Page 20 of The Iron Duke's Flaming Christmas
He reached out, grabbing her by the waist, to steady her. They stood there, looking at each other. He was conscious of how tiny her waist was. And then, he became conscious of the heat that was rising in his chest and over his entire body, his blood thickening, his senses sharpening.
He had been trying to avoid her. He knew that the attraction between them was dangerous. But now… now, he could no more avoid it than he could avoid breathing. It seemed as inevitable as the sun rising in the east and the tide turning in the ocean.
Slowly, he pulled her closer, breathing in the scent of her. She wore rose scented perfume. The aroma of a garden on a hot summer’s day.
He bent his head, claiming her lips. The first time he had kissed a woman in a very long time. He hadn’t been entirely chaste since Mary’s passing, but those brief affairs had been conducted discreetly, far away from Trenton House. They had been calculated, in a mechanical way, to slake certain needs, to keep him functioning.
He knew as soon as his lips touched hers that this was different. Very different. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, losing himself entirely within it. The fight against this happening was gone for the moment. In a haze of thickeningdesire, he couldn’t even remember why he had been fighting it at all.
***
Selene knew she should pull away from him. Her heart was hammering so violently it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. She couldn’t breathe.
But his hands were tight around her waist, anchoring her to the spot. His eyes darkened even further, so black, she couldn’t even discern the pupils any longer. Her mouth went dry and a deep, yearning pull of desire fell through her as he bent his head, taking her lips with his own.
My first kiss. My very first kiss. And it is the Iron Duke who is kissing me!
Stunned, she tried to push him away, then stopped as the kiss deepened, her hands clawing at his shirt, pulling him closer. His grip tightened on her waist as he opened her mouth, hungrily devouring her.
She was tingling all through her body. She had never felt more alive than in this moment with him. She felt like she had never been alive before at all.
She clung to him, as to a lifeboat, as sensation racked her body, breathing in the smell of him. She had never known thatarousal like this existed. She had never known that a kiss could be like that, so fierce, so full of passion, and yet, inexplicably tender, as well.
What are you doing? What are you doing?
The voice of warning was loud in her head. Desperately, still in a haze, she pushed him away, her chest rising and falling. She was trembling like a leaf as they gazed at one another. He looked as stunned by what had just happened between them as she felt.
Confusion swept over her. One minute, they had been arguing, as always, and the next… well, she had no idea. It had all happened so quickly.
“You had no right,” she stammered, shaking her head. “You had no right to kiss me like that!”
He was panting, his black eyes glittering. He frowned.
“Neither did you,” he whispered.
Then he turned and marched out of the room, without a backward glance.
Selene sunk to the floor, grabbing the fallen book. Her hands were shaking so badly she almost dropped it again. Shesighed deeply, not bothering to move. She no longer cared if anyone walked into this room and saw her sitting on the floor like a madwoman, clutching a book to her chest.
Her mind was spinning and her heart hit the ground, as well. Fear overtook her at her foolishness. Would she lose her position at Trenton House? Was he going to fire her… or even worse, expect that she would fall into his bed, and use her abominably?
She had heard about masters expecting such things from their employees. They often took liberties. It was whispered about among female servants. They knew to watch their step around certain gentlemen, who had wandering hands, and demanded much more.
Selene could barely breathe. Her feelings had overwhelmed her. And now, she must pay a penalty for it. But what was it going to be?
Chapter 11
“Oh, look,” cried Lady Lenore, her voice filled with excitement, pointing to a tree. “It is a bird’s nest!”
Selene smiled at the little girl’s joy, despite her exhaustion. She had barely slept a wink after what had happened between her and the Iron Duke in the library last night. She needed this morning walk before lessons started as much as her pupil did.
They had walked a fair distance from the house. The wind was very chilly, and it was so cold, but already, Selene felt a little better. It was as if the wind was clearing the cobwebs from her mind. She was starting to feel more like herself again.
Do not think about the kiss. The duke will probably never mention it. It will be as if it never happened at all.
She felt a warm glow envelop her, despite the cold, and shivered, touching her lips. The way that his lips had felt against hers. The feelings he evoked within her. She had never dreamt that such feelings existed…
Stop it. He is your master. You are an employee in this house. Nothing good can come of it.
