Page 55 of My Blind Duke
The frown on his face told her he was confused by the sudden change in the trajectory of their conversation. So much so he lowered his arms and stepped back.
“She feels rejected by your behavior. She loves you so much and aches to be a part of your world – someone that you acknowledge and give your attention to. But the way you treat her makes her believe that you do not love her,” Prudence explained carefully.
“That is ridiculous. I would give my life for her. I want to try and do better, but I doubt I can. Not when I have been so set in my ways. I do not know what to do, what to say–”
“Do you not understand?” she interrupted him gently. “Melanie has already made all the necessary first steps toward you. She has worked so hard, time and time again, to give you both common ground to meet on. You do not need to do much more than meet her halfway. I know you are scared and worried, but Ialso know that if you try, you can do this. Because what she does not understand is that she makes up a large part of your world and you would not be able to live if you did not have her by your side.”
William nodded. “You are… you are right. I will do better. Try harder.”
Prudence smiled at him and reached for his hand, giving it a little comforting squeeze.
“That is all she asks.”
The duke nodded again, then he dropped his gaze down to where their hands were interlocked. Prudence inhaled sharply as she noticed that they had somehow managed to draw closer once more.
Prudence could not remember who took the first step. Perhaps they had met each other halfway. Perhaps he made the leap for them.
All she knew was his lips were suddenly on hers and she was melting in his arms. William tugged her impossibly closer, his hands roaming over her body, tracing the contour of her flesh, kneading and groping as his mouth moved against hers hotly.
All the need Prudence had managed to stifle, every bit of want she had managed to bury, came pooling at the surface, pulling her beneath the currents of desire. She clung to his shirt as heteased her lips apart with his tongue, the taste of whiskey on his lips making her feel hot.
She squealed indignantly when he picked her up and carried her to his desk, his lips still attached to hers. A small moment of clarity appeared within Prudence’s mind and she pulled back, putting her hand over his mouth when he tried to kiss her again.
“We…” she panted and swallowed hard. “We should not do this, Your Grace. All it does is confuse us because it never leads anywhere. Perhaps it would be best to exercise–”
William pulled her hand off his lips and surged forward to kiss her, smiling at the way she leaned into the kiss before he pulled back.
“You are… you are right. This will be the last time.”
Prudence felt her resolve weaken at his words, realizing that this man before her was far more dangerous to her than she had thought. Still, she licked her lips and let him pull her closer by her waist as she muttered,
“One last time.”
Chapter 18
Prudence shuddered as William’s fingers caressed the bare skin of her thigh.
The insistence from earlier seemed to have watered down slightly, and he appeared to be taking his time unraveling her as one would a present. Vaguely, Prudence wondered if it was because he had promised it would be their last time doing this together.
She did not have time to dwell on it too much because he was pulling the strings of her corset, and moments later, her breasts were freed.
“I do not need to have my sight to know that you are incredibly beautiful,” he murmured against her neck as one of his hands came up to cup a breast, pinching the nipple between two fingers.
“Is that so? Or are you just trying to charm me into letting you have your way with me?” she gasped, arching into his touch.
“I do not need to charm you for any reason,” William stated in a humorous tone. “I am having my way with you because you want me to. Ever since the first day, there is nothing I have done that you did not allow me to do. It is not just about me, Prudence. It is about us both.”
As he spoke, he was pressing closer, touching her as though her body held the secrets of life he desperately needed. Prudence eyed his white shirt and then she spoke up,
“If this is about us both, then can I ask for something?”
“If you asked for a star, I would break my legs jumping in an attempt to catch one for you,” he whispered in her ear before he bit her neck.
“No need to go that far, thank goodness,” she said, as though his words had not caused her heart to stutter dangerously. She then tugged his shirt and added, “I want to be able to see you and touch you. It is only fair, no?”
William paused, and then he captured her lips in a fiery kiss, their tongues melding together in a wet dance that stole her breath. After what felt like an eternity, he pulled back and as she sat there, panting for air, he took off his shirt in one fluid motion.
Then he took one of her hands and rested in on his bare chest, from his pecs down to the well-defined muscles on his torso.
