Page 76 of Bound By the Duke
Percival made a low sound in the back of his throat, as if the matter required no thought at all. “If you say so.”
“You did not notice?” Her brows rose at his dismissive tone.
Surely, the duchess she was talking about had been the talk of the evening for such a daring color.
His expression hardened, as though uninterested in the topic. “I was more occupied with something else.” His blue gaze dropped to her. “With making sure the night was pleasant for you.”
Her lashes fluttered at his words. Words that made her cheeks flame. She bit the inside of her cheek, fighting back a smile.
“You have a way with words, Duke.” She cleared her throat delicately, butterflies fluttering violently in her stomach.
She tried to keep her gaze ahead, but her defiance was threatened by the strong breeze. The night air kissed her bare shoulders, making her shiver.
She rubbed her shoulders and then her fingers again. She was not even aware of her own movements until a heavy, warm coat was draped around her shoulders.
Aurelia froze, enveloped by his scent. His warmth.Him.
Then, she looked up to see him adjusting his coat around her, his shirt clinging to his muscular torso. Her lungs seized.
He looked at her once he was done, though his hands lingered, pressing lightly against her shoulders.
Oh God.
Every nerve sparked to life beneath his touch.
At that moment, the garden disappeared. The fountains, the roses, the stars themselves—none of them mattered except for his eyes, which were locked on hers. Blue, unreadable, burning with something that made her knees weaken.
Does he see the way my body is begging him to touch me lower?
And she knew, with a shiver that warmed her from within, that he could hear the faintest tremor as she breathed.
Her gaze dipped lower, to his mouth. Firm. Perfect. Cruelly restrained.
Those lips devoured me once. They could do worse. They could ruin me.
Her own lips parted helplessly at the mere thought of the things his mouth could do to her.
The silence grew heavy between them, too heavy. It thickened with things unsaid. And the more it thickened, the more her body betrayed her. She didn’t even realize she was leaning closer, her knees trembling with shame and greed.
Kiss me.
At that moment, that was all she wanted.
Press me against the marble and make me yours.
She moved closer until she could feel the ghost of his breath. But before she could do anything further, Percival broke the moment.
His hands slipped from her shoulder, slow and reluctant. As if every inch he drew back was an act of violence against himself.
Aurelia felt the loss like a blow. Heat lingered where his touch had been. Then, she dropped her gaze, and her fingers curled into the edge of his coat. Not for warmth, but to keep from trembling.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
The words trembled out of her lips. Even she was startled by the childlike tremor in her voice.
Percival simply nodded, his expression giving away nothing. It made her confused all over again.
How can he look so cold when I’m burning for him?
