Page 61 of The Devil's Accidental Duchess
The moment she came around the edge of the bush, he grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall, his mouth on hers.
Surprise froze her mouth for a second, before she kissed him back, her hands sliding under his lapels, running over his chest.
He kissed her, hot and fierce and hard, giving in to the impulses he had been holding back while watching her from the terrace.
Seeing her shapely form twist and bend had stirred him, though it was the walled gardens beyond that had truly stoked his desires, not to mention that their interrupted moment in the gallery had left him somewhat frustrated.
She pulled him closer, the sound of her ragged breaths tipping him toward a sort of madness. The kind that would get them both in a lot of trouble if he couldn’t rein it in.
Panting, he broke their kiss, though he stayed close, leaning over her. “I am trying very hard to be respectful,” he growled, smiling.“The trouble is, I don’t know how much longer I will be able to control myself around you.”
She bit her lip, her eyes gleaming with desire. “Thatwas controlling yourself?”
“You have no idea.” He brushed a lock of hair from her shoulder, his fingertips brushing her neck. “Perhaps we should get married sooner. Tonight, even.” He grinned at her.
“I doubt a priest could be fetched so quickly,” she replied, chuckling. “Nor do we have the license for it.”
“I will have arrangements made for the end of this week,” he said, suddenly serious. “I shall change the details of the license myself. To wait another week would be too much.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You mean it?”
“Why not? Your family and friends are already staying here. I doubt they would mind it taking place sooner, if you are not averse?”
“I am not,” she blurted out, her hands grasping his lapels.
He smiled. “Then you are in agreement?”
“I am,” she replied, laughing. “Certainly, I am.”
“Does this mean you believe that I want you?”
She nodded shyly. “I think it is getting harder to deny.” Her gaze flitted to the side. “That being said, I do not want us to get into any trouble before we can be married. The scandal sheets will have enough to say about that lift. I should… return inside before we are caught.”
“I wish they would all leave so I could have you to myself,” he murmured, stealing one more kiss.
“Well, blame your sister for that.”
Chuckling, Selina slipped past him and walked backward for a few moments with a smile on her face.
He was ever more grateful for the mysterious book club that had brought them together.
