Page 47 of A Duchess with a Secret

Eva stirs and opens her eyes. A small smile curves her mouth.

I run my hand slowly along her arm. She doesn’t pull away.

“Morning,” I say.

She smiles. “Morning.”

I scoot closer and lean in for a kiss.

She pulls away, her smile turning self-conscious.

“I must be smelly,” she says, tucking the sheet higher. “Didn’t have the energy to shower after…” Her voice trails off.

“After we fucked like rabbits in heat,” I offer.

She gives me that look, halfway between scandalized and amused. “Must you be so direct?”

“No,” I say. “I’m perfectly capable of policing my speech, if you want me to.”

She studies me for a beat, eyes narrowing. Then she shakes her head. “Actually, no. I’d rather you be frank.”

“Good. Because last night was…” I pause, my fingers tracing her hip. “Better than I imagined.”

Color blooms in her cheeks.

“It was,” she agrees before biting her lip, like she wants to say more but hesitates.

I think I know what it is.

I shift onto my side, facing her fully. “You’d like to say this doesn’t change our legal fight, right?”

She nods, gauging my reaction.

“That’s fine,” I say. “I can live with that. But please don’t say last night won’t happen again. Because that would be a lie.”

Her mouth twitches as if suppressing a smile.

That’s a good sign.

I press my luck. “Now that we’ve established it’s happening again?—”

“Have we?” she interrupts, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Oh yes,” I declare, letting my hand slide lightly over her thigh. “The next question is, when?”

She squints at me. “Ideas?”

“How about now?”

“I’m flattered, but I need a shower,” she murmurs. “And coffee.”

I point to the coffee maker on the table across the room. “I’ll make you one. Tonight then?”

“Maybe.”

I find my boxers, pull them on, and beeline for the espresso machine. “Or, if the stars align, maybe this afternoon?”

“Afternoon?” she repeats with an arched eyebrow.