Page 22 of Yours Truly, the Duke
Fredericka moistened her lips as she turned to face Wyatt. “He sniffed and said that perhaps I might change my mind in the future as most ladies are prone to do, and that he’d be in touch to see if I had. Though I don’t expect him to call on me after he hears we are married.”
He better not.
Wyatt watched her brush a wisp of hair from her cheek. Her movements were natural, graceful, and seductive. Without her being aware of it, they were inviting him to move in closer to her. He accepted and stepped forward. His fascination with her was thriving and heady, but dangerous. He reminded himself he wasn’t ready to settle down with a wife and all the trappings that would be expected of him.
Despite these thoughts, he found himself saying, “You are beautiful, Fredericka.”
The sunlight caught in her golden-brown eyes again. She huffed a doubtful laugh as a deeper blush tinted her cheeks. Glancing down the uneven path, she swatted at a bee that seemed to be following her. “Truly, Wyatt, I don’t need flattery from you.”
“None given. I speak the truth and wanted you to know.”
She gave him a rather curious but agreeable nod and said, “Thank you.”
Wyatt heard the rattle of harnesses in the distance and shouts from one of the drivers. They both looked toward the front of the house. “Some of the horses must be getting restless.”
“Perhaps you are too,” she offered, stopping at the fence and leaning her back against one of the posts. “You did say you needed to get back to London today.”
Yes. He had men counting on him to win the card tournament tonight, and the fencing competition tomorrow. Next week he had his monthly meetings with his accountants to make sure all financial things with his grandmother’s will were now settled.
“Remember,” he said, “if you need anything, you must let me know.”
She nodded and smiled. “I will. You’ve been most kind already and I expect no more from you.”
Kind?
Not exactly the word he wanted to hear on his wedding day. “I’m fair, Fredericka. Reasonable. Usually…” He paused. “Right now, I’m not feeling that way.”
“Why?” she asked innocently.
“Because there’s one more thing I want to do before I go,” he answered, giving in to the irresistible pull drawing him to her.
With an inquisitive tilt, she lifted her chin and her gaze centered more squarely on his. “What?”
“This.”
Wyatt stepped forward, slid his hands around her waist to her back and caught her up to his chest. Slowly he lowered his lips toward hers, giving her time to pushhim away, turn her face in rejection or something to give an indication she didn’t want this kiss as much as he did. Her hands flattened against his chest, but there was no pressure from her palms to move him back. Understandably, she needed time to think and consider how she felt about what he’d just done and what he wanted to do.
He’d give her all the time she wanted, but he had to satisfy an earnest need to kiss her before he left.
At last, her answer came when he saw her chin rise, her lips parting ever so slightly. Her eyes drifted closed. Wyatt brushed his lips against hers with as much tenderness as he could impart given how much he’d wanted to kiss her.
A fluttering breathlessness filled him. When had such a simple kiss left him breathless? Fredericka must have felt it too. She gasped into his mouth.
Her lips were soft, cool, and enticing. From the first touch he knew he wanted more than the chaste kiss he intended to give her, but Wyatt knew she wasn’t a lady to be rushed. While his lips moved tenderly back and forth across hers, with slow, intended strokes, his hands roved up and over her shoulders, down to the sensuous curve of her waist, and farther to the firm flare of her shapely hips and slender thighs.
She felt soft with her breasts pressed against his chest. A hunger for her grew inside him, but he managed to take his time, continued to be gentle and caressing. Right now, he was in no hurry and would kiss her sweetly for as long as she would let him.
When her arms wound around his neck as she leaned fully into his body, a rush of sweet, innocent desire swamped his senses. He tightened her into his embrace. The shawl fell away from her neck and shoulders exposing the inviting scent and warmth of her neck.
Without his knowing how it happened, a masculine moan of anticipation escaped with his breath. Her hands left the collar of his coat and her fingers slid into the back of his hair with gentle ease. Soft murmurs of pleasure floated against his lips, enticing him further. Never expecting her to be so pliant, he longed to deepen their tender kiss, coax her sensual, delectable mouth open, and taste the depths while crushing her lips beneath his. He wanted to tangle his hands in her hair and let his lips explore the column of her neck, chest, and rise of her breasts.
There were many things he wanted to do, but not today.
Perhaps the reason was his honor? His respect for her? Maybe it was the pact they made for a marriage of convenience? It could have been the simple answer of not wanting to frighten her with the intense passion that flared so quickly it left him with thoughts of how good it would feel to lay her down in the early spring grass and cuddle with her under the warmth of the heating sun.
He had to quell his natural instincts to forget who she was, where they were, and act only on how willingly she accepted his kisses and how desperately he wanted to continue what he’d started.
She was his wife after all. He should feel free to be as passionate with her as he wanted. But he didn’t. Not now. There would come a time, but it was too soon to settle down with her. It was best he leave things between them as they were. Best he leave her.
