Page 73 of If the Duke Demands

“You should be happy.”

“I am,” he murmured, his hand stroking possessively over her hip. “Very happy.”

“No, I mean…” She pulled in a deep breath and whispered, “I love you, and I want you to be happy.”

She felt him tense against her, although his body never moved. His arms kept their same, secure hold around her, his lips still resting against her nape, but she sensed the change in him, so well did she know him.

“I don’t expect you to feel the same,” she whispered, hoping that if she kept talking that her heart wouldn’t break from the silence that came from him. “I know you don’t, but—” Her voice choked.

Slowly, he rolled her onto her back so that he could look down at her. His expression was inscrutable in the shadows, but his bright eyes matched the glowing coals in the fireplace for intensity as they searched her face. For a painfully long moment, neither of them moved, and the only sound was the pounding of her heart and the rush of blood through her ears. She held her breath. Oh, she’d made a terrible mistake! So utterly foolish to tell him…

Then he lowered his head and kissed her so tenderly, with such affection and sweetness, that she trembled from the intensity of it. He’d never kissed her like this before, and her silly heart didn’t know whether to leap for joy or shatter irreparably.

“No one has ever…not once…” he murmured against her mouth, and she could taste the surprise on his lips.

He lifted his mouth from hers just far enough to trace his fingertips affectionately over her lips, as if he didn’t dare let himself believe that she’d uttered those words. Then he grinned at her, a boyish smile of pure delight, one that melted away her worry and replaced it with warmth. And hope.

He cupped her face against his palm and languidly brushed his mouth back and forth across hers. “Youmake me happy, my sweet Rose.”

Her heart soared, this time because she knew she didn’t have to worry any longer about coming in second to Lady Jane or any of the other society ladies from his list. She could love him now, freely and openly, and he would realize that she would make as fine a wife for him as any society daughter. More—because she truly lovedhim, the man beneath the title.

“You have no idea how special you are, do you?” His hands stroked lovingly down her body. “And youarespecial to me, Miranda, more than you realize.”

As he continued to kiss and caress her, she closed her eyes against fresh tears. Her heart filled so completely with love for him that it burned, with a pleasure-pain that threatened to consume her.

“Then show me,” she whispered.

As he murmured her name and lowered himself over her to make love to her, the world around them faded away, until only the two of them existed. The shared rhythms of their hearts heralded in her joy like the pounding tattoo of drums, and she clung to him, never wanting to let go.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Sebastian opened his eyes and smiled. Miranda was still in his bed.

The morning sunlight fell dimly muted into the room from behind the pulled drapes but brightly enough for him to enjoy the sight of her naked body beside him, her back to him as she slept on her side with her strawberry-blond hair covering the pillow like silk. The poor thing was exhausted, and he was responsible, because halfway through the night he’d aroused her again to repeat the special trick he’d taught her. This time, thank God, there had been no tears, only cries of passion. He didn’t think he could have endured seeing her sob in his arms a second time.

He smiled against her temple. Last night had been one surprise after another, from the moment he’d walked into the room and found her waiting for him to the quiet way she’d admitted that she loved him.

Shelovedhim…Good God. He still couldn’t believe it. Not only had she dared to utter the words, but he could taste it in her kisses and feel it in the way she’d made herself so vulnerable to him. No woman had ever told him that before or made love to him like that, with so much affection behind the passion.

But then, no other woman was Miranda.

He had no idea what he was going to do about her or about his own growing feelings for her. Selfishly, he didn’t want to think about the future. At that moment as she lay sleeping next to him, all warm and deliciously bed-rumpled, smelling intoxicatingly of roses and the sweet musk of sex, he was at peace. He was happy, happier than he’d ever been in his life. And he didn’t want to acknowledge the world beyond his bedroom door.

She stirred in her sleep and shifted closer until her bottom rested snugly against his hips. Slipping his arms around her, he smiled against her hair as she awoke with a long, soft sigh.

“Sebastian,” she whispered, rolling onto her back, her body still warm and pliant with sleep.

“Good morning, Rose,” he murmured. Then he shifted over on top of her and was rewarded with the sight of her breasts displayed deliciously in the morning light. He lowered his head to place a kiss on her pink nipple.

“Yes,” she breathed, “good morning.” With her eyes still closed, awake but drifting on the edge of dreamlike sleep, she breathed out another deep sigh and arched her back toward him. “Oh…averygood morning…”

He chuckled softly. Unable to deny himself from taking even this small pleasure that she so freely offered, he took her nipple between his lips and suckled gently at her. He closed his eyes and let himself enjoy this quiet moment when she still belonged completely to him.

Her body wakened further until she was fully aroused and panting softly. If the way her nipple hardened against his tongue was any indication, she was already craving him inside her again.Good.Because he planned on making love to her once more before he let her out of his bed.

Reluctantly releasing her from his lips, he raised his head and whispered her name. Her eyes fluttered open, and the happiness he saw in their green depths took his breath away.

Oh yes, she loved him. And if he wasn’t careful, she’d have him loving her right back.