Page 25 of The Duke of a Thousand Desires

“I have given you the impression that I’m timid?”

“Timid? Never. But you are elusive.”

“I am?”

He was almost caught. “Yes. Look how you got out of your engagement.”

She stood on her toes and without warning touched a kiss to his cheek. He swallowed. He went hot and hard and somehow managed not to drag her into his arms against his pounding heart. The muscles of his shoulders tightened in effort. He couldn’t remember the other women he had kissed. Not their faces, their names. He would never forget this. He burned for her so intensely he felt altogether frantic.

“Thank you for being truthful,” she whispered, dropping back on her heels. “I despise liars. I suspect you have more to say, but this isn’t the time or place.”

“No,” he said. “In fact, it wasn’t the best idea for you to kiss me just now.”

“No one saw,” she whispered as if it made a difference.

His voice filled with soft vehemence. “It’s what I felt.”

Her eyes lifted to his. “I didn’t realize you were that susceptible.”

“I thought I’d warned you that I’m prone to moments of passion.”

“And here I was holding back tears for you.”

“I hope to make you weep only tears of pleasure,” he said, purposefully lightening the mood.

“I should turn my back on you for that. But then if I’m going to marry you it would be impractical to run away every time you fluster me.”

He stared at her, entranced by her fearless assessment of the inevitable. “You do far more than fluster me.”

“Suppose we were alone? What would you do?”

“Didn’t I warn you last night?”

“I don’t heed warnings.”

“I’d start by taking your hair loose,” he said in a low voice. “Then I’d unclothe you from top to bottom. I would cover your naked curves with kisses and stroke my fingers down your spine until you fell into my arms. I’d learn the secrets of your body one by one.”

“Shame on you,” she said with a laugh. “If that’s your idea of how to soothe my emotions, I am doomed. I’ll never -- ” She subsided into silence, pointedly looking past him.

“What is it?” he demanded, swinging around to search the path for the source of her unease. “Have you seen someone? Tell me where. Is it him?”

“It’s worse,” she said, drawing away. “It’s Aunt Glynnis, and she’s headed straight toward us. You are truly dead now, Simon. We both are. Go and hide with Rhys and Isolde. Quickly. Hide.”