His eyes turned stormy as he stepped in front of her and stopped to block her path. “I told you I would find you a husband, and I intend to keep my word. I would never abandon you or do anything to hurt you.”
“I know you would not,” she said softly. “At least not intentionally. But even the Duke of Ice has limits to his power. I am sorry. I enjoy spending time with you. I really do. But I must be practical, Evan. I must marry.”
Frustration and sadness warred in his expression. “I cannot marry,” he said, his voice husky. “You know I cannot.”
“It’s all right,” she said, mustering a smile. “I never expected you to marry me. I respect your wishes, but I also must look out for my own interests, and it’s too risky to continue a courtship into the next Season when there is no possibility of marriage at the end.”
He sighed. “I understand. At least we have the rest of this Season, then.”
Joanna looked up at the sky and realized it was getting overcast.Oh no.She needed to distract him and get him inside before he realized it was about to rain. Smiling up at him, she slipped her hand into his. “Then we should make the most of it, yes?”
His eyes heated up as he looked at her. His focus was on her so much that he wasn’t looking up at the sky at all. “That’s exactly what I want to do.” His voice came out as a low growl.
She grinned. “Walk me back to the manor, then?”
With a light tug on her hand, he pulled her up against his chest. He cupped her cheek gently with one hand. She could not help but lean into the touch and close her eyes. It was strange to think that thetonthought Evan was a monster when he was capable of being so gentle with her. “We could always have so much fun right here. No one would have to know.”
She shivered, wishing she could take him up on that offer. But out of her peripheral vision, she could see the sky was just getting darker. She was careful not to look too closely in case he followed her gaze. “As tempting as that offer is, perhaps we can do that another time. Perhaps we can find a spot of privacy inside?”
He grumbled a little. “I suppose. My grandmother is having tea with a friend, and Peter is handling some estate matters today. That will keep him busy enough.”
She grinned. “And you trust your servants, correct?” She put her hand on his chest. “Once we get inside, I can take what you owe me.”
He raised an eyebrow at that. “What I owe you?”
“Yes, Evan. After all, you had your way with me, but only after you changed the rules. We were supposed to keep playing until one of us was completely naked, but you got impatient and cheated.” She tapped him playfully on the nose. “Therefore, you owe me.”
“I suppose so.” He grinned down at her, his eyes dark with desire. “What do you intend to do with me, Joanna?”
“Well, you took your time exploring my body. I intend to take time exploring yours.”
A soft groan escaped him before he could stop it. He grabbed her hand and started pulling her back down the trail to the house.
The sky was getting darker, and she could not help but bite her lip with anxiety as she looked at it. “I can’t stop thinking about the way you tasted me off your hand,” she said softly, in case any servants were around to overhear. “I can’t help but wonder if I can do the same to you. Taste you, I mean.”
“I will show you,” he said. “I will show you exactly what I want you to do to me.”
“I like the thought of you teaching me,” she said. “As if I am just a naughty student and you are the teacher desperately trying to get me in line.” In the back of her mind, she secretly hoped these were titillating things to say. It was like the topics she and Penelope would joke about in private. She never thought she would be attempting to say such things in earnest, and to a man no less.
A raindrop splattered on her arm just as they reached the manor. She picked up her skirts and kicked off her shoes, jogging in front of him.
“Eager, aren’t you?”
“Always, Your Grace,” she said, but she was only half paying attention as she ripped open the back door and used all of her strength to pull him inside.
Surprise crossed his face as he stumbled inside the manor after her. She slammed the door shut just as the skies opened up and raindrops started to clatter against the roof.
Evan’s eyes widened as his body started to stiffen up.
Bloody hell. I didn’t get him to the library in time.
She could not lose him to whatever malady overtook him during rainstorms. Not again. Unsure what else to do, she stood on her tiptoes and threw her arms around his neck as she pulled him down for a kiss.
CHAPTER 32
Evan gasped as she kissed him. This was nothing like her other kisses, where she was shyer and more demure. Instead, she was kissing him with wanton passion, as if she were starving for his mouth.
He let himself get lost in the feel of her and put his hands on her waist to pull her closer to him. She smelled like vanilla and roses, and when he focused on her scent, he didn’t have to worry about the hell raining down outside.
