Page 39 of His Forbidden Duchess
The right man.
She stammered, but her protest evaporated as his tongue parted her lips. She could taste the wine that lingered in his mouth, and she relished it. Her body overthrew the resistance in her mind, melting into the urgency of his kiss.
His dominance of her sent shivers down her spine, and she found herself responding, her trapped fingers curling in the air, desperate to touch him.
His free hand traced the curve of her arm then cupped her jaw as his thumb brushed over her cheek. He roamed down her side and smoothed across the curve of her waist before pulling her even closer. She was trapped between the wall and the hard lines of his body, feeding off his intoxicating power and control.
Eloise’s breath caught as his fingers moved lower, pushing the fabric of her gown up, inch by excruciating inch. A shudder passed through her, and she closed her eyes as the cool night air caressed her thighs. It was what she had always dreamed of.
The touch of his rough and possessive hand against her bare skin made her gasp, and she leaned forward, biting into the thick fabric that concealed his shoulder.
“Felix, please,…please…” she whispered into his ear, part plea, part invitation.
I want it all.
He gathered the gown together at her hips, and she could sense how exposed she was, her most private parts exposed to the world. To Felix.
He stared deeply into her eyes, daring her to question him or push him away, but she didn’t. She bit her lip and stared back, daring him to continue.
He paused just for a moment, his eyes dark and wild.
“You aremine, Eloise,” he growled, his voice low and commanding, and desire rippled through her again. “Say it.”
Her lips parted, but as she attempted to speak, a sharp gasp echoed down the corridor.
I have been saved. Or ruined.
Felix jerked back, their eyes snapping to the shadowed entrance of the alcove. Eloise’s breath whooshed in ragged gasps, and her cheeks were flushed as she quickly tried to pull down her gown. She could feel Felix’s frustration as he pulled her further into the shadows.
They were not alone.
“Scandalous, I say!” came the cry from the corridor though the voice sounded more thrilled than scandalized.
Felix felt Eloise stiffen beside him, the intensity of her terror so different from her desire. He cautiously held her back, nearly certain the words were not being directed at them.
He had never been caught before, and he would not be caught now.
Felix smirked, amused by how well traveled the corridor seemed to be. These prim and proper lords and ladies were never as honorable as they made themselves out to be. At least Felix was honest about who he was.
He listened intently, his entire body vigilant and alert. He knew he couldn’t allow Eloise’s reputation to be ruined, not when she was so close to getting everything she needed.
A woman he could not see giggled; a man stammered, trying to get his words out. Felix recognized that voice.
Is that… is that Mortcombe?
“Felix?” Eloise whispered.
He peered through the gloom into her wide eyes and pressed a finger to her lips. There were too many people about, and they couldn’t risk being discovered. They had to remain perfectly silent. She nodded her understanding.
“What is going on here?” A fourth voice.
A crowd was gathering.
“Felix, we ought?—”
Felix pushed Eloise against the wall once more, pressing his hand against her mouth to stop her from saying another word. Her hot breath billowed over his skin as he stared into her eyes, warning her to do as she was told.
“I cannot believe that you have caught us!”
