Page 60 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
She lifted her head and looked at him. First at his lips, then his eyes, then at his lips.
The memory of her kiss was still fresh. But not nearly fresh enough.
“This is desire.” He bent his head and took her mouth. Gently. Tenderly. She responded, opening to him, letting him deepen the kiss.
A moment later she took the lead, tipping her head and pressing her lips to the edge of his mouth. Then she offered him a long, lingering kiss that made him greedy for more. She gripped his lapel but then slid her hand underneath, burrowing under his waistcoat until he could feel the heat of her palm against his chest.
Rhys pulled her closer, sliding his hand up, grazing the edge of her breast.
She let out a little hiss at that and he pulled back reluctantly, wary of expecting too much. Everything between them felt fragile and he didn’t want to break it again.
“Rhys.”
He always liked the way she said his name, lingering on the sibilant end, especially when she was cross with him.
“What you felt in the study yesterday?” he whispered against her lips. “That was desire.”
She didn’t let go of him. He loved that she kept her hand pressed against his chest. It made him bold. He wrapped a hand around her waist and drew her closer, until their bodies were as flush and connected as they’d been the day before.
For the first time, he saw trepidation in her gaze.
“We mustn’t do this,” she said with a quiet certainty that cut straight across his longing. “There were rules we agreed to.”
“You know I’ve never been very good at following rules.”
“But I am. Rules are what keep me from giving in to impulse anytime I wish.” The bite in her tone was new, but he couldn’t tell if she was angry with him or herself.
“I told you, Arry. This isn’t impulse.”
“No.” Bella shook her head and stepped away from him as if she meant to depart and leave him standing in the spot where he’d once nearly destroyed theirfriendship. “Whatever it is, I can’t let myself give in to it. Not this time.”
With that, she turned her back on him and headed toward the party.
For the briefest moment, he felt the desolation he had that day. The fear that he’d never see her again.
Chapter Fourteen
“It will all go well.” Bella huffed out an irritated sigh as she pushed clothing aside in what was beginning to feel like a futile search for her black traveling gloves. “It’s to be a short trip. What could go wrong?”
“Are you trying to reassure me or yourself?” Louisa sat at the window seat and sipped tea as Bella gathered the last few items she needed for the trip to London.
“Perhaps both of us.”
“Are you sure you shouldn’t simply tell Claremont what you have planned?”
“No.” Bella pulled out another wardrobe drawer and sifted through a pile of scarves. “If it goes well, believe me I’ll be happy to let everyone know.”
Tomorrow she had an appointment with a publisher and while she was confident about what she’d say at the meeting, the prospect of slipping away without raising Rhys’s suspicions had her on edge. The planhad seemed entirely workable when she’d discussed it privately with his sister.
Now anxiety gnawed at her.
Meg had been encouraging and promised Bella that she’d cover for her absence however she was able. And somehow, she’d intuitively understood why Bella couldn’t tell Rhys.
In some ways, he still viewed her as her parents did. A dutiful girl, and the only future he could imagine for her was marriage. But he’d also been protective in the past. If she told him, he’d wish to help her, and she wanted none of that.
“I thought perhaps Aunt Gwendoline would ask me to accompany you.”
Bella didn’t miss the wistfulness in her cousin’s tone. Any other time, she would have enjoyed her company in the city. But this trip was to be brief and full of activity. Meg had appointments with a modiste and milliner, and they intended to shop for shoes and other accoutrements she’d need for her first Season.
