Page 25 of Tempting the Scarred Duke

She reached up, inches away from his jaw, her fingers tingling as she held back the urge to touch him again. “How did you find me?” she asked, curious because the theater halls were a maze.

“I had to ask four people if they had seen a lady wearing a light blue dress and a single glove,” he murmured, his arm coming about her waist, as his other pulled her hand toward his jaw.

“Truly?” She was growing breathless again, but she could blame the warm air in the room for it.

“Yes. I wanted to be certain you were all right.” He twirled a curl of her hair near her ear around his finger, and his hand brushed her collarbone.

“I am,” she reassured him, her heart melting at the tenderness in his gaze. “I tend to get nervous around too many people,” she added quickly before he asked any more questions that she could not answer.

“I gathered,” he said softly. He drew her closer, their bodies meeting perfectly, soft against hard. She wished she could simply stay there, but the urge between them was too great to allow her to be still.

Despite feeling all of that, she inched back a little when he lowered his head to kiss her. Then she glanced nervously in the direction of the door. Matthew took her hand and smiled at her before placing the softest kiss on her fingers. He then walked to the door and closed it.

“Whatever my lady requires, she shall have,” he said and bowed. “I am but your humble knight, and always at your service.”

“And what a charming knight you are.” Diana did feel like the cinder girl at that instant, but with her prince, and in a lovely dress and glass shoes. He returned to her and took her in his arms again. This time, she let him kiss her without hesitation, and he did so slowly, exploring every inch of her mouth with tender precision.

She moaned and ran her fingers through his thick dark hair, and he gently nipped her bottom lip while one of his hands moved up from her waist to her left rib, then up to her breast. Her nipples hardened and the sweet ache between her legs intensified. As his thumb stroked her nipple, she arched her back and whispered his name.

Matthew chuckled, his mouth moving down her neck. She twined her fingers in his lustrous dark hair, wishing she was free to give herself to him. The movement of his hands over her body became more passionate, and as his mouth reached the hollow between her breasts, his tongue slipped out to tease her skin.

She felt them move, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Matthew sitting on the chair she had left, while she was straddled on his lap. His lips returned to hers as his hands began to undo the tiny buttons on the back of her dress. Before he could undo them, they heard footsteps in the hall, which gave them pause.

Diana closed her eyes to fight the frustration the interruption had caused, and also to regain her senses. This was no place for her to fulfill her desires no matter how much Matthew tempted her. Their eyes held, and the need she was trying to suppress threatened to erupt within her. There was a question in the depths of his hazel eyes, and she shook her head in answer before getting to her feet and smoothing her dress.

Matthew stood, smiling at her when she thought he would be disappointed. He took her hand and kissed it. “I will join you in the theater hall soon.”

She nodded and was about to leave when he gently drew her back to him, seemingly reluctant to let her go. Matthew kissed her again before she breathlessly slipped out of his arms and left. Diana could feel his intense gaze on her back as she left the room.

She did not know how she would be able to continue resisting him, and she knew she was living dangerously close to the edge.

Chapter 12

Matthew felt bereft when Diana left, but he remained in the room until his body was calm enough for him to return to the theater hall. He was also worried about Diana because he could feel that something was wrong, and she would not tell him.

She had nearly given herself to him today, and although the footsteps had interrupted them, he did not believe it was the only reason she left. Matthew wanted her to trust him, and to make that happen, he must spend more time alone with her, and also restrain his desire so she could see that he did not merely want her body.

He strode out of the room and made his way to the theater hall. He was about to enter when he heard Glover say, “Your Grace!”

He turned around, surprised to see him there. “Is something the matter?” he asked, growing concerned when he saw the worry in Glover’s green eyes.

“There is a matter in Ramsgate that requires your urgent attention,” Glover replied. “I am uncertain what it is because the messenger Sawyer sent only told me that it is urgent.”

Matthew exhaled. Ramsgate was where his goods from the Far East were stored before they were transported to London to be traded. “Give me a moment to inform Albert and the others that I will be leaving early.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” Glover bowed.

Matthew entered the hall and found Diana already seated and the play had resumed. He was closest to Albert and spoke to him. “I must leave you because something in Ramsgate requires my presence.”

“Ramsgate? Is it bad?” Albert asked, his brows knit.

“I am uncertain, but I must leave. Will you take care of the ladies?”

“Certainly.” Albert nodded.

As Matthew straightened, he found Diana looking up at him, but she was too far away from him with Emma and Crawford between them, and he did not wish to draw their attention away from the play. Thus, he only gave her a soft smile before leaving.

He met Glover outside the theater with a saddled gelding ready for him. Albert would see that Diana and Florence were safely returned home in Matthew’s carriage. Matthew mounted and was soon on the hour-long ride from Ashford to Ramsgate.

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