A Duke's Wicked Kiss (Entangled Select) (2 page)

He folded his arms over his broad chest and slowly, ever so slowly, ran his gaze the length of Suri, from her head to the tips of her dusty riding boots and up, settling on her lips.

Something…
something
…rolled through her lower belly like a storm hell-bent on ravaging the landscape.
Heavens.

A lazy smile tipped one corner of his mouth.

Marguerite’s sharp intake of breath caught Suri’s ear. Would her sister never learn to contain herself?

“I’ve an appointment with the Duke of Bridgeford.”

“Impossible,” Suri said. “Our father is engaged in an annual meeting with a peer.”

“Would that be the Duke of Ravenswood?”

Suri’s spine stiffened. “I daresay, you are quite bold, sir. Who
are
you?”

“Ravenswood was my father. He met his demise, and I’ve come in his stead.” He glanced at his sleeve, dusted it with a gloved hand. “I arrived a bit late, but I am here nonetheless.”

“Then you are now His Grace?” Marguerite asked.

“Fortunately, no. I am merely Lord John Fairfax, second in line. My brother had far too many appointments this week, and I was sent.”

“I am sorry for your loss.” Suri made to rise.

He motioned for her to remain seated. “Please, do not stand on my account. His Grace died eleven months ago. Enough time has passed to have adjusted. Now then, ladies, back to the subject at hand.” He turned to Marguerite. “I take it you are to attend your coming out ball? And you expect your first kiss?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Suri said. “’Tis none of your concern.”

“Ah, none of my concern, perhaps, but I would wager I am more trustworthy than your groomsman. So you are sisters? You look nothing alike.”

His scrutiny was bolder than bold this time, but Suri refused to take her eyes off him. No doubt he was busy comparing the vast differences between the two. While Marguerite was nearly a head taller than Suri with wayward curls winding about her head like red corkscrews, Suri’s black hair fell thick and straight to her waist. And then there were the eyes. Marguerite’s were a lovely sable brown flecked with gold, but Suri’s were so green she’d been told they resembled cut emeralds.

She smirked. “We’re twins.”

Soft laughter escaped her sister’s lips. “Actually, we are half-sisters who happen to be exceedingly close—in age and otherwise. I am Lady Marguerite, and this is Miss Suri Thurston. Although we share no resemblance, Papa says we may as well be twins since we are never apart. Thick as thieves, he calls us.”

“A titled lady and a mere miss?” Lord John asked.

Suri shot her sister a scowl meant to silence, but it did no good, as usual. Marguerite continued. “Papa had an affair with a high caste Indian who died in childbirth. Her family was shamed so her grandmother tossed the babe to the lions. Our father rescued Suri and brought her back to England, where I had been born some months before his return. Obviously, I was conceived just prior to his departure.”

“Obviously,” Lord John drawled. He gave Suri another once-over.

“The entire event was a great scandal,” Marguerite continued. “However, Mother forgave him in the end, and even though Suri is illegitimate and therefore cannot hold a title, my mother raised my half sister as her own.”

Suri rolled her eyes. “Despite our parents’ repeated tries to civilize Lady Marguerite, she still cannot manage to understand how the word
discreet
could apply to
her
tongue.”

A faint grin passed over his mouth. “Are you treated well?”

“Treated well?” Marguerite put in. “She’s downright spoiled. Most likely because she’ll not have a husband, seeing as how she is illegitimate as well as a…” Her mouth clamped shut.

“A half-caste,” Suri finished. “And don’t look so stunned, sir. There is little that Lady Marguerite can say that angers me.” The sisters looked at one another and grinned.

“And it may disappoint you terribly to learn that I have no wicked stepmother, no spiteful half brothers to torment me, nor a father who treats me ill, thank you. And my dear sister tells this story at every turn, so do not consider yourself special to have heard it, having just met.”

“You won’t marry?” The depth of his gaze intensified and traveled over Suri from head to foot again. “Surely there are suitors falling over one another for your hand.”

She knew what was coming next—she’d heard this time and again from Papa. Still, she played the game. “And pray tell, sir, why is that?”

He raised a deliberating brow. “The beautiful daughter of a powerful and wealthy duke asks me why? I assume you are also due a substantial portion? I’d think any question of legitimacy or heritage would be easily overlooked in your situation.”

