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CHAPTER6
Ethan almost chuckled at the look of astonishment and alarm on Lady Verity’s face. A well-deserved shock for acting in such a reckless manner, with her already tenuous place in society. Not that he should give a damn. He did not know her character, nor was he truly interested in getting to know her.
Yet she will be my wife.
She shook her head as if in a daze. “Kiss you?”
The devil in him urged Ethan to taunt her, to bring more blushes on those lovely cheeks. “Yes, only a kiss would do,” he murmured, a bit surprised that he even felt the need to tease her.
For so long had he existed in the deep mire of guilt and emptiness, that her bright light felt suspect.
“You are being a right rogue,” she said in a fiery hiss.
“Hmm,” he agreed. “A scoundrel of the worst kind.”
“Have you no shame, Duke?”
“None. It is best you learn that now.”
Their back and forth felt unexpectedly, maddeningly wonderful. She sniffed and her teeth sank into her lush lower lip. Ethan had the sudden, inexplicable urge to kiss her, hotly and deeply. It was no longer about teasing her. Once, he would have acted on those urges without thoughts of consequences. Now, he hesitated. Examined the desire from every angle, wondering at the danger of ever giving in to it.
She straightened her back and hesitantly shifted toward him. He waited to see what Lady Verity would do as she moved closer. His pulse was rising as he anticipated the sensations of taking this enigma of a young lady in his arms. It had been an impetuous decision to propose to her, but her breeding was acceptable, and she was an attractive prospect to warm his bed for the rest of his life. She had enough determination and fire not to bore him. He wondered how much his desire to bed her and the need for a loving mother to tend to Thomas had influenced his resolution to take her as his wife. Both had greatly contributed, but possibly stealing a kiss before they were married was currently foremost in his mind.
Odd that he should feel this anticipation at the idea of a mere kiss when little had roused his for several months.
“Very well, a kiss to seal our bargain,” she said.
A heady rush of anticipation rushed through Ethan, and he bent down slightly to kiss her, and she stretched up and quickly brushed her mouth against his jawline. He closed his eyes, reveling in the sweet whispers of sensation wafting over his jaw, savoring the fleeting touch. The damn minx had kissed him on the cheek. She then quickly whirled away and stepped back. Ethan laughed then, and she turned and glared at him, it appeared she did not like being the source of his amusement.
“What is your age?” he asked, truly mystified by the manner in which she delighted his senses.
“Nineteen,” she said huskily.
That jolted him. “You are a mere babe.”
She tossed her head, and those beautiful blue eyes sparkled with an irresistible inner fire. “I am a woman.”
He found himself suddenly, darkly amused. Ethan strode forward and gripped her wrists, not tightly but allowing no resistance. He hauled her to him, so her body was pressed close to his. Then he nudged her head back and took her mouth, forcing a gasp from her. Her gasp was his opportunity to deepen the kiss, and for his tongue to flick into the depths of her sweet mouth. He could feel his visceral reaction to her proximity, and how it startled him. His cock twitched, his heart raced, and hot and urgent desire coiled in his gut.
Ethan breathed in the scent of lavender which flowed through him. She fitted to him just right, with her breasts and quim tightly against his body. It was a pity that several layers of clothing were between them, but her lips were luscious as he ran his tongue over them.
An alarmed whimper pulled from her throat. Breathing slowly, he calmed himself, willing his body to relax. Ethan released her wrists and draped them around his neck, then he pulled her closer, one hand clasping a pert globe of her rump and the other to stroke the nape of her neck, as he employed his mouth in learning hers.
Verity moaned softly into his embrace and a shiver cascaded through her. His little lady’s hands twined around his neck, threading her fingers delicately into the dark curls of his hair, and she did not resist his kiss, her face flushed with emotion, and he watched her eyes as he pleasured her mouth.
He was ruthless but gentle, realizing that despite her sister’s wantonness, Verity had never been kissed in this manner before. She sighed and he nipped her lower lip, urging her to open her mouth wider so he could deepen the kiss. He allowed his tongue to stroke inside of her mouth, to twine with hers as he slanted her head, deepening an already far too intimate kiss. She was a passionate creature, and with a muffled moan she tangled her tongue with his as she was returning his actions, lick for lick.
The taste of her was indescribably sweet and carnal. Her fingers were now tugging at his hair as she was breathing into his mouth. Then her hands moved to caress his neck and cling onto his shoulders, as their embrace became all Ethan could wish for. Eventually he broke the kiss, his pulse racing and his loins aching with desire.
Ethan did not slacken his embrace, holding her imprisoned in the cradle of his arms. He did not want to let her go, but eventually their ragged breathing returned to something approximately normal. Her skin was deliciously flushed, the blush diving deep into her gown’s neck. He wished that she was more fashionably gowned, as he could reach more skin, but he rubbed his thumb over one hardened bud of a nipple, and she inhaled deeply and drew away, staring at him with widened eyes, her hand pressed to her mouth.
Who could imagine that under this innocent exterior, such a passionate woman was hidden away? He would anticipate exploring her lush curves on their wedding night. “Do not look so shocked,” he murmured. “It is good to have passion between us. Most marriages are cold and empty.”
A soft cry came from the cot, and they rushed to check on little Thomas. Verity reached the crib first and picked up her nephew. Thomas snuggled into her neck as she crooned to the little boy. Soon, the child was falling asleep in her arms, and a most contented expression settled on her face.
She met his eyes over the baby’s head, and Ethan’s heart twisted. He was uncomfortable with the emotions he saw in the depth of her gaze. That gratefulness when he did not deserve it.
“Do not delude yourself about me,” he warned. “I am the villain of the story. It suits my purpose to marry you, as it makes life easier. Do not read more into it than there is, Lady Verity.”
Her expression did not change. “I shall not forget that you value pragmatism,” she murmured. “Still, I thank you for giving me this life with Thomas. I will endeavor to make you a good duchess.”
He made no reply to that. “I will see you in the drawing room when you have finished attending to him.” Then he turned around and walked away. Ethan opened the door and paused when she called out to him.
“Are you not worried I will steal him away so soon?”
“Only a fool would act against her own self-interest, and I can tell you are no fool.”
“Why are you the villain in the story?”
His gut tightened and those black, dangerous emotions knotted through him. Ethan did not answer, merely stepped through the door into the hallway and closed it behind him.
