Josh’s finger moves to my bottom lip. It presses and tugs it downward ever so lightly. My eyes dart all over his face, but I stay still.
‘These lips are far too precious to remain untouched,’ he murmurs.
I gasp.
He is so bloody close to me.
My pulse is pounding in my ears.
‘We will bring each other so much pleasure, Georgiana.’ His hand slides around the back of my neck and caresses it firmly. ‘I will teach you.’
Our eyes are locked tight. I couldn’t look away if I tried. He stares at me through those thick lashes. Dominic tells Georgiana with his eyes:
I want you.
I claim you.
I will teach you.
Believe me.
And Josh tells me with his eyes:
I’m sorry.
You’re safe.
I feel this too.
Believe me.
And then he bends and closes the gap between us, and his mouth is on me. Oh, Jesus.
I make the tiniest noise when his mouth closes over me, when his lips move against mine. I arch slightly away from the wall before collapsing again under the weight of Josh’s body as he presses himself against me. I catalogue each move as he makes it, as if it’s a dance step.
His hand, vice-like, on the back of my neck.
His thumb reaching around to stroke my throat.
His other hand seizing the bare flesh of my upper arm between my sleeve and my evening glove.
His face rotating against mine to better his angle, his access to my lips.
Oh my God. I feel lightheaded. Drunk. Like Alyssa’s roofied my drink to get me on board.
BecauseI remember this.
I remember the feel of his lips.
The heat of his exhales.
The smell of his skin, even though the layers of makeup they’ve put on him.
My muscle memory is doing me proud, or totally betraying me.
I remain frozen for the first few seconds, as we’ve choreographed, my arms stiff at my sides, my mouth clamped shut. Then I yield. Yield to Josh. Yield to Dominic. I arch my throat, just a little. I part my lips slightly against the relentless pressure of his mouth. And, because I know it will be a key shot, my hand finds the lapel of his coat and squeezes it, as if involuntarily, as Georgiana allows herself to be unravelled by this kiss with the man who means to make her his Duchess.
And then, the money shot. Josh pulls away, just enough to slay me with those eyes and whisperYou’re perfectas I stare at him with glazed eyes, before he pushes up harder against me, claiming me with his mouth, forcing my mouth further open with his tongue.
