Read Online Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1) by Jessie Bennett - Free Book Online Page B

I don't think I would have been able to stand on my own if he hadn’t.
    “See, what you’re feeling isn’t love. It’s nothing more than carnal desire. A natural reaction to the coming together of a man and a woman. You wanted to box my ears, remember? It is simply passion, and nothing more.”
    I wondered who he was telling more, himself or me. I could see that he was just as out of breath as I was. He was looking down at me, debating whether he should kiss me again. I wanted him to so badly. I couldn’t lie; I had wanted box his ears a moment ago, but at this particular second, I couldn't remember why. His hands tightened around my waist and his head dipped just slightly.
    “Gaffton,” I moaned from somewhere deep and carnal inside of me.
    He took my mouth again, urged on by the whisper of his name. This time, there was nothing soft or gentle about it; it was full of passion and desire. I met him with all the vigor I held inside myself. He released my mouth long enough to lift me into his arms. His emerald eyes were alight with wanton desire. He laid me down on the small sofa behind me and came down on top of me. I barely had time to adjust to his body on top of mine before his mouth enveloped me again.
    He was carrying the bulk of his weight with his arms on either side of me. He lifted his mouth from mine, out of breath. I could feel his need against me. I arched my hips instinctively to meet him.
    He moaned in satisfaction. “Mary,” he hoarsely whispered. “Please, tell me to stop.” He rubbed one thumb lovingly across my lips. He was pleading with me to stop him. I seemed not to be the only one who had forgotten all the malice we had felt toward each other only a moment ago. This man seemed to rattle me in every way possible.
    I wouldn’t stop him though. I couldn’t stop myself, let alone him. I arched my hips again, never letting my eyes leave his. He gave another moan of satisfaction and came down on my mouth again. He was ravaging me, but it wasn’t enough. I felt him grab my leg. Slowly, he pulled up the silk of my royal blue gown, exposing my silken leg underneath. He wrapped it around him, settling himself deeper between my legs. I lifted my hips again in hungry desire. This time, he grated his own hips against mine. I arched my back, closing my eyes, and moaned. I had never felt something so exquisite in all my life.
    “My sweet Mary, open your eyes,” he whispered against my lips.
    I opened them to find him looking down at me. It wasn’t fire or passion I saw; it was pure affection. He kissed me softly on the nose before grating his hips again. I moaned in satisfaction again, but didn’t let my eyes leave his. He was smiling down at me. It was euphoric to see that my pleasure brought him pleasure. I would to do anything to make this man happy.
    I knew in that moment that it wasn’t lust anymore, at least not for me. Yes, I was attracted to him, and I was certainly intoxicated by his kiss, but it was more than that. I loved him. I would give the world for this man. He may have successfully shelled his emotions from the rest of the world, but I saw him now for who he was. He was so kind and caring. His hurt had guarded him from letting anyone else in, but even with his determination to make himself a lone man, alienated from all others, he had still cared enough to protect Dunlop and to protect me from the scorn of my family.
    I wrapped my leg tighter around his as he continued to move on top of me. I wanted more though. I didn’t want the confines of our clothes between us. I could feel something growing inside of me, something I had never felt before. It was hot and wild and strange and I never wanted it to stop, but felt as if I would explode all at the same moment.
    “Gaffton, please!” I begged. I didn’t know whether it was to stop or to continue.
    His hand had been making its way up my silk stocking. He gripped the back of my thigh now and pulled me in tighter against him as he