Page 39 of The Duke's Rules Of Engagement
Finally, Jo was able to push out some words, though they emerged in a whispering rasp. “I… May I sit down?”
He led her on legs that felt as insubstantial as raw dough to the green armchair, which he angled away from her desk, and she sank into it, not taking her eyes from his. He looked handsome, as always, as he knelt in front of her. But beyond that, his eyes and lips were pinched in concern. She’d never seen that expression from him before.
He gathered her hands in his. “Are you all right, Miss Porter?”
“Jo,” she murmured. “Please. Call me Jo.” He might as well at this point.
He took a moment, allowing this to sink in. Then said, “Are you all right, Jo?”
No. Trembles had overtaken her body, and she felt weak, and her heart was beating so hard she feared it might decide to give up and stop altogether.
“Yes,” she said. “I’ve never… I’ve never been kissed before. I thought I never would be.”
This man kneeling before her—he’d kissed her. And it wasn’t a fleeting, brushing, cool pass of his lips. It was hot and deep and real, and his strong hands had traveled possessively over her body, and it had weakened her knees and made heat bloom low in her belly as she’d kissed him back, tasting the bergamot and citrus flavor of him. It was the most wonderful thing. She’d never imagined it would be like that—a delirious cloud of pleasure surrounding her, overwhelming her.
“I…didn’t think I’d like it so much,” she told him, her voice raw with honesty.
His eyes widened.
But then, he’d unbuttoned her dress, and she’d come crashing back down to earth, her body growing tense all over and her mind freezing into a sudden state of shock.
“It took me by surprise, that’s all. I had no idea…” Her voice dwindled, and heat washed up her neck. She knew if she looked in a mirror, her chest would be covered with unsightly blotches of pink.
Slowly, his concern vanished, replaced by another expression she’d never seen on his face before as he took a shallow breath. What was it?
But she knew, and her body responded in kind.Desire.
They stared at each other.Oh.Heat pulsed between them. Carnal desire. She wanted him with a need that radiated from within her. She wanted to wrap herself around him, find her pleasure in him, and pleasure him in return. She leaned forward, breathing in his sweet and tart essence. She wanted everything from this tall, powerful man, this duke. Thisclient.
She drew back, snapping out of the haze of lust in an instant. He stared at her, then with a subtle shake of his head, he drew back, too, banking the fire between them.
“I’m so sorry,” she murmured.
“No,” he said gruffly. “It is I who must apologize. Forgive me.”
Forgive him? She rather felt likethankinghim. The last few moments had been the most exciting of her life.
But alas, he was her client, and she was in the process of finding him a proper wife. She’dfoundhim the proper wife. Accomplished and amiable Harriet Cherrington, who’d be an excellent conversationalist at his fancy house parties and make him a perfect duchess.
Jo was doing this not only because it was her job to do so, but because matching him would be the greatest coup of her career. And for Lilly. Dear Lilly, whom she loved beyond measure and wanted with all her heart and soul to find her happily ever after.
She rose, and he instantly came to his feet to stand before her. “We should…proceed,” she said. She’d meant the words to come out firm and businesslike, but instead they emerged with an airy tremble.
The duke cleared his throat. “Of course.”
She walked woodenly around her desk to resume her seat behind it. She looked down at the list she’d created for the duke, then back up at him. The wariness was back in his eyes.
He had no idea what she’d do next. She had to put him at ease, but she had no idea how.
She must say something. They both needed to move past this.
She took a deep breath. “I want to…to thank you, Your Grace.”
He stared at her.
“It was…um…quite…” She scrambled for a word that was true. “Wonderful.”
They gazed at each other until she wrenched her eyes away. “However, it was a momentary lapse of judgment on my part, and—”
