Page 58 of The Duke's Goddess

“You haven’t?”

“Not a soul.”

“So it’s just me, then?”

“Yes. It’s just you, Joan. Only you.”

The heat she had been suppressing, the joy she had been tampering down, the hope she had neglected…she let it all out now. She threw her arms around James’s neck and let the tears fall.

“I love you, too, James.”

His hand rubbed her back in slow circles, as he whispered into her ear the question she was expecting him to ask, “Why do you love me?”

“I love you because you are caring. Brave. Strong. You are loyal. You have a strong moral compass. Don’t laugh. It’s true. You may have your own sense of right and wrong, but you have one. You can’t convince me otherwise.”

“I wouldn’t even try.”

“Good. Because I love you for who you are, James. I want—” she stopped herself, unsure of whether or not she should share her vision of the future with him.

“What is it? What do you want?” He pressed a soft kiss against her neck.

She let him kiss her a few more times until she cupped his face and held her forehead to his. With a whisper, she said, “I want to have children with you, James. I want to show them all the love in the world. You will make the most magnificent father. You will teach them to take chances. Find happiness.”

With the pad of her thumb, Joan brushed a small tear falling from the corner of James’s eye. “I want to have little Jameses running around.”

“And little Joans,” his raspy voice added.

She nodded. “Yes. Perhaps even several of them, all together. We will be the happiest family. Full of love and joy.”

James squeezed his eyes shut. “Yes. That’s what I want with you.”

“Show me you love me, James.” Joan leaned back on the grass, pulling his face down with her.

“I’ll show you every day, darling.”

“Show me, now.”

His eyes roamed her body, and her breasts heaved in response. She could feel her nipples hardening.

“I want it to be special, darling.”

“It is. We just confessed our love for one another. Please. Don’t just say it. Show me.”

The palm of his hand cupped her jaw. The other brushed a hair behind her ear.

“I cannot deny you what you want.”

“Never?”

“Never.” He rolled over and hovered over her, elbows on either side of her ears. His head ducked down, and he placed a chaste kiss on her jaw. Then the chasteness disappeared as hecontinued kissing her. Down her neck. Beneath her ear. Under her chin. Down her collarbone.

“Do you want me to show you how much I love every part of you?”

“Yes, James.” She panted, “Every part of me.”

He slipped a finger below the bodice of her dress.

“I can see your nipples are hard. Is that for me, darling?”

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