Page 24 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
“You shouldn’t do that,” Leo told her.
“What have I done?”
“Run from me. Beasts thrive on the hunt, after all.”
“I have hardly run from you. You stand here in the middle of my chambers while I am undressed. I am not running; I am confused. You know I am about to take my vows. You did not allow me to join your little book club.”
Leo opened his mouth to explain away all of these things. How would he explain to her that he desperately needed help with Annie and Kitty, but also that he was beyond attracted to her? That he would take her to a book club in a heartbeat if he wanted to ruin her for her vows.
“You say you just want my help, but here you are, touching me. So, what is it exactly that you want from me?”
Leo took a confident step toward her. “You are forgetting the most important part of our deal, little nun. You are mine for the week. If I were to kiss you, would you stop me?”
He took another step toward her, forcing her back to the wall. Leo made sure that they were close enough that his body heat could seep into her. Even the suggestion that they could touch while she wore nothing but a robe was enough to make him hard.
He cupped her face in his hands, making it hard for her to look anywhere but right into his eyes.
“Would you scream and pull away?” he whispered in her ear.
She gave a small whimper but did not answer the question.
“Or would you lean into my touch?” He brushed her cheek with one hand, delighting in the softness of her skin beneath his palm.
“I… Your Grace, please.”
That was all the invitation he needed.
He leaned in slowly, only closing his eyes when he saw her eyes flutter closed. He pressed his lips to hers gently at first.
When she kissed him back, he parted his lips and encouraged her to do the same, swiping his tongue over her bottom lip. She opened her mouth and sighed at the touch of his lips against hers. He pulled her up to him, making it impossible for her to break away.
He took her lower lip between his and nipped it with his teeth, coaxing a surprised moan from her. He sucked on it and then released it, focusing on exploring every corner of her lips, her mouth.
She seemed just as eager to explore him. She pressed into him, closing the space between them. He pinned her against the wall, their bodies perfectly aligned, warmth radiating between them.
At the feel of his manhood against her, Margaret let out a quiet moan that brought him back to his senses.
“Forgive me, My Lady.” He forced himself to take a step away. “I should leave you to get ready.”
He turned and walked right out the door—a door he should never have entered if he was serious about protecting her ratherthanhavingher. He tried to hide what that kiss had done to him, but he knew that what he really needed was a stiff drink.
Instead of going to his chambers, where no one would bother him, he opted to return to his study. With any luck, Aaron would seek him out and join him for an evening drink.
He sat down and poured himself a tumbler of whiskey. With his eyes closed, he sighed deeply and took a swig when he heard a noise—a sign that he might not be alone. Standing up, he peered under the desk, the only place for the girls to hide in this room.
“I thought I told you girls to go to bed,” he chastised.
“Margaret is really pretty,” Annie said, ignoring his command.
This was how it always went with them. Leo would tell them what to do, and they would ignore him until they absolutely had to follow his directions.
Thiswas what he needed Margaret for—to help him get them under control.
“She is pretty,” he agreed.
No sense lying to the girls. They were too little to know what a man did when he was attracted to a woman, and he didn’t mind if they told Margaret he thought her attractive.
“Will you marry her?” Kitty asked, hands clasped under her chin as if in prayer.
