you. You are my world, Caroline.”

His lips tenderly caressed hers. She felt cherished. Safe. She longed for this moment to go on and on.

But it couldn’t. She was a woman thetonwould never accept. What she’d overheard in the retiring room made her a pariah. She was no more than damaged goods. Luke was from a distinguished, powerful family. It wouldn’t be right for him to sacrifice his reputation, even if he cared for her.

Even if he loved her...

To save him, she would have to give him up. Forever.

And then leave London, never to return.

Caroline pushed him away. “No. This isn’t right.”

Luke cradled her face in his large hands. “I know. If anyone saw us now, you’d be ruined. I won’t have that. We’ll do everything properly. Announce our engagement. Have the banns read. Wed in the chapel at Eversleigh.”

He kissed her brow. Her resolve began to crumble. She pressed her nails into the palms of her hands, forcing herself to speak up.

“No,” she said forcefully. “There will be no engagement. No wedding.”

Confusion filled his eyes. “But... I thought... the way you responded to my kiss. I—”

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