Page 38 of To Dare a Duke

The movement came again, that gentle press of his mouth to hers, a little firmer this time, and then again. This time he kissed her upper lip, then the lower, and then she sucked in a breath at the warmth of his tongue. She opened to him without even thinking about it, about what they were doing, or about the consequences.

Her thoughts were scattered and gone, nothing in their place but instinct and some heated force within her. It flamed to life as his tongue teased and invited, urging her to join this intimate exchange. It was an invitation she could not resist, her own curiosity and need reacting to instinct. She raised her arms and threaded them about his neck as he deepened the kiss further, her fingers finding the warmth and silk of his hair.

Prue pressed closer to him, some faint voice in her head urging her to have caution as another, far louder demand insisted on more, more, take more.

The duke made a harsh sound, his arms tightening about her, one hand dropping to her hip and pulling her close. He wanted her. The realisation was startling somehow, which was odd, as he’d been pursuing her from the beginning, though she’d known it had been because she fit his criteria. That was the only reason. The practical need for a no-nonsense girl who would not cause him trouble. She almost laughed. Little did he know.

But whatever his criteria, he wanted her, and the feeling was powerful. It fed her own wants, her own desires, and the truth it revealed startled her. She wanted him too.

That thought brought her back to reality and she drew away, pushing at his chest. He released her at once, though one hand still rested on her hip. He was breathing hard, his hair ruffled, his mouth reddened from their kiss. Prue felt a jolt of desire so fierce she had to step further away, raising her hand to her mouth as if to assure herself it still belonged to her, that it would still obey her will.

His hands fell to his sides, and he made no attempt to return her to his embrace.

“I-I must go now,” she said, her voice unsteady, her breathing as harsh and erratic as his.

He nodded his understanding, his eyes never leaving hers.

Prue licked her lips, disheartened to discover she didn’t want to quit his company. Good lord, but this man was dangerous. With difficulty she forced herself to remember why she was here, why she’d done it at all.

“May I have something of yours?” she said in a rush. She needed proof of this meeting for the girls or they would never believe her. “Just to remember this evening by.”

He looked surprised at that, something that might have been pleasure in his eyes and she experienced a pang of remorse. “For example?”

Prue shrugged. She hadn’t thought this part through. What could he give? To her surprise she didn’t need to answer as he drew off his ring, the one that bore the Bedwin seal.

“Oh, no,” she protested. “That’s too precious. I—”

“You can give it back,” he said, smiling as he held it out to her. “Next time we meet. I’ll exchange it for something more appropriate.”

Prue stared at him, the warmth of his words and that smile easing over her like the heat of a fire, welcoming and comforting.

Next time we meet.

Except that there wouldn’t be a next time. She couldn’t allow it. The risks were becoming too high. She’d find another way to return it to him.

“Thank you, your grace,” she said, unsettled, aware that there was too much deception here, a hidden agenda of which he was unaware,

Her thoughts were in turmoil, regret and guilt and heaven alone knew what else flooding her, overwhelming her senses. She wanted at once to run as far as she could from him, and at the same moment to launch herself back into his arms and demand he kiss her again.

“Robert,” he replied, reaching out one hand to touch her face for a moment before dropping it and stepping back. “My name is Robert.”

“Robert,” she repeated, finding it strange to think of him as anything other than your grace, or the duke.

“Prunella,” he said in return, smiling and looking amused. “If I may?”

She grimaced and shook her head. “Prue, never Prunella.”

“Prue, then,” he said, and the sound of her name shivered over her, said low and intimate as it was. “I shan’t ask you again tonight but… does this mean you will consider me a little less harshly?”

She stared at him, suddenly afraid, afraid that this charming, handsome man could trap her as her mother had been trapped. Fear overrode desire, bringing her back to reality with a bump.

“No,” she said, the word harder and more definitive than perhaps she’d intended, but there was no point in saying it any other way. “I have to go,” she mumbled, unwilling to meet his eye, afraid he might see something in her expression that would prove her a liar.

She didn’t dare stay a moment longer but walked to the gap in the hedge she had come through and hurried away.

Chapter 11

Dearest Prue,