Page 48 of Reluctantly Rogue

I reach up and cover the hand that’s cupping my face.

“It's still your birthday,” I tell him. It’s still before midnight.

“But we’re not at the pub.”

“Did Torin say the new tradition is for only in the pub?”

“I guess he didn't.”

“Then it’s not breaking any rules if you kiss me here.”

But the thing is…it’s probably breaking several rules, actually.

“Still…fuck,” he mutters. He drags his thumb along my jaw. “You’ve been avoiding it all this time.”

“I have.” I lean in. “But it’s never been difficult to avoid before.”

“Duchess,” Jonah says, his low, deep voice rolling over me with a rumble.

“Yeah?”

“You’re. Killing. Me.”

I smile. “Until this moment, I thought that was a bad thing.”

The corner of his mouth twitches. “You don’t mind torturing me now?”

“I made you cookies.”

“You did.”

“Yourfavoritecookies.”

“You did.”

“Maybe you’re just saying thank you for that.” His thumb moves over my skin again, and tingles explode.

“You know what?” he asks.

“What?”

“That sounds like…” He leans in, his lips nearly against mine, his warm breath coasting over my lips. “…a very fucking good excuse.”

Then his lips meet mine.

Just a gentle touch. Pressing sweetly, softly.

But he’s so big and warm, he seems to wrap around me. The hand that’s not touching my face steals to my lower back, and he pulls me up against him.

He’shardand big andhot.

I can taste the chocolate on his lips. His scent also surrounds me. It's a combination of the chocolate and sugar but also a scent I've learned to associate with him. I don't know if it's cologne or his soap, but I always know when he's near because I can smell him.

But more than anything, it's just the feel of him. Him being this close and wanting to be this close to me. The intimacy of this act that I've never shared with anyone else.

Without thinking, I reach up and fist my hands in the front of his shirt. Then I hear a quiet, husky moan and it takes a moment to realize that it came from me.

That sound seems to unleash something in Jonah. He gives an answering moan and then I feel him sliding his hands into my hair and gripping loosely. Then he licks his tongue along my bottom lip.

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