Page 51 of The Governess and the Brooding Duke
He knew that it would’ve been easy enough to turn it into a seduction.
But she resisted. And he had to remember that this was a game, not something he intended to follow through with.
Yet she was so close.
And it didn’t feel like a game. Not right then. He’d wanted only to be the one in control here, to prove if he pushed things she would falter and not him.
He had forgotten why he was doing this. He had forgotten why he was trying to get her on her back foot.
He had forgotten he was trying to win anything. Because he could smell her. A delicate scent of wildflowers and her sweet skin.
Because she looked so soft he thought he might die from it.
Because he wanted. In a way that transcended everything he’d ever experienced before. Because he wanted in a way that transcended control.
He touched her chin. With his thumb pressed firmly down there, before gripping her tightly by adding his forefinger.
Then he moved his thumb up to the soft pad of her lower lip, and she gasped. She didn’t move away from him.
‘Perhaps this is what I want. For you to comfort me as I did you.’
‘West,’ she whispered.
It was beautiful. To hear her say that.
Because that was when he knew. Knew that he had got through another layer.
He had not touched a living woman in a very long time.
He had last touched Jane after the life had drained out of her. He had knelt by that bed, that blood-soaked bed, and put his forehead against her hand.
And in that moment all he’d had was a wordless apology that was wrenched from his soul as a cry of anguish.
And it hadn’t been this.
Of course it hadn’t.
He traced the edge of her lip, and then let his thumb rest at the centre, applying pressure.
Her eyelids fluttered downward. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Very good.’
He hadn’t been conscious of saying that until the words had left his mouth.
He might be testing her control, but she had already gone beyond the bounds of his.
Her tongue darted out, moistened her top lip, and brushed the edge of his thumb. He groaned, need roaring through him like a lion.
A wild beast that had no business in England, let alone in him.
He took a step towards her, and it was like she came awake.
Just as she had done last night. As if the impropriety of the situation had hit her with the force of a cannon blast.
‘I will adjourn to my room,’ she said.
He dropped his hand to his side and moved away from her.
‘Don’t forget your book.’
