A Study in Desire: The Rockliffe Dynasty Book 1 by Jane Maguire

Author:Jane Maguire [Maguire, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781777892678
Published: 2023-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

12

Theo crushed her lips against Jeremy’s, opening to allow his tongue to sweep in and claim her. To allow her to circle over his in return. He tasted of brandy. Intoxicating.

They lay side by side on his bed, her hand fisted in his damp hair, his hand cupping her jaw, firm but gentle all at the same time. Had she planned this when she gave in to the subtle tug of his fingers? To crash onto the bed that had begun taunting her, to align their bodies so they connected in all the right spots, to surrender herself to a shower of bliss?

She couldn’t say. She only knew she didn’t regret it.

For most of the afternoon, desire had been the last thing on her mind. Instead, terror had clutched her within its grip as she scoured rainy streets around Rockliffe House and then screamed for the carriage to come and take her farther, desperate for things to be set right. She may be no stranger to loss, but she didn’t think she had it in her to lose again. Not her boys. Above all else, that pain would break her.

But not Jeremy, either. The fierce torrent of relief she’d experienced upon spotting Ben and Alex in the street had vanished with the sight of Jeremy Clare appearing from behind them, his face ashen and his hand gushing blood. From there, her mind had focused on a single task. Fix this.

That’s what had allowed her to burst into his bachelor’s lodgings, into his bedroom, without a second thought. Because she’d needed him to stop shaking. To stop bleeding. In a situation that could have fatal consequences, propriety hadn’t intervened in the least.

But then, his hand had ceased pouring blood. He changed his clothing, and his body began to warm by the fire. His face regained color.

Relief had flooded her once more. And suddenly, the desire that had been pushed down by fear broke free, crashing into her like the pounding rain outdoors. She’d held herself stiffly, trying to forget it. To ignore the intimacy of sitting on his bed, and his bare feet, and his shirt that gaped open at the neck. Until little by little, her resolve had crumbled away. His words—his caresses—had been her undoing. Maybe she still should have said no. But she needed to say yes.

She dragged her fingers down the back of his neck, absorbing the warmth from his skin, holding him close. This moment was for pleasure and pleasure alone. Any other details they needed to sort out would come later. Except …

“Your hand,” she murmured, finding the strength to pull away just enough so her lips hovered above his. She forced her eyelids open, glancing down at the bandaged palm he kept pressed to his side. An abrupt reminder of what existed beyond their desire, pulling her back to reality before the flames burning within her turned all-consuming. “You need to rest; you’re injured.”

His mouth traveled downward, pressing kisses along her jawline. Back up to her earlobe.

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