Page 93 of How to Seduce a Duke this Autumn
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Perfection.
The warmth of her lips against his—soft, yet insistent—sent a shiver rippling down Adam’s spine. He felt it deep in his chest, an ache so sweet it tethered him entirely to the moment. Charlene. Every thought, every feeling narrowed to her, as if the rest of the world had simply fallen away. How had he waited this long to kiss her, to hold her like this? How had he survived without knowing what it felt like to have her trust him so completely?
Her hands, delicate but firm, clung to the back of his neck, her fingers threading through the unruly strands of his hair. He swore he could feel her pulse in the faint, trembling pressure of her movements, a steady rhythm that matched his own. Adam moved one hand upward, his thumb grazing the curve of her jaw as he cupped her face, anchoring her to him. He wanted her to feel safe, wanted her to know she was cherished—all while every nerve in his body burned with the need to be closer.
He pulled back slightly, just enough to rest his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. She was flushed, her cheeks warm beneath his palm, and her lips parted as though she couldn’t quite catch her breath. Adam couldn’t help but smile at the sight, though his heart thundered in his chest.
“Are you all right?” he asked again softly, his voice rougher than he intended. The words were simple enough, but they carried the weight of everything he wanted to give her—comfort, reassurance, choice. He needed to know she was here with him as completely as he was with her.
Charlene nodded, her gaze locking with his. Her eyes, bright even in the fading twilight, held a depth that undid him entirely. When she placed her hands lightly against his chest, letting her palms rest over his heart, he felt the unsteady drum of her heartbeat beneath his skin, mirroring his own.
“I’m more than all right,” she whispered, her voice trembling but steadying as the words filled the air between them.
Her answer shot straight through him, lighting a fire deep within his core. Adam’s lips curved into a rare, unguarded smile that he knew only she could bring out of him. He was a man so often controlled, measured, and deliberate. But here, with Charlene, he felt utterly free.
Sliding his hand from her jaw to her neck, he marveled at the soft skin just below her ear, so delicate that he could feelthe faint flutter of her pulse against his fingertips. The intimacy of the moment left him breathless, but it was more than that. It wasn’t merely the touch or the taste of her. It was her—the woman who had consumed his thoughts for months, the only person who had unraveled the tightly knotted threads of his soul. And now… she was here, truly his.
Slowly, he leaned down again, brushing his lips over hers. This time, the kiss was gentler, deeper, as if he could pour every unspoken word into it. He held her carefully, afraid of overwhelming her even as his need to be closer threatened to break his composure. His free hand settled on the small of her back, pulling her closer, steadying her as her balance shifted toward him.
The feel of her was intoxicating—her warmth, the faint rosewater perfume that lingered on her skin, the way her breath hitched softly as his hand roamed to the curve of her waist. Adam tried to pace himself, to keep his focus on the woman in his arms rather than the heat pooling low in his stomach. He wanted this moment to last forever, unmarred by haste.
“You’re trembling,” he murmured, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.
Charlene pulled back just enough to glance up at him, her cheeks colored with the faintest blush.
“I—” She hesitated, her voice small but steady as she added, “It’s not the wind.”
The honesty in her words left him undone. He cradled her face in both hands now, stroking his thumbs over the line of her cheekbones. “It’s the same for me,” he admitted. “You make me a disaster, Charlene. And I hardly know how to feel about that.”
Her quiet laugh, soft and breathless, brushed over him like a warm breeze. She didn’t pull away—in fact, she leaned into him, her hands tightening their hold on his coat lapels as if groundingthem both. That small gesture was so entirely her—tentative yet bold, seeking balance even as she placed her trust in him.
Adam couldn’t help himself; he pressed a kiss to her forehead, letting the tip of his nose graze the crown of her hair. His heart felt too large for his chest, and he took a steadying breath to remind himself not to lose control. He moved his hand along her arm, brushing over the satin fabric of her puffed sleeve, before resting it at the curve of her shoulder.
“Charlene,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “I need you to understand something.”
She tilted her head slightly, her curls brushing his wrist, her wide eyes fixed on him with unguarded curiosity. “What?” she asked, her voice so quiet it was almost lost to the sound of the wind raking through the trees below.
Adam hesitated for a split second, his thumb brushing slow circles along her shoulder as he gathered the courage to speak. He’d faced so many moments of risk and uncertainty in his life, but none felt as monumental as this.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything than I am of you.” His voice hitched slightly, his throat tightening under the weight of the truth. “Being with you feels like the only kind of freedom I’ve ever wanted.”
Charlene’s breath caught in her throat, her fingers curling reflexively into the front of his coat. For a moment, there were no words, only the soft rustle of the breeze and the faint hum of violin music from the gathering below. But when she finally spoke, her voice was full of emotion, rich and trembling.
“Adam,” she said, her tone a mix of disbelief and wonder.
He wanted to tell her that he did know. That he understood, because standing here with her under the glow of the setting sun, among the sea of forgettable faces down below, he felt for the first time what it was to belong entirely to another person. Butinstead, he kissed her again, pouring his heart into the way his lips ghosted over hers, slow and deliberate.
The rooftop was their sanctuary, separate from everything else, and Adam knew as he held her that this moment would linger with him long after the night was gone. All he wanted now was to stay here, with Charlene pressed against him, their breaths syncing as the world beyond faded into insignificance.
He steadied Charlene in his arms. Her breath was shallow against his shoulder, her form delicate beneath his hands. Every fiber of his being was tuned to her, to the way she rested against him, to the way her nerves gave way to trust.
Slowly, he slipped his hands down her arms, the fine silk of her gown cool beneath his touch. Pausing for a moment, he searched her gaze, his thumb brushing lightly over the edge of her shoulder. He needed her to know this was her choice—that whatever boundaries she set, he would honor them without hesitation.
When Charlene nodded, her lips curving into the faintest, trembling smile, his throat tightened. The weight of what was unfolding between them left him breathless, but he steadied himself, letting his fingers move to the first line of tiny pearl buttons along her back. His movements were deliberate, careful, as though even the smallest misstep could shatter the fragile intimacy between them.
The buttons came loose one by one, a quiet rhythm punctuating the stillness of the rooftop. With each release, the fabric loosened, slipping away from her form to reveal more of the smooth, pale skin beneath. Adam’s eyes lifted to her face as he worked, catching the soft rise of color blooming across her cheeks. Charlene didn’t look away. Her trust, her openness, left him raw in the best way. He felt as though his entire heart had been placed in her hands.
