Page 61 of The Duke's Rules Of Engagement
He stroked a finger down her smiling cheek, loving the feel of her soft, warm flesh. “I’m glad.”
She tilted her head. “Now what?” Her eyes cut to the floor, then back to him. “Will you not ravage me in a fit of passion?”
He nearly choked, because…well,yes. He would love to do that. Ravage her. Sink inside her, feel her wrapped around him, squeezing him…
Instead, he said, trying to keep his voice smooth, “I said before that I can control myself. I’m a man, not a randy youth.” He leaned a little closer, murmuring into her hair. “Today was for you, sweetheart. Not for me.”
“Are you trying to prove that you are unselfish?”
He considered that. “Perhaps.” He chucked her chin. “Or perhaps I was just eager to see that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“This one.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip, which was plump and pink, slightly swollen from his kisses. “The look of a woman relaxed, happy, and well satisfied.”
“Oh? Is that how I look?” She seemed truly curious, but her voice and body were still slow and languid.
“It is.”
Laughing softly, she laid her head on his shoulder. “Didn’t we say this wasn’t going to happen?”
“Do you regret it?” he asked her.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him with her most piercing gray gaze. “How could I possibly?”
He breathed out in relief.
“We have been dishonest, though,” she said quietly. “To each other and to ourselves. We have made false promises.”
She was right. He gathered her hand up in his, bringing it to his mouth and brushing his lips over the smooth skin. “I generally keep my promises, Jo. I want you to know that.”
“So do I,” she murmured, closing her eyes again and tucking her body closer against him.
“My honor is one of the few things I can pride myself on.”
She sighed. “I know.”
But this…whatever it was that was between them made them so mad for each other, made them set aside such things as vows and promises and honor. With a sinking feeling, he realized that once he committed to marrying Harriet Cherrington, he could no longer see Jo. At all. Unlike all her other clients, who were friendly with her, corresponded with her, and invited her to their social events, he couldn’t risk getting near her again.
That was a depressing thought.
But a necessary one. While he couldn’t expect to have a loving marriage like his parents, he sure as hell wasn’t going to be an adulterer like his uncle.
He would have to talk to her about proposing to Miss Cherrington. But he didn’t want to do that right now. He wanted to spend the afternoon with her, if not making love, then at least holding her close and, perhaps, talking about the weather.
So, that’s what he did.
Chapter Eighteen
“They’re inviting us to meet them at the opening of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens tonight!” Lilly exclaimed.
Jo looked up from the book she was reading. “Who’s inviting us?”
Lilly waved the letter she’d just received. “The Cherrington sisters. Please, can we go?”
Jo sighed. “Can’t we wait until later in the summer when the crowds have thinned?”
“We could, but I’mdyingto get out of this house. I have been so cooped up, I feel like an anxious chicken. All I do is work on my design.” Lilly gestured to her pile of notebooks.
