Page 53 of Dukes Are Forever
And then he threw himself into the abrupt change in dynamics, his mouth capturing hers with a hungry snarl.
It was a kiss to put all others in their place. A kiss with no design, beyond a statement:You are mine. A clash of tongues and teeth, and hard, heated hands that forced her to yield. But yielding was not in her nature, and she bit his lip as if to warn him she would not be conquered. Not by him. Not by this.
A growled—utterly un-Malloryn—sound escaped him, and then he slid one hand under her bottom and hauled her against him, his hips pressing into the warm juncture of her thighs.
His tongue delved deeper, caressing hers.
And she met each stroke with her own unabashed response, unleashing all her fury and hurt in each breathless kiss. Taking what she wanted, damn him.
Malloryn's hips ground against hers, his erection lining up right between her thighs. Rightthere. He thrust against her in an almost mindless simulation of the physical act of consummation.
It set every inch of her on fire, until Adele was grinding against him, her hands sliding through the dark coppery strands of his hair, fisting there and mashing her mouth against hers.
She wanted to climb inside his skin. To drink down every last inch of him. To consume him. She wanted to throw all caution to the wind and pretend none of the lies mattered. Suddenly there were too many clothes between them. Too many barriers.
But the most insubstantial was the one around her heart.
For if she were being honest with herself, it wasn't just the thought of a child that had begun to lure her into her husband's arms.
And it hurt, because some part of herself had began to feel something for him and—
Adele tore her face to the side, away from his dangerous mouth.
Away from those tempting thoughts that beckoned her down a dark road that only ended in heartbreak.
Both of them were panting. Trapped against each other. Tangled by way of flesh and clothing.
"Look at me," he whispered.
No.
"Adele." A soft word. A word that pierced her through and through. "Adele, look at me." She was almost strong enough to deny him, until he added, "Please."
She looked. Heaven help her, but she looked.
And enough of the mask had slipped for her to see a faint, unguarded glint in her husband's eyes. One that showed her he wasn't quite as certain as he seemed.
They stayed there for long moments, and she realized his chest was heaving, almost as much as hers was.
"Are you happy now you've destroyed the order in my study?"
No. She wouldn't be happy until she'd destroyed the order in his heart. Her gaze slid over his shoulder, then back to him. "The desk still looks untouched."
A heartbeat.
Then a devilish smile that made her stomach drop almost to her feet.
"We could fix that," he purred as he leaned closer and rubbed his cheek along hers, his whisper a caress against her ear. "Lady's choice, of course."
A thrill ran through her.
Adele closed her eyes.
She wasn't seriously thinking about this, was she? He'd lied to her and tricked her. But it was all out in the open now, and as he rocked against her, she felt the insistent press of his erection.
Thatwasn't a lie.
Their marriage might have been built upon cool, slashing words and disdainful looks, but it was becoming quite evident there was heat there too. Desire. Need. Ever since that bloody day in the Ivory Tower when she'd saved his life and he'd nearly taken her right there on the floor, she couldn't seem to look away from him.
