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Just when he was about to conclude that she had breached their agreement, the library door opened to admit a small, cloaked figure, causing him to rise to his feet in excitement. Sure enough, when the intruder pulled back the hood of the cloak, he found himself staring into Selina’s angelic face.

“Good evening, Richard,” she said in that throaty voice of hers that never failed to arouse him.

Was it his imagination, or did her voice sound more sultry than usual?

“Good evening, Selina,” he greeted from his spot close to the fireplace, his hands folded behind his back.

She gave him an odd look but soon turned away to hang her coat on the coat hanger at the door, revealing a lavender gown that showed her figure to great effect. The bodice was cut low, just like all her new gowns, and not for the first time, he regretted giving the order for them to be cut this way, revealing her cleavage in good light.

In the dim light of the library, her exposed flesh looked inviting, her olive skin glittering like the finest satin. She was temptation incarnate, and he was going to do anything to resist her, even if it killed him, because if he touched her tonight, he knew he was not going to stop until he had thoroughly ravished her. It was best that he held on to his self-restraint for his sake and her own.

“You promised me a dance lesson, Your Grace,” she breathed, drawing his eyes to her lips. The plump lips that had become the object of his day and night dreams. Tonight, she had painted them red, and they glistened invitingly. “I bet you cannot teach me to dance from over there.”

Her voice jolted him back to reality, reminding him of what he was supposed to be doing.

“You are to be my partner, yes?”

She had a knowing smile on her face, almost like she knew the internal battle he was fighting and she wanted to see just how far she could push him.

Just as soon as her knowing smile appeared, it disappeared so that she looked innocent, bearing no resemblance to the minxthat might have easily undone him all those nights ago. He was going to keep the secret of how easily she affected him to himself, and he was not going to allow himself to fall for her charms so easily.

Approaching her warily, he stopped in front of her. He was immediately intoxicated by her floral perfume, tempted to bury his nose in her neck and gorge himself on her unique scent.

Clearing his throat, he fought to bring himself under control.

“Perhaps we would start with a waltz,” he said hoarsely.

He knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say, especially as her eyes lit up with something closely resembling excitement. He knew at that moment that she was not going to make this easy for him at all.

Bracing himself and squaring his shoulders like he was preparing for a fight, he finally began the lesson.

“I do believe you know the basics of dancing. Every noblewoman of my acquaintance has at least received rudimentary training in ballroom dancing.”

“Of course, Your Grace. I have been more of a wallflower in the past until only recently. I have received quite a number of complaints after smashing a lot of toes with my clumsy feet.”

“That could easily be solved,” he said, taking her hands in his.

The feel of her bare palm on his sent a heated sensation down his spine. He placed her hands on his shoulders, then wrapped an arm around her back.

“Let your partner lead the dance,” he said in a hoarse voice that held no resemblance to his usual calm tone. “Surrender your body to his, trusting that he will lead you the right way. If he is an excellent dancer, I promise you that you will glide across the dance floor with so much ease that it will look effortless.”

He stopped speaking when he noticed that his breathing had quickened. Selina’s breathing had quickened as well, and her gaze was fixed firmly on his lips.

The sight sent his arousal to higher levels, and somehow, he did not think that she had heard his instructions—so fascinated with his lips as she was. He would bet that she was thinking of the last time they had kissed and how heated it had been. So much so that when they broke apart, he had a hard time remembering who he was and where they were.

Watching her now, staring into her eyes, he was lost. He wanted so badly to sip from her sweet lips and ravage the delicious cavern of her mouth while caressing the length of her body. As he watched, she licked her lips, sending his arousal to even greater heights.

He was dying, and she was the reason. She was going to kill him with the desire she stirred inside him.

CHAPTER 17

Richard had never thought it possible that one could die from excessive desire, but with every moment he spent in Selina’s company, he was starting to see the possibility.

Perhaps he should never have convinced her to visit him that first day, but in his defense, he had just wanted to offer help when she looked so frustrated.

Wait. That is not entirely true.

Long before he had met her in the ballroom, he had found her interesting especially since he had observed her in the house party they had organized and how she hadn’t swooned when the horror of what the Barnes’ had done came to light. She had been brave and he found his eyes trailing her a few times when he visited her brother.