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David nipped her bud, coaxing a cry from her. “Bossy,” he teased.

His mouth devoured her in the most salacious and wonderful way. Pressure began to build in her lower stomach and climb its way up her spine. Her thighs tightened around his head as hecontinued to lap at her. The wet noises he was making and his satisfied moans pushed the building tension to a fever pitch.

Jenny thrashed against his mouth while he held her down.

“You’re so wet for me, kitten. So wet and so damned delicious,” David spoke in between his licks, bites, and kisses.

“David. David. David.” She chanted his name, hoping it would bring her relief from the growing tension in her core.

With one final suck on her nub, David sent her over the edge and into ecstasy. Her head spun as colors danced behind her eyelids. Her heart felt as if it would burst right out of her chest.

David kissed his way back up her body, leaving a trail of fire she was sure would be burned into her skin forever. He nibbled on her neck before giving her a last chaste kiss on the lips.

Jenny opened her eyes, blinking quickly to regain her focus. “That was… that was…”

David laughed lightly. “Are you speechless, Miss Bennett?”

Jenny sat up. “You seem proud of yourself,” she noted.

David smiled, but this time it did not reach his eyes.

The elation Jenny felt evaporated almost as quickly as it came. “What is it?”

David stood up, adjusting himself and putting his shirt back on. “Well, now you know what you should feel when you lie with your husband.”

Jenny’s racing heart stuttered and then stopped. She felt her cheeks flushing. “What?”

“Jenny.” He sounded resigned. “This is as far as it goes between us. I must say, you have taken our lessons quite well to get me to do that. Although, I do recall telling you that by the end of our lessons, you’d have the man tripping over himself to kiss you. It seems I am quite the teacher.”

He nodded towards the desk and the papers scattered on the floor.

Jenny yanked her dress up to cover herself and the embarrassment that was settling over her.

“You think I seduced you only because I could? Is that what you think of me?” She was repulsed. “I came here because I can’t stop thinking about you.” She pushed her arms through her sleeves and stood up. “I came here because Iknowyou feel something too, and I wanted to prove it to you. And I did.”

She had to fight to get the words out. Her eyes were filled with tears she refused to let fall.

David walked over to where she discarded her coat and picked it up. “You didn’t prove anything to me.” His voice was flat.

Jenny’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You wouldn’t have done that”—she pointed to the desk—“if you didn’t feel something for me.”

David fixed her with an unreadable look. “It wouldn’t be the first time that I have donethatwith no feelings behind it, Miss Bennett. Do not confuse lust with something more.”

Jenny flinched as if she were struck. Her eyes searched for some clue that he was lying. He always hid the truth behind his aloofness. She had seen cracks in his veneer before—there had to be some now.

As he stood there staring back at her, her world fell apart. She saw no signs of what she was looking for.

“So, you are perfectly fine with me returning to the Duke of Dovegrove and marrying him after what we just did?” she choked out.

Her chest was constricting, causing her breaths to come out in short bursts. She thought she saw a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but it was gone quickly.

He simply shrugged and said, “I think you two will make an excellent pair.”

Jenny stood there, shocked. Crushed. Heartbroken. He truly did not care. He never would. It all was just an arrangement for him.

She grabbed her coat from him and left his home.

From his study window, David watched as she walked straight past his carriage and off into the night. He motioned for the footman to follow her one last time.