She feigned an innocent look. “Your given name is Hoyden? I do agree it’s rather unusual.”
“No,youare a hoyden.” His tone was gruff, but there was no bite to it, no sting. “My name is Lionel, but I prefer Lion.”
It suited him. Powerful and regal and dangerous, all at once.
“Lion,” she repeated softly, liking the way it felt on her lips.
Liking what it meant. The Duke of Marchingham had told her his given name. And he was holding her in his arms. He hadn’t pushed her away or denied her. He hadn’t fled or withdrawn.
Yet, reminded an inner voice sharply.Give him time to realize the error of his ways, and he will retreat as if all of Hades is at his heels.
“Curse it, Addy Louise, what are you doing to me?” he asked, sounding as helpless as she felt.
“The same thing you’re doing to me, I expect.”
He leaned his head down, pressing his forehead to hers. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I excel at doing things I shouldn’t do.”
He chuckled, his breath falling on her lips in a hot little puff of air. “Of course you do.”
She rubbed her nose against his, breathing deeply of his scent—shaving soap, citrus, a hint of musk.Lion.
And then Addy summoned her courage. “I came to you because I know that if I never see you again after I leave Marchingham Hall in the morning, I would forever regret not kissing you one last time.”
A low sound came from deep in his throat, half groan, half growl. In the next instant, his lips covered hers. The kiss was devouring. Hungry and demanding. It was wild and unfettered. And then they were moving as one. Lion led her over the threshold. She was dimly aware of the sound of a door closing, of the light growing brighter around them.
They were in his bedroom.
Alone.
With the door closed and his mouth on hers.
If she had any sense of self-preservation, she would tear her lips from his and run. Mama had warned her many times against allowing gentlemen liberties. But running was the last thing onher mind. Because she was in Lion’s room and his mouth was moving over hers and his hands were traveling over her body in a way that made her knees go weak. He was caressing her waist, her hips, his hands finding their way to her bottom.
His mouth left hers to run kisses along her jaw, to her ear. “I tried to resist you.”
Lion’s low, almost guttural admission had an instant effect upon her because she knew what it meant. He was surrendering.
She smiled, feeling a swell of triumph threading through the overwhelming desire. This cold, haughty, proper duke had finally given in to the potent magnetism between them. His fingers squeezed lightly, and he moved her body against his in a way that made her nipples tighten into aching points and the place between her legs grow restless with need.
Mama was also forever cautioning Addy against losing her virtue. But guarding it had been easy then. No suitor had ever tempted her. A few stolen kisses at a ball here or there had been the extent of her daring. Each time, she had been disappointed. Kisses were pleasant enough, but until she’d kissed Lion, she hadn’t known they could be wondrous.
“What is it about you?” he muttered against her ear, sounding confounded.
She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring his nearness and warmth, his body surrounding her, his hands on her. “I could ask you the same question.”
“Why didn’t you stay away?” He kissed the hollow behind her ear, eliciting a shiver from her.
She swallowed hard. “Because I couldn’t.”
She had asked herself the same question, agonizing over whether she should seek him out one last time or simply go safely to bed. She had paced her room until Dandy had been disturbed from slumber and had given her a halfhearted bark of protest. And in that moment, she had simply known.
Known it in her heart, in her marrow. She needed to take the chance. She’d tucked Dandy back into the coverlets and had left her bedroom, slipping through the shadows until she had found his door.
He dragged his nose along her temple, inhaling sharply. “Bloody hell.”
She didn’t think she had ever heard him curse before, and she knew she had never heard his voice so raw with emotion. His hands moved to her waist, and he gently pushed her from him without breaking his hold.