Ah, yes, marry someone after Papa’s money.
Then give birth to children scorned by society as half-breeds no matter their status—children who then stumble across proper ladies gossiping behind their fans about how they were considered worthless and tossed to the lions. If God threw Adam at her feet, she would not bear his children and submit them to a lifetime of what she had endured.

She conjured up a look of disdain. “If your words were meant to flatter, Lord John, they leave much to be desired.”

That wicked mouth she could not take her eyes off lifted at one corner. “Suri. Unusual name. Does it carry any special meaning?”

“It’s Hindustani. Means babe with the pointed nose. My father named me.”

He chuckled, lifted her chin with his fingers, and examined her profile. “’Tis a fine nose, not pointy a’tall.”

A visceral shock tore through her. She jerked her chin from his grasp. “Were you given permission to touch me?”

His eyes danced. “Ah, yes, I touched you. Forgive me.” He dropped his hand and turned to Marguerite. “Now, then, if you will allow me, I shall teach you how to accept a proper kiss so as not to lead a man on, nor to send him scurrying in another direction.”

Marguerite’s cheeks blazed. “I…I…”

“Up, girl.” He gave an upward motion of his hands. “And put your gloves back on. A lady does not go bare-handed for her first kiss.”

Suri arched a brow in the manner of her father before he was wont to issue a setdown. “Are you a hapless second son eager to be caught kissing the daughter of a duke?”

He turned to her. Something between a smirk and petulance framed his mouth.
Oh, my, he knows how to use that mouth.
Liquid heat ran through her veins.

He placed a hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

Another sultry jolt swept through her. What the devil was wrong with her? “Oh, get on with things, then. Show her how to kiss and be done with it.” This, she had to see.

He took hold of Marguerite’s hands. “For the man to take your hands in his is quite acceptable. In fact, it is an agreeable means by which to preserve your good reputation, providing both sets of hands are properly dressed, of course. As you can plainly see, with our hands held between us, a gentleman is forced to keep his distance. And it is up to you to see that he touches only hands and lips. Ready?”

Marguerite nodded.

“Good girl. Now then, here we are, ready for the kiss.” His voice lowered, and he smiled at her. “Take in a slow, deep breath and exhale just as slowly.”

Marguerite complied.

“Slow and gentle movements are best,” he said. “Lift your chin a bit, let him know you are willing to receive his kiss. And whatever you do, do not open your mouth.”

“Open my mouth? For heaven’s sake, why would I do such a thing?” She pressed her lips together until they formed a slit.

A corner of his sinful mouth twitched. “You
are
a green sprout, aren’t you? Relax the muscles in your face. Pursed lips indicate rejection or a kiss as hard as pecking a wall. That’s it, chin up. And when a gentleman’s lips touch yours, count to five and pull your head back slightly to indicate the kiss has concluded. Much longer would be improper.” He leaned over, and touched his closed mouth to hers.

A shiver ran through every nerve in Suri’s body. Silently, she counted to five.

Marguerite pulled her head back, let go of the man’s hands, and splayed her fingers across her stomach. “Oh, my.”

Lord John turned to Suri. “Your turn.”

“My turn? Thank you, no. I believe I have seen enough to know what to do.”

His head tilted, and that winsome quirk of his mouth shot another twinge through her belly.

“Ah, my dear, if I am to serve both you ladies well, then I must insist on showing you the improper kiss, the kiss that would cause scandal, the kiss that should you be caught unawares, could lead to your ruin.”

His words set Suri’s lips tingling. “The very idea. You think me a dunce?”

That heart-stopping smile captured his mouth once again. He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, anything but.” With the same uplifted wave of his hand he’d given Marguerite, he signaled Suri to rise. “Up, and remove your gloves.”

This time it was she who tilted her head. “Remove my gloves?”

“Indeed. I will demonstrate why a lady’s hands should not go bare on her first kiss. Are you observing, Lady Marguerite?”

Marguerite fairly danced in place, her eyes glittering. “Oh, I shan’t miss a moment.”

Suri stood. Curiosity could be a powerful little beast at times. Besides, she was never one to back down from a challenge. Slowly, she tugged at each finger. Tossing her gloves aside, she extended her hands.

