The Duke's Dove by Lauren Smith

Author:Lauren Smith [Smith, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-952063-04-6
Publisher: Lauren Smith

6

The kiss was everything she feared and loved. It was raw, punishing, glorious. He made up for all the days they’d been apart, all the nights she’d hungered, alone and cold without his body against hers. He slid one hand into her hair at the base of her neck and fisted his fingers in the loose ringlets, tugging at the curls. The small bite of pain spurred a flash of wet heat between her legs. She moaned against his marauding lips. As if encouraged by her wanton reaction, he slanted his mouth harder over hers. It overwhelmed her, aroused her, clouded her senses with him and only him.

The kiss was deep, their tongues dueling and lips bruising. His other hand traced her spine and skipped down to shape the curve of her rear. He clenched her bottom hard and jerked her body up several inches, setting her on the terrace balustrade.

Nathan’s hands dug at her skirts, working them up her legs and out of the way so he could slide his hips between her thighs. Mindless of the cold that should have bothered her from such exposure, she arched into him, her body in control, her mind surrendering. He rocked his hips against hers, promising the passion to come with low growls against her lips as they finally broke apart from their kiss.

He stared down at her, still holding her prisoner against the terrace railing. Their shared breath formed pale clouds around their flushed faces. Nathan’s lips were parted, the faint rasp of his panting sending new flashes of heat and awareness skating over her skin. Even eight years ago, they hadn’t kissed like that. So much had changed, and so much lay between them. Pain, sorrow, loneliness, regret. Her barely healed heart started to crack and splinter into diamond shards, yet she wouldn’t have taken that kiss back. They’d spoken with their lips, needing no words.

How did they go on from here? How did they go back to their separate lives? She was terrified of what the answer might be. She knew she wouldn’t survive if he walked away a second time. There was nothing so cruel in this world than to have her heart’s unattainable desire so close and for it to be denied a second time.

Destiny could not be so cold.

Nathan cupped her face in his hands and feathered his lips over hers before touching his nose to hers in a gentle nuzzle.

“God, I’ve been such a fool, Thea.” His voice was low and pained, tinged with husky frustration.

Her throat closed, and her breath froze in her chest. Her fingers clenched and unclenched in the folds of his snowy cravat as she struggled to understand what he meant. Did he regret their kiss?

She choked back a sob. “Nathan, please. If you mean to leave, for heaven’s sake, go now,” she begged in a harsh whisper.

Her throat was raw with the violent heartbreak shaking her entire body. He was going to walk away, as he had before. She’d be alone again, save for a silvery-tinted memory of one last great kiss.

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