Page 14 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke

“Let's try this way. I would like to know what games cousin is up to,” the other replied.

Their voices faded away along with their footsteps.

“You do not wish your own family to know of us?” Emmeline whispered in incredulity. “Yet you have insisted on marriage?”

“Not them. Only on my terms,” Damien muttered, still listening.

He cautiously opened the door, half expecting to see his cousin's grinning, scheming faces waiting on the other side. The hallway was empty.

“Perhaps I should go after them and tell them the good news?” Emmeline suggested.

She stepped to the door, and Damien slammed it shut. She reached for the doorknob, but Damien did not release it. Instead, he looked into her eyes as she placed her hand atop his.

“No,” he said quietly.

“Why not?” she replied.

“Because that is my will.”

“I do not bow down to your will,Your Highness,” Emmeline scoffed, trying to wrest his hand from the door handle.

Damien found himself smiling as he resisted. Emmeline finally stepped back, breathing hard and red-faced. She glared at Damien, folding her arms as though to present a barrier against him. The sight of her so aroused, whether by anger or desire,did not matter; it was intoxicating to Damien. He lunged for her, taking his hand off the door handle, his lips seeking hers.

Caught by surprise, she seemed to surrender to the kiss for a moment. They spun through the room, arms going about each other and bodies clashing together to celebrate the force that pulled them together. Drew them together and bound them. Damien collided with a bookcase that towered above them to the height of a dozen feet.

It rocked slightly, and a book was dislodged somewhere above. Damien raised a protective hand to deflect the volume from striking Emmeline.

Anotherfell. Andanother.

Emmeline squealed as the rain continued from the rocking bookcase. Damien had each arm raised to shield them both, and she clung to him as though she were sheltering from hail. His footing became tangled in the books lying about their feet, and he lost his balance, falling heavily. Emmeline landed scandalously in his lap. The last book fluttered down, barely more than a pamphlet. It landed delicately on Damien's head, and Emmeline, breathing hard still, plucked it away.

“It appears we have made quite the mess,” she breathed.

“My butler will have a field day when he discovers it. I will blame a guest,” Damien waved away.

“Blame me,” Emmeline offered.

“That is courageous of you, but you do not wish to be the subject of Mr. Casey’s fury. I have never dared get on the wrong side of him, ever since childhood.”

They looked at each other for a long moment. Emmeline felt right in his arms, as though she belonged there.

“I should not be straddling your lap like this,” she whispered.

Damien could see from the rise and fall of her chest that she was breathing faster and harder.

“It would be compromising to be found in such a position,” he agreed.

Emmeline put her hands against his chest to push herself to her feet. As her touch settled on him, her lips parted, and she gave a soft gasp.

“Oh my,” she whispered.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

He felt her fingertips linger on the muscle of his chest, and he wondered if that was what had startled her or attracted her. Women did find a well-muscled man attractive.

“You are built like some kind of Hercules!” she exclaimed.

Her face promptly flushed deep red.