Page 46 of A Duke Trapped in Desire

“Ah, Marina.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. There was something tender in that kiss, breaking through the anger that had been between them. Marina held onto the moment, gripping his shoulders as she closed her eyes.

This feeling… this warmth from him. It is like no other.

She felt the bloom of love growing in her once again. James had no idea the power he had over her when it came to such kisses, yet here they were, and she was so happy to let him have that control.

Please, do not say no.

Before she could even utter the words aloud, he acted. He parted from her with his lips, and as she thought he was going to refuse, he dropped down.

“What are you – ah!” She was cut off as he placed his shoulder into her knees and tossed her over his back. “James! This is not what I had in mind!”

“It’s very much what I had in my mind.” There was mischief and firmness in James’ tone as he turned, carrying her out of the sitting room. He did so with ease, one arm wrapped around her legs, so she couldn’t wriggle. She pulled on the back of his frock coat, trying to get his attention as she hung down over his shoulder, the loose strands of her hair falling in front of her face and masking her view of the marble hall.

“James!” she called again.

“Do you want to make Mr. Pitt Rivers come running and see us like this?” he asked as he hastened for the stairs.

“James…” she said, much quieter this time.

“That’s better.” James chuckled, that sound vibrating deep within his chest. “I have no intention of parting from your side at all tonight, not once, I promise you that. Yet first, tell me what happened, everything.”

Marina felt she had no wish to. She wished to be distracted from the memory of the masked man not to relive it.

“Marina.” James reached her bedchamber and paused by the door. “Tell all or…”

“Or what? You’ll stay here in the corridor until one of the staff comes and sees us?”

“It might make them whisper about us,” James pointed out.

“The entire ton whispers about us anyway!” She pulled on his coat once more, desperate to be let down. “I have no control in this position; put me down.”

“You want control? I’ll be happy to give you some tonight, but first, tell me everything that happened.”

Marina froze as she heard footsteps further down the corridor. Worried Mrs. Viner or a ladies’ maid would be upon them any minute, she gave into James’ request.

“Yes, yes! I’ll tell you all; just go in the bedchamber.”

“Gladly.” James opened the door and stepped inside, closing it and locking it behind him. Marina heard the click of the lock audibly in the air before he marched across the room. Far from putting her down gently, he tossed her over his shoulder so that she fell back on the bed, staring up at him.

That speed and agility only had the heat in her rising.

“Tell me,” he pleaded.

Marina sighed and gave him what he wanted. She explained exactly what had happened in the carriage, right down to her grabbing the gun and the driver chasing the masked man away. It wasn’t long before James confessed that he had changed her driver to a man who was trained in fighting.

“After this, I’ll give your driver a pistol of his own,” James said, still standing as she laid back on the bed, staring up at him. The lack of touch between them was infuriating to her. There was this heat, burning beneath her skin, a heat that had started the moment he had kissed her downstairs, and she didn’t want it to stop.

“James.” She sat up, reaching for him. She started with his frock coat and pulled it down his shoulders. He barely seemed to notice though he let her do it. He was too busy rambling.

“The constables will be involved now. Michael’s investigation into who sent that letter will have to be ramped up. This cannot happen again. Ever!” With the final word, he turned his attention toward her, his hand shooting down to the bruises on her neck.

It was the gentlest touch he had ever given her, tilting her head back a little as he examined the bruising. In the last light of the day through the window, that orange light bathed James’ face. She could see an intensity in that expression, one she did not remember seeing before.

“No more talk,” she pleaded, her hands finding the lapels of his tailcoat and pulling him down toward her. He went to her easily so that she could pull him into her, initiating a kiss. This one was instantly passionate. She felt no nip at her lips begging his entrance, for she gave it openly. Their tongues danced together as James pressed her on the bed, molding his body over hers. The strength and height of his body pushed against her own made that heat grow until she was almost wild with it.

Her movements became frantic with one of her legs lifting beside his hip, just needing to be closer to him. When she brushed her core against his own through their clothes, he growled into that kiss, making her practically vibrate with the sound.

Restlessly, her hands reached for his clothes, and he went to help her. The tailcoat was soon gone along with the waistcoat where they had both fumbled while undoing the buttons. Forced to part their kiss to lift his shirt, he knelt on the bed between her legs, tossing it over his head so it landed somewhere on the toilette table nearby, knocking over some bottles.

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