She didn’t answer. Instead, she walked slowly towards him, not stopping until she was directly in front of him. She was now so close that it would have been easy to reach out and touch her, but he held himself back.
“I never thought to marry like this,” she began, her voice quiet. “It’s not something I ever considered, but that does not mean I want to run away just yet.” Then she smiled. “I also don’t find you repulsive.”
He smiled with her, quite thrilled at her reaction. He wouldn’t have blamed her for running for the hills.
“You will stay a little longer then?” he pleaded. “You will take the time to get to know me?”
“I will,” she whispered.
“And in the meantime, I’m not so bad to look at then?” he teased her, thrilled when she chuckled. There was nothing quite like the thrill of hearing Callie laugh. He couldn’t resist taking the chance to be that bit closer to her. He took the smallest of steps forward, brushing the back of his hand against her own. Still smiling, she breathed in a little, her hand curling towards his, too.
That touch was like fire, hotter than the flames in the hearth behind him.
“Callie,” he whispered her name, moving his head down towards her. He tested the air a little, waiting to see if she would pull back, but she didn’t. She stayed exactly where she was, waiting for him to come to her.
He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her. It was the gentlest kiss he had ever given anyone, for he was so worried about her jerking back away from him. Then he realized after a few seconds that she did not pull away at all. In fact, her fingers curled towards him even more so that he took a firmer hold of her hand; then he released her from the kiss, his forehead mere inches from hers as he gazed into her eyes.
He parted his lips, ready to apologize if she was offended, but then her other hand snaked up between them. She pulled on the edge of his banyan and tugged him down towards her. The passion in that tug was everything.
This time, as their lips collided, it was fiercer, the passion plain. He lifted his hand and curled it around her waist, pulling her near as she parted her lips and sighed into him. That breathy sound broke any last ounce of reserve he had as he brushed their tongues together, exploring her. It was intense, each of them trying to get closer to one another, their hands locked on each other, when suddenly, it was over.
She pulled back a little, her face a shocking pink as she stared at him, her hands not retreating.
“Well, that was quite a kiss,” he murmured.
Chapter 8
“I … I should go,” Alaina managed to utter.
Her chest rose and fell with her quick breaths so that each time, her breasts brushed the edge of his banyan.
What on earth have I done?
She had kissed Caroline’s supposed betrothed, and she was a maid. It was highly inappropriate for her to kiss a duke! Not only that, but she had loved every second of it, and had even pulled him down in order to maintain that kiss for as long as possible.
“As you wish,” he whispered. He slowly released her, their fingers letting go. As they stepped back from one another, she staggered, stunned at the power he had over her. His gaze was hooded as he looked at her, and she longed to know what it meant. Was it desire in that look? Was that what he felt? Or had this kiss all been part of some trick to make her stay to get his hands on the money?
I have no money. That is why I have to get out of here.
“Goodnight, your Grace.” She curtsied.
“Oh, no. No more of that,” he begged. “Marcus, Callie. That’s my name, Marcus.”
She nodded and was about to run from the room when he snatched up the book she had discarded on the seat.
“Don’t forget your book.” He held it out towards her. As their fingers brushed on the cover, they both looked at one another again, a smile curling his lips.
That’s no act. No man can kiss and smile like that and not mean it at least a little bit.
With her heart racing, she thanked him and hastened to leave the room. She only hesitated in the doorway for a second, looking back to see he was staring at her. That look was so intense that it made her tremble with desire. She longed to go back to him, to throw herself into his arms and ask him not to stop now he had kissed her once.
I cannot do that.
“Goodnight, Marcus.” When she at last said his name, he smiled as she had not yet seen him smile, and then she left and darted down the corridor.
She hadn’t found another candle, so had to make her way in the darkness.
She sank onto the door, picturing herself waiting for Marcus’ return in his own chamber.
