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“His lordship is in the library,” a bland voice said from behind her.
She turned. “Thank you, Fenton,” she said to the butler with a nod, then sauntered toward the library. Once there she knocked.
“Come.”
She opened the door and slipped inside. “I apologize, my lord. I was not thinking, and I ask you not to be upset—”
He turned around with such fierceness, she stumbled back. But it wasn’t fear that filled her. Verity’s belly went hot and her knees weak at the expression of raw desire on his face. He wants me. A hand fluttered to her mouth as she stared at him with ill-concealed shock. Breathing was nearly impossible as she waited for him to move, to say something, for she was robbed of further speech. He was singularly inappropriate to be a romantic interest. He was too big…too vital, too dominant. So why did she feel so breathless…so achy with unfathomable need?
Finally he said, “I believed you had left, Lady Verity. I thought the sight of my nudity would have chased you all the way to Grosvenor Square and beset your nerves f
or the rest of the week.”
The room suddenly seemed to be without air.
“I…no, I had to change first,” she said inanely.
“Of course, how remiss of me.”
They stood there, holding each other’s gaze, and the tension in the air felt fraught with such peril she trembled.
His eyes sharpened. “Are you afraid?”
It took her a moment to answer. “Of you?”
His regard was too steady to be comfortable. “Yes.”
“Of course not, my lord.”
He glanced away briefly, but she’d spied the stark flash of relief in his beautiful eyes. His regard settled on her once more. “You’ll always be safe with me. I apologize if I scared you earlier when I held you down. It was ungentlemanly of me knowing of your past. I will endeavor to ask permission whenever I wish to impart such lessons.”
Something cold melted inside of Verity. “Thank you, but an apology is unnecessary. I was not afraid. Not once. And I am heartened to know our lessons will continue,” she said softly, fighting the ridiculous need to walk into his arms.
She did it anyway, and hugged him, ignoring his soft grunt of surprise. There was no logical explanation for why she did it. It was improper, and intimate. Yet she hugged him fiercely, distantly aware of the fine trembling in her frame.
Thump. Thump. Thump. How fast his heart beat, and Verity knew it was for her. She withdrew from his arms and glanced up at him. She was venturing into unknown territory. Verity should be scared but she was enthralled.
She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his palm. Stop! Deep down, a frightened part of her cried, but she did not obey. James closed his eyes briefly, as if he hoarded the feel of her lips on his skin. He hauled her up to him, and when she gasped, he took her mouth with his. James brushed the lightest of kisses across her mouth before capturing her lower lip between his teeth to bite down gently, teasing her lips to part with soft nibbles and hot, urgent kisses.
Soft whimpering noises escaped from deep in her throat, and she was helpless to stop. Verity had never felt more gloriously, joyously alive in all her life.
Chapter 9
James felt a deep conviction that he would regret yielding to the temptation of the woman in his arms. But she’d lifted her sweet face to his and he became lost. He stumbled with her to the chaise longue by the fire, and twisted so she landed atop his chest, never once releasing her mouth from his. Verity’s moan slipped from her mouth to his, the sound so soft…surprised yet wanton, James felt he finally understood the true meaning of hunger. It flamed through him like a fiery whip of desire, and he kissed her over and over, unable to recall her innocence in the face of such enticing carnality.
One kiss from her would never be enough, and he had known a man with his brutish and inelegant ways would never have suited a fine lady of quality as herself. Earl or no, she wanted a certain refinement and he did not possess that, and never would, even with a thousand lessons. Even now, a brutal ache pounded through his cock, demanding he ravish her with the hottest of pleasures.
He bit her lower lip and tugged, sliding his tongue inside heaven. Her nails bit into his shoulder, and their tongues tangled in bliss. Her husky whimpers seemed to take hold of his groin and give a tug. Sweet mercy, he wanted her. His loins were aching and heavy, and he wanted to take her upstairs, strip her naked, worship her with open-mouthed, lascivious kisses against her wet sex, before burying his cock deep, and riding her for the night.
Lost in the haze of roaring needs and a burning desire he had been denying, he gripped her hips and positioned her, so she sat astride him. They broke apart, breathing raggedly, and peering into each other’s eyes. For some reason he anticipated a slap to his cheek for his audacity. But his lovely Verity only stared at him, passionate shock in her golden eyes.
“I ache,” she said softly.
The space between them heated, and his control wavered. “I burn.”
Without breaking her gaze, he tightened his grip on her hips and rocked her down and over the hard ridge of his cock which strained against his trousers.
Her cheeks flushed, her lips parted, and her eyes widened. James did it again and a wild cry tore from her throat. Even through the layers of her gown and petticoats, she would feel the sensations as he slid her down, then up in a slow sensuous glide over the hardened length of his cock. Her eyes clouded with dazed delight, and something hungry throbbed inside of him to relinquish control and be the right kind of wicked.
