Page 85 of The Duke Who Claimed Her

“What is that look?” Caspian laughed when he saw her flinch.

She pretended to hide her face. “I ask that you leave at once, Caspian. You ought not see me like this. It might make you regret saving me last evening.”

“Arabella…” Caspian reached out and took her hand, pulling it away from her face. “Would you believe me if I told you that you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen? And that goes twice for this morning.”

She scoffed. “Lies.”

“Think what you will, but I mean every word.”

He was being honest, and Arabella knew that from the look in his eyes. He drank her in like a tonic, worshipping every inch of her, and it made her body tingle because she only just then realized where they were—and the implications of it.

Until last evening, she and Caspian had existed in a fractured state. Although they both knew what they wanted, Caspian was especially reluctant to admit it. And once he did, it was almost immediately denied.

Such denials were of the past, and from the way that Caspian continued to gaze upon her, she knew that was where they would remain.

“And what is that look?” she asked him as if shy.

His smile was both mischievous and coy. “I think you know…” His eyes then flicked down her body.

“Tell me.”

“We spoke about this, did we not? While I do like that you are able to stand up for yourself, there are some instances where you do not tell me what to do.”

“And what instance is that, exactly?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

They lay on their sides as they looked at one another. Caspian reached out with one hand and rested it under her chin. Arabella pretended to pull away, delighting in how he pinched her chin and forced her to look at him.

“Remember this, Arabella. You are mine. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.”

“I know I am,” she breathed as her heart started to race. “As you are mine too.”

She knew what was coming. How could she not? The way he held her chin. The way he gazed upon her as if she were the only thing in the world that mattered. How close they lay. How her blood surged hot through her body. And then there was the very real fact that Caspian licked his lips, flicked his eyes to her lips, and shuffled in close so that their bodies nearly touched.

“I think…” He whispered and licked his lips as his other hand moved to her waist and pulled her forward. “That Timothy can wait for a few more hours.”

“I think so too,” she said in a whisper as she let him pull her leg over her waist. “Besides, I need to change out of these clothes, and that might take a while.”

“I can help you with that.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am not only sure. I am eager…” He laughed gently, she joined in, and then Caspian leaned forward as he guided her lips to his.

It was not their first kiss. Nor was it their second. But as soon as their lips touched, Arabella knew that it was their most purposeful kiss yet. Gone were the games. No longer did they have to prove something. And that push-pull of denial versus desire was a thing of the past. For once, they could simply enjoy the kiss for what it was, and that made it all the better.

The kiss started softly but soon became intense.

Caspian released her chin, and his hand went through her hair as his mouth opened and his tongue dived inside of Arabella’s mouth. Their tongues licked and danced, their teeth nibbled where they could, and soft moans escaped them between each kiss.

Arabella felt the change in her body. It swept from her limbs and through her chest so that she could not control it. Without realizing what she was doing, she slid her leg further over Caspian, his hand went to her buttocks, and he pulled her onto him.

“Whoa!” she gasped as she found herself on top; her legs straddled both sides, and his hands gripped her backside.

“Good morning,” he chuckled.

“A very good morning,” she purred as she pushed her hips forward, leaned down, and started to kiss him again.

That was when the kisses grew in intensity. They became ravaged and hungry. Caspian’s hands pawed at her backside, her waist, anywhere that he could. She grabbed at his hair, ran her hands down his face, and clawed at his shirt.