“I promised I would not lock my door to you, not that I would attend to my wifely duty before our vows. And certainly nothere.”
He leaned closer still, the delicious smell of her fraying his will. “Saved by semantics,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to her ear. “Be careful, General, your chambers are but a handful of steps away, and I am already dressed for the occasion.”
She shivered under his touch.
He brushed his lips along her jaw, the taste of her more intoxicating than her smell, and the perfect way to evade more of her questions.
“I didn’t come here to be pawed at,” she said, her voice breathless.
“By all means, you are welcome to do the pawing.”Her nimble fingers tracing the lines of his body, finding all the ways tounlockhim...Jackson swallowed with difficulty. “In fact, I believe I will insist upon it.”
“You, release the reins? Such obvious lies won’t work on me.”
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “I’d give up use of both arms to know whatwouldwork on you.” A nip at her collarbone.
She gasped, and her hands came up to clutch his arms. “Liar.”
He smiled against her skin, enjoying his choice of evasion more than any other before. “Your body doesn’t seem to mind.” She’d unconsciously pressed her hips forward, the soft cotton of her dress a tantalizing brush of fabric against his groin.
“I don’t want you,” she said feebly.
“Now who’s lying?”
She stilled. In a stronger voice, she said, “I don’ttrustyou.”
Ah.
Jackson pulled back, capturing the fierce gaze of those emerald eyes. “I wish to remedy that.” With more pressing need every day.
“To make me more compliant during the daylight hours or the nighttime ones?”
He shook his head. The woman was always ready for a row. “Both,” he said truthfully. “Though, in all fairness, seeing you bared and panting with ecstasy would be just as enjoyable in the sun as it would be in the dark.”
She raised a brow. “You’ve certainly a high opinion of your male prowess.”
He ducked his head until they were eye level. “I have a strong desire to see you pleased, in all aspects of our life together.”
Her expression pinched. “That is hardly playing fair.”
He chuckled. “I never said I would.”
She leaned in, that smell of hers tempting the senses yet again. “I do hope you are a patient man, then, Duke, because the day I surrender mypleasureto you will be the day hell freezes over.” Said in a voice sweet as treacle.
Jackson groaned, unable to dissipate the sudden fantasy of her naked skin covered in sticky syrup. He’d need to wrangle in his ardor, or he’d do more than shock his valet when the man finally arrived.Ifthe man ever deigned to show his face.
“What I wish to discuss can wait until after you’ve been properly attired,” she said with a pointed look at hismaleness. “I know how you are self-conscious of yourodd shape.”
He barked a laugh as she closed the door. A tactful retreat, she’d claim. A retreat all the same. The pull to chase after her—bare arse and all—was strong.Running on full salute would be dangerous for everyone involved.
Jackson threw back his head and squeezed his eyes shut. That bold stare, that stubborn set to her chin. How she’d walked right into his chambers—his space—ready for a fight. God, thecombative woman knew just how to ignite his baser inhibitions. Here he’d been avoiding her the past few days, content as long as she stayed on the grounds, knowing the more they interacted, the worse the tension in him would grow.
But then she’d come to him.
He took himself in hand, his grip tight, on the right side of pain. How he’d always imagined she’d enjoy pleasure. Quick, hard strokes.
There’d be gentler attentions too, a thorough investigation of her body. First, with his hands, then his mouth—
Jackson grabbed the flannel from beside the washbasin and cleaned his hand and body, sure if his duchess ever truly welcomed him into her bed, he’d be just as eager.
