Page 39 of The Wolf and the Wildflower
James pressed his thumb against the hollow of her throat. That inexplicable craving clawed up inside him, and instead of constricting it, he gave it free rein. The need spilled through him to just feel her, so he did. He coasted his fingertips over her collarbone, daringly unknotting that neckcloth so he could fully feel the soft hollow of her breastbone. A deep, thumping pleasure pulsed through James’s body. It was indeed a foreign sensation that wrenched violently inside his chest.
All from touching her?
A spicier touch of apricot flavored the air. Her eyes snapped to his and he noted the fractured beauty in the depth of her eyes, made even more lovely by the flickering fire. Her regard felt invasive…intimate. James wanted more.
That impatience bit at him and he tugged the neckcloth fully away, even the slide of it against his palm a sensual rasp. He dropped it to the ground and flicked open the few top buttons of her shirt. He wanted an expanse of skin against his hand. A single gliding touch with his fingers was inadequate.
The softest of skin bared to his gaze. James ran his hand across her clavicle, feeling the warmth of life and energy beneath his palm. His wildflower’s scent changed, became sultry and dark…yet had the light tinge of frosted wind and apricot blossoms…and also sun-ripened peach. James’s mouth watered. And something inexplicable tightened low in his gut. As if she somehow sensed his reaction, she laughed. Light and tinkling. Eyes mysterious as the ice-capped mountains of the Northern Sound itself.
James needed to find the sultry lushness beneath the lightness, to understand its source. He ran his nose down across her chest and lower still, ignoring the squeak of dismay sounding above his head. Clearly, he was acting the beast, a man without any manners or refinement. He would find the withal to tender an apology later.
“James!”
“My name at last,” he murmured, dipping his nose in line with her waistband. Ah…there it was, that lush fragrance that evoked naked limbs tangled in primal rhythm right here in the wood. Fingers thrust through his hair and yanked his head up.
James rose. Her cheeks were red, her eyes bright, and the pulse at her throat visibly tapped. “I am not sure if I am appalled or filled with humor. Youmustcontrol your nose, my good duke.”
That smile could have been a bullet given the force with which it tore through James’s chest and lodged itself. A damn smile and he was destroyed. Something in her eyes said she knew it very well and was intrigued by his reaction to her. The absurdity of it unsettled him, yet it also tugged at an unknown place deep inside.
“You smell like apricot blossoms…it makes me want to lick you, everywhere. I have never given any thought to licking another before. I can tell this desire will follow me to bed and tease and torment my sleep. I look forward to the experience of…licking and tasting you.”
Her eyes widened to an astonishing degree. “I…Your Grace!”
“Ah, should I have not said that?”
“Youdevil, you very well know it,” she gasped.
“Why not? It is the truth.”
“Not all truths are meant to be spoken.”
“Between us, they will. Did we not agree on this exchange of honesty, Wildflower? Surely you have not forgotten so soon, hmm?”
She made a hopeless gesture with her hand, a sound, a curious croak emitting from her. “We do not speak the dangerous ones.”
“Why not?”
“Because they are dangerous,” she said with a touch of sardonic mirth. “I do not want to think about you wanting to lick me.”
He saw it then, lush golden skin splayed on the verdant grass, a feast for him to inhale and glide his fingers over. The contrasting roughness on the tips of his fingers would rouse her sweet, soft body…
A spark lit in his veins, and he found himself reaching for that pulse of need, wanting to inter that sensation deep inside him. The nature of it felt unknown; though he was certain to have felt desire before, this felt new and necessary. “I also want to touch you.Everywhere.”
Her lips parted but no sound emerged. Finally, Southby delicately cleared her throat and said, “Well, I…I…” Her lips closed on whatever she meant to say and then to his delight, a beautiful smile bloomed on her mouth. “You have a bit of a devil inside you.”
“You’ve met him, have you?”
“Is he not the master of temptation?”
All at once, life seemed to consist of sweet and definitely wicked possibilities. Ah…she was tempted. “So you do want me to touch you everywhere, Wildflower.”
“I admit that I am infinitely curious.”
He stroked a finger over her quaint little brow. “Then I shall satisfy you.”
Her lids fluttered and veiled the glorious depths of her eyes. “I daresay ladies on the marriage mart will appreciate this mysterious yet devilish charm you are exuding.”
“Will they?”
