For too long, he studied her as though looking for something—uncertainty perhaps. But as wrong as it might be, she was never more certain about anything. She needed him. Her curiosity would not wane until he took her.
Hand cupping her face, he lowered his head and paused, his lips hovering over hers.
“Certain?” he asked again.
“Yes, yes,” she replied huskily, quickly.
With a groan, he closed the gap. The heat of his mouth was upon hers in such a rush that it made her want to faint. They rose up on their knees together and she arched into him so no sliver of air could come between them.
Her breasts were crushed against his chest while his mouth moved deliciously over hers. Duke’s lips were gentle and almost teasing. His tongue touched the corner of her mouth, then the seam of her lips. When she opened her mouth to him and their tongues finally touched, the fear of fainting vanished. Every part of her had never felt so alive.
So much sensation bubbled up inside of her. Violet swept her hands over his shoulders and clasped around the back of his neck to keep him there. The hand on her face had slipped back into her hair to clasp her curls. It seemed he didn’t wish for her to escape and that was perfect for her. She was a willing prisoner and each touch of his tongue and lips made her wish to never be released from his hold.
They moved together slowly, sinking down upon the rug until Duke lay over her. She smoothed a hand over his cheek, lingering on the stubble there and admiring the way the light of the fire emphasized the dips and planes of his face.
Her wonderful friend.
Soon to be her lover.
This could be a mistake. Duke would not do it deliberately though. He might be a rake, but he was no liar and hardly needed to manipulate women into bed. Whatever he felt right now was true. Whether it would last was another thing.
But she was done denying this, done being the least scandalous Musgrave. She wanted some scandal of her very own.
∞∞∞
Duke could hardly believe he had Violet here, spread out upon the rug, looking at him so. He was falling—over the edge and completely lost. She’d finally done it. Broken him, pushed him. There was no going back now, and he didn’t even care. Once he did this, he’d be going down a path never trodden. Nothing about being with Violet would be simple.
He brought his lips down to hers. Then he slipped his tongue into her mouth, and it was pure Violet. If there was anything that tasted better, he’d never had it.
Duke drew back briefly to run his gaze over her features. He waited for the voice of doubt to flicker in his mind and chase him off.
It never came.
Only raw, fiery need pulsed through his veins. That, and a burgeoning sense of protectiveness. An almost primal need to claim her and shield her from all the hurts in the world.
Not that Violet would let him. She was no wallflower and never would be. She challenged him at every turn, and he adored her for that.
She twined her fingers into his hair, urging him down upon her. He stole one last glance at her exquisite features before kissing her again.
Any other thoughts of putting a stop to this were dampened by the press of her breasts against his chest. He imagined her tight nipples straining against her stays, pictured closing his mouth about them. His cock pulsed and he bit back a groan.
Silk crinkled beneath him as she worked on hooking a leg over him. Were it not for all her layers, he would be able to feel the sweet warmth of her through the fabric of his trousers. That thought urged his hand to her thigh and up over her stocking to feel the small expanse of smooth skin hidden under all those layers.
And there he touched her, as no other man had. That primitive heat rose in his chest again. No one else had received this honor, only him. No other man had dug his fingers into the flesh of her thighs and heard her gasp.
“I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you, Vi,” he told her, trailing his lips down her neck.
“I want you too. Duke, I... I ache for you.”
I ache for you.Could there be any sweeter set of words? Anything more designed to crumble the faintest amount of self-control he still held. He pushed her skirts higher and eased himself between her legs only to remember this was Violet—not some courtesan or experienced widow. The slightest jolt of guilt hit him but was swiftly smothered when she hooked her arms around his hips. She might not be experienced but she was doing a damn good job of seeming it. Violet rocked up into him and his vision went a little white. A feral groan escaped him.
Nevertheless, he would retain enough control to do it properly. She needed him, wanted him and, Goddamn it, he couldn’t hold off any longer. He couldn’t let her go unfulfilled nor push her away and have her thinking he did not ache for her every moment they were together.
“Let me up, Violet,” he said against the column of her throat.
“No.” She gripped his neck tighter. “You’ll leave me.”
“Never.” The word came out more vehemently than he meant it to. He looked down at her. “You understand what this means, do you not?”