Instead of clasping them, he kept his gaze steady on hers as he, too, did away with his gloves and threw them on the hay. “Breathe, darling,” he murmured and stepped closer. “Ever so slowly, so as not to faint in my arms.”

Her lungs quivered. She caught his scent—male musk with a faint hint of bergamot—and it held her immobile. “You are beyond arrogant, sir.”

“No, merely knowledgeable.” He enclosed her cold fingers within his hot hands.

His touch could have been a naked embrace for the shockwave it sent screaming through her body. Good heavens! She took that slow breath, as much to fill her exhausted lungs as to steady her knees.

Cradling her upturned hand in his, he exposed her wrist. “Never allow a man access to this pulse point.” His voice had grown husky.

“What pulse point?” She was afraid to look.

“This one.” He bent and pressed his warm mouth to her wrist, swiped it with his tongue.

Her head buzzed as a rage of passion swept through her. Nothing in the world had ever felt so delicious.

His tongue swept her wrist once more.

Hot. Her skin was about to burst into flames.

She blinked furiously to keep her eyes open, to keep from swooning. She wanted to shout, “Again!” but said nothing, only stared at him.

“And never allow a man access to your palm.” His words were liquid velvet now, and she knew the direction his lips were headed. She closed her eyes as he buried his mouth in her palm and swept his tongue in tiny circles.

The air burst from her lungs. “You are quite mad, sir.” Nonetheless, she stood there, incapable of removing her hands from his. Where Marguerite stood, Suri did not know, did not care. All she knew was that this man’s head was bent over her hands, and his hot mouth was the devil’s playground, licking fire through her veins.

And then he did the most outrageous thing—he took her thumb in his mouth and sucked. Her world exploded. A small moan escaped her lips.

This time she heard a squeak, like a tiny mouse caught in a trap, but she cared not a whit that Marguerite was close at hand. She opened her eyes as his head came up. His lips had plumped from what he’d been about.

He leaned closer. “Open your lips to me, Suri.” His words were a bare whisper, a husky directive.

A sense of helplessness stole her reserve. Nothing so potent had entered her life until he had stepped through the stable doors. Her chest shuddered on her intake of breath while her neck bent back and her lips parted of their own accord. She stumbled backward. His hand came up, caught her at the waist, while his other hand fit behind her neck.

He stepped closer to her. “Close your eyes,” he whispered.

She did.

He urged her against him, so painfully slow she wanted to shout. She stifled another moan. But then his hot breath touched her mouth, and her muscles melted, and the moan came of its own volition. His arm around her waist held her upright. She thought she heard Marguerite again, but she didn’t care. She wanted to know what it was like to have this man’s mouth on hers—a mouth that at first glance had told her rightly so—here was trouble come a-calling.

His lips brushed hers, warm and feather soft. A shiver ran through her, all the way to her toes. She felt and heard a small groan escape him. She couldn’t breathe at all now. Drawing her closer, he settled his warm, sweet mouth on hers, his body heat permeating every inch of her.

He pulled her closer still, until her breasts pressed against his chest, until their stomachs met and something hard wedged between them. All thought scattered until only the feel of him remained, in her mouth, on her tongue, against her skin. Was she even wearing clothes any longer? That couldn’t be
his
heat penetrating through her very clothing. Could it? When did her arms go around his neck? When did her tongue match the movements of his? When did she want to pull him atop her in the hay? Why?

She whimpered and leaned into him, lust churning through her body.

“Oh,” she whispered into his mouth as the stark realization struck her at what was occurring. Her head cleared. What in blazes had got into her? With all the strength she could muster, she slid one hand to his broad chest and pushed—but not with the strength she ordinarily possessed, for she had little left, neither in conviction nor musculature.

He released her, his lips glossed from their encounter with hers, his cheeks flushed, his eyes a dark, storm gray. And filled with an expression she could not decipher. His gaze fell to her mouth and flicked back to her eyes. His countenance filled with self-containment once again, and his breathing returned to normal. “You see? Never allow a first kiss with gloves removed.” He stepped back, turned his front side away from them, and headed for the door. “There you go, ladies. A lesson you had best not forget.”