Page 28 of A Rescue by the Rakish Duke
“Let me help you, then, Damian,” she begged, surprised by the emotion in her voice and her use of his name.
She cursed herself inwardly and vowed to be more careful next time, but he didn’t seem bothered by it. He just wanted her to leave him alone.
“This conversation is over. I thought you had decided to stop arguing with me about Montrose,” he said and leaned back in his chair.
“Look at me. Do you find me so unattractive that you can barely look me in the face?”
She wished she could take back her words. She shouldn’t have come here. Her life had been simpler when she contented herself with roaming around and helping the servants with things they could have easily done themselves.
“What?” Damian’s eyes widened in shock.
Trying to salvage the situation, Gwendoline lifted her chin. “You have barely spoken to me since we arrived here. I thought you would grow to be fond of me, even if you claimed you didn’t need a friend. But you, a man known for his… proclivity for the fairer sex, choose to avoid me as much as you can.”
Suddenly, the crackling of the fire in the hearth became too loud. It felt deafening, together with the pounding of her heart.
“You think I find you unappealing?” Damian asked, his eyes frighteningly dark but no less compelling.
He had leaned so close that all she could do was blink at him. Her heart was racing, but she also couldn’t make herself look away.
“Don’t I have a reason to? Men and women would always comment on my—never mind. And you, you flinch away from me like…”
Damian rose from his chair and rounded his desk. In a few quick strides, he was in front of her. He gently pulled her to her feet and turned her around so that her back was against his desk.
“You have no idea what you are talking about, Gwendoline,” he said, his voice rough.
His hand gripped the edge of the desk behind her. The air felt hot despite the chill of his study.
She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Her throat felt tight. She saw his eyes drop to her mouth.
Time slowed down. Nothing else mattered. It all seemed to disappear. Even the crackling fire faded.
“You have no idea what you do to me,” he mumbled, his breath hot against her lips.
Slight movement. Heart beating furiously.
Then, his mouth was on hers, firm and demanding.
Frustration and longing burst from both of them, leaving her breathless. Without the strong mahogany behind her, she would have already crumbled. Her knees shook.
Gwendoline didn’t know what a kiss would feel like, but she didn’t complain when his warm tongue touched hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down to her instead of pushing him away.
She was angry at him.
She was frustrated.
She felt in the dark.
Yet, when she was given a chance to kiss him, she took it. But it ended as quickly as it started.
Damian pulled back, breathing heavily.
Was that regret that she saw in his eyes? Her heart clenched at the thought. There was something else in there—something harder to decipher.
“This… This was a mistake,” he said.
For the second time in their brief marriage, Damian turned on his heel and left her in the study.
She stood there, stunned and trembling.
