Page 34 of Wedded to the Forbidden Duke
“Oh, no, my lord. I am very pleased by this turn of events. After all, you know how much I love being right,” she said, a playful lilt in her voice.
Ian could not help but smile. “Indeed,” he said. “After how much you gloated winning that game of pall-mall, how could I forget?”
She laughed, the sound as melodic as bells. All this time, he had thought Cecilia at her most beautiful when she was being combative. He had never realized how much more attractive she could possibly become when she was smiling—whenhewas the one making her smile.
“You know,” he said. “I do not believe I have ever told you how much I love the sound of your laughter.”
She laughed again, though a note of inquisitiveness entered her gaze. “Is that so?”
“Indeed.” He took a step towards her. She did not step away; indeed, she moved closer to him, until they met halfway. “It is a most fetching sound. Together with the glint in your eyes and the fine gold of your hair is as though you are lit from within.”
She rolled her eyes. “I hope you do not seek to win me over with such bald-faced flattery, my lord.”
“I am only being honest.” He raised one hand to her cheek. “I enjoy how your face lights up when you are laughing, or sportive, or even angry. You flush a most lovely shade of pink, which then runs down to your chest.” He traced a path down her neck and collarbone. Cecilia shuddered, tilting her head slightly to allow him better access. “Of course, if you truly cannot be won over with compliments, perhaps I will have to try something else.”
Cecilia tipped her head back, eyes looking from his lips back to his eyes. “Like what?” she asked, already a bit breathless.
At the touch of his hand on the small of her back, her hands lifted to press against his chest. “Your Grace…” she murmured.
“You know you are allowed to call me by my name,” he said quietly. They were so close now that their lips nearly touched. “In fact, I would quite like it if you did.”
“Ian,” she sighed.
He leaned in closer. “Tell me to stop, wife,” he said.
Her eyes fluttered once more to his lips, then back up to his eyes. She said nothing but tipped her head up slightly further.
Ian leaned in and captured her lips with his.
Chapter Fourteen
Cecilia tasted even sweeter than he remembered. He could not believe he had gone a full week without this, without her lips against his, her body against his, her sweet gasps as he pulled her in closer. Her arms wound up around his neck.
His hands continued to roam her body as they kissed, tracing her curves through the fabric of her dress. When his hand reached her breast, she broke the kiss and pulled away, chest heaving.
“Wait,” she said breathlessly, looking up at him with those breathtakingly green eyes.
“What?” he said, hands stopping where they were.
He searched her face for some sign. Her cheeks were the soft red of roses, her hair like spun gold in the dim lighting.This woman,he thought,will be the death of me.
At the very least, if she were to not start kissing him again in very short order, he was quite certain he would go absolutely mad.
“What?” he questioned her, as his eyes raked across her face, her neck, the soft swell of her bosom perfectly framed by the neckline of her gown.
“Not here,” she whispered, her eyes flickering to the hall. “One of the staff might see.”
“To hell with the bloody staff,” he growled, pressing his lips more firmly against hers. She welcomed this, clinging to him with equal force. Acquiescing to her request, though, he reluctantly pulled away, enjoying the look of confusion and longing that flashed across her face this time.
“What are you—” she began. “Oh!” This last was in response to Ian bending down and sweeping her up off her feet, into a bridal carry. “Ian,” she said, unable to stifle a delighted giggle. “What are you doing?”
“I am just now realizing I never carried you across the threshold,” he said, a playful glint entering his eye beneath the unbridled lust that resided there.
“Ah. Of course.” She pressed her lips together, still smiling, and nodded. “That was rather un-husbandly of you.”
“My thoughts exactly,” he purred, pressing another hungry kiss to her mouth. “It only seems right that I rectify the situation.”
And with that, he took off down the hall towards his chambers.
