Page 16 of Her Beastly Duke
CHAPTER 7
Julius reached his hand up to her armpit and momentarily brushed her breast. The brief feel stirred senses that had been dormant for years, and he stilled.Damn it! This was the last thing he wanted to be thinking about right now. Not with the chit wriggling in his arms. He had the sudden urge to spin her around, squeeze her to his chest and kiss her until she wilted from pleasure. He did not anticipate this emerging awareness and he pushed it from his mind.Concentrate.
“Your Grace—”
“Are you trying to drown us both? Stop wriggling.”
Julius was only too pleased when his feet were solidly planted on the river bed. Yet, he did not let her go. Once the water was just above his waist, he lifted Miss Walcot against his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder and placed both arms around his neck.
Why did she feel so good in his arms?
As he walked forward, temptation tugged at him, but he would not give in. He would not give her cause to believe he was the beast they made him out to be. His rational mind was right, but it did naught for the temptation singing in his blood.
He cleared the water and stood with his feet ajar, firmly planted on the ground, before he slowly lowered Miss Walcot to her feet. He could feel how close he was to her.
“Are you feeling well?”
“I am fine, and I must thank you, Your Grace. I have only ever visited the seaside on the odd occasion, and Mama was more interested in the afternoon promenade than entering the water. I used the bathing machine several times, but Mama did not believe I should learn to swim.”
“You are never too old to learn to swim, Miss Walcot.”
“You saved me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Julius raised his hand and moved, feathering lightly over her jaw down to her chin to rest at the hollow of her throat. He could feel the rapid beat of her pulse, which reflected his excitement. His gaze found her lips, which beckoned to him, soft, lush and inviting. Hunger curled low in his belly and made him burn to taste her, yet this would be a temptation he would certainly ignore. Her delicate hand was pressed against his chest as if to push him away, but her eyes were calling him even closer.
“Perhaps you should be less concerned about the danger of the river and more concerned about me.”
A delicate gasp escaped her lips, and its sweet sound caused him to groan inside. He so badly wanted to taste her, capture the next gasp in his mouth, inhale her every moan and ragged whimper. His heart hammered in a way it had never done before. How could she possibly have such an effect on him when he barely knew her? This was madness. Miss Walcot stared at him with innocence, open curiosity, and something else he could not quite decipher.
“I can feel your heart beating fast.” Her kissable mouth said.
She was so unpretentious and demure. He could see it in the soft, luminous stare and the gentle parting of her lips. How couldshe know why his heart struggled to break free from his chest? Miss Walcot’s shiver snapped him into consciousness.
“We should return to the house. I will take you.”
“I am—”
“I will not allow you to walk. We need to go now so you do not catch your death of cold.”
Julius immediately scooped her into his arms. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before setting off toward the house. At first, he thought he was merely intrigued by her, but now it had crossed over into something more. Miss Walcot glanced up at his side profile, and he tried very hard to keep his face passive. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end when he felt her hot breath grace his skin. The feel of it … just when he was trying to forget that he cradled her in his arms. His thoughts were jumbled, and he did not think it was possible to explain the feelings to himself. He concluded the strange feeling and reaction was because he had not been this close to a woman in a very long time. Too long.
The sun peeked from behind the clouds. Julius was grateful it would provide some warmth for Miss Walcot. He did not need it. His blood was already running hot, and he reflected on how alive he felt. He did not know what possessed him. His hand firmly around her waist should reassure her, but it was more comforting to him.
“You must be tiring, Your Grace. You could set me down now.”
“I am not tiring, Miss Walcot, and we are almost at the house.”
He looked down at her impudent smile and almost reached down to brush her lips lightly. He shook his head as if that would dispel him from thinking such notions. It was just that being so close to her, holding her in his arms, made him … Julius saw Otishurriedly approaching them. As Otis neared, brows furrowed, Julius detected his concern.
“Have a hot bath prepared for Miss Walcot, and Nellie is to prepare some broth.”
“I will see to it straight away, Your Grace.” Otis immediately spun around and all but ran toward the house.
“I did not mean to cause such a stir in your household, Your Grace.”
If only she knew about the stir she was causing elsewhere. Could she feel the yearning and tension she had created?
“It is no bother.”
