Tempting the Duchess: A Regency Historical Romance (Disgraceful Duchesses Book 2) by Sara Bennett

Author:Sara Bennett [Bennett, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-08-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Owen watched her, trying to read her mind, but she seemed determined to keep her own council. His heart sank. Whatever the truth was, she did not trust him enough to share it with him. He had known she had been lying from the start, but he hadn’t pressed her. It hadn’t been in his selfish interests to do so. But now he did care, and that she wouldn’t tell him hurt more than he had expected.

He reminded himself how Merrily had lied to him, stolen his money and his work, and gone off to London. How he had sworn he would not let himself be taken in again, and now here he was.

It was all very well to tell himself that she was no more than a stranger who had come into his life, briefly, and would soon be gone again. The truth was he had been attracted to her from the first moment. Instantaneous connection. Love—or was it lust?—at first sight. He might struggle, but every day he spent in her company only pulled him deeper into this emotional morass.

“Let us get on,” he said in a purposelessly detached voice. “You’ve moved. Lie back the way you were a moment ago.”

She did as he asked, attempting to relax, watching him cautiously, as if at any moment he might begin shouting at her. Owen had known this would be difficult. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was spread before him like a feast and although he was starving, he could not indulge. She had been a little self-conscious earlier, when she suggested the pose, but had seemed to throw aside her doubts.

His pencil stilled. Was she teasing him? His eyes followed the hypnotic movement of her finger on her pink nipple. Was she trying to lure him into behaving in a way he had sworn he would not?

He had already kissed her, and now he ached for her. He had hoped his time away might have calmed his passion for her, and he had thought at first it had, but here it was roaring back to life again, only twice as bad. He couldn’t sleep at night for thinking about her, and his days were filled with being in close contact with the one thing he denied himself. He wasn’t sure how long he could hold out. He didn’t even know if he wanted to!

Ellis gave a little shiver.

It was his opportunity to turn away, hurrying to stoke the coals in the fireplace back to life. He took his time about it, kneeling on the hearth, until he had his body under control again. When he turned back, she was watching him with a little frown between her brows. She had drawn up the bodice to her throat and was clutching it there like some sort of maiden under threat.

“I didn’t realize how cold the room had become,” he explained, trying for a smile. “Is that better?”

She nodded, her hair falling about her, and then her eyes widened.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.