Page 31 of The Heiress Gets a Duke
His hand moved over her waist and up to cup her breast; the hard pebble of her nipple pressed into his palm through layers of fabric. She arched into his touch, and his mouth watered to lick the salt from her skin. His thumb moved over the sensitive peak, which had her hips pushing against him.
“This shouldn’t go further,” she whispered, covering his hand with hers. She was breathless and not at all in control of herself. Gratification welled within him at how kissing him affected her. If nothing else, she could not deny that she wanted him.
“No.” He agreed. It was one thing to kiss her at a ball. It was entirely too much to take anything more, yet he could not seem to listen to reason when it came to her and kissing. “You should go.” He took her mouth again in an endless string of kisses, his hips pressed against her of their ownaccord. It was exquisite torture when she moved, grinding his erection between them. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered against her lips.
“Maybe one more minute.”
He groaned. Her hand stayed over his, but she pressed his palm against her. Jesus. This woman set him on fire. His fingers skimmed the edge of her bodice, hoping there was enough give to touch her, and there was. He nearly fell to his knees in thanks when the fabric gave way the slightest bit so that his fingers could slip inside. She made a sensual gasp when he found her erect nipple, catching it gently between two fingers. He dipped his head and pushed the silk aside as his mouth found her, his tongue torturing the rigid nub before sucking it into his mouth.
She arched into him and gave a cry of surprise and pleasure. She grabbed onto his shoulders, holding him tight against her. “Rothschild,” she whispered against his ear.
Something wild and elemental came over him. He imagined her beneath him and crying out his name. The tight clasp of her body welcoming his cock as he took her over and over again. A rough groan escaped him as he took her mouth again, her naked breast in his palm as he ground his cock against her hip. His thigh found its way between hers, pressing against the heat he knew he would find there. If the way she moved against him, all but riding him, was any indication, she was as aroused as he was. He wanted to feel her on his fingers and started to pull up her skirts.
If he sat in one of the chairs and pulled her onto his lap, he could open her thighs and bring her to pleasure. He pulled back to stare down into her face. Her eyes were glazed over and dilated, and he realized that she had given herself completely over to him. She trusted him. His fingers fumbled in their intent, touching the smooth silk of stocking at her knee. Gently and reverently, he placed a kiss at the base of her neck above her pulse. Somewhere in the background a very unwelcome and indistinct voice penetrated the fog of his arousal.
He broke off, his breath coming in harsh gasps. She stared up at him bewildered, but then she heard it, too.
“... believe I left it here. I read it again only last week.” This was followed by a laugh that was much closer. Right outside the door.
Her eyes grew wide before narrowing on him almost immediately in suspicion. Crushing hurt and betrayal took over as she hurried to put distance between them and pull up her bodice. The door handle rattled, and both looked at it as if it had suddenly come alive.
If he let them be discovered, then the question of marriage would be settled. But she would hate him, and he doubted she would give herself over to him as sweetly as she just had ever again. Without thinking it out further, he grabbed the knob, releasing her to hold tight with both hands when whomever was attempting to open it tried more force.
“It seems quite jammed.” Hereford knocked on the door. Evan was certain Leigh must be with him. “Hello? Is anyone inside?”
“Let me give it a try.” Leigh’s voice confirmed his suspicion.Bloody hell.There was a shuffle of bodies outside before a renewed attempt to open the door.
Evan held his jaw taut as he kept the handle from turning and set his shoulder against the doorframe. What had been a half-thought-out plan at best had become a nightmare. It was one thing to conceive of forcing her hand; it was another to see the terrible accusation cross her lovely features. He could not live the rest of his life knowing that he had taken her hard-won trust and hurt her so irreparably. He wanted to win her on his own merit.
“The handle is broken,” said Leigh. “It will not turn.”
“Come on, then. I...” The words faded away as suddenly as they had appeared.
Evan waited a moment more to make certain they did not return before he let go of the knob. He turned slowly, uncertain of her reaction. She had a chair between them again, and her gaze was on the front of his trousers. He glanced down to see that the drama had done nothing to ease his desire for her. It was clearly outlined against his trousers.
“August,” he said. Meaning to go make certain she was all right, he took a step in her direction.
“Oh no,” she said, her eyes wide again as she backed up. “We are finished with kissing.”
Drawing several gulping breaths, he turned toward the bookcase wall and counted backward from twenty in his head as he forced his need for her to go away. It was not in the least bit easy. He could still smell her on him, and her sweet taste lingered on his tongue. Cursing softly, he watched her watching him with wariness as she adjusted the pins in her hair. She did not look nearly as disheveled as he felt.
“That was a mistake,” she said, smoothing her palms over her skirts.
“Was it?” It had not felt like a mistake to him. Perhaps the venue had been ill-advised, but not the kissing.
“We were lucky. I have to go before someone comes back to repair that door.”
He did not think Leigh would allow that to happen, but he did not dare mention it. Instead, he nodded and stepped aside so she had free access to the door. He thought she might walk right out, but she paused next to him with her hand on the knob.
“Mistake or not, thank you for that.”
Inclining his head, he said, “I will pay you a call soon, so we can discuss how to proceed.”
“This changes nothing. I will not marry you, no matter how skillful your kisses.”
“You admit that I am skillful?” he asked, grinning like an idiot.
“I am leaving, Rothschild. If you intend to pursue this ridiculous betrothal, then I’m afraid you’re declaring war.”
