What a Duke Dares (Sons of Sin 3)
She started, but didn’t move away. “My brother wants me to.”
“Do you?”
“It’s a good match,” she said unenthusiastically.
He released her. “So good it makes you hide away and cry.”
“That wasn’t—”
“Don’t lie, Sophie. Not to me.”
“You can’t call me Sophie.”
He laughed softly. “I can’t address the woman who shares my cupboard by her title. It’s a rule of society.”
Her gurgle of amusement made his blood fizz with happiness. “You don’t strike me as a man who follows rules, Mr. Thorne.”
The need to kiss her surged, but despite her unexpected if hesitant cooperation, he didn’t want to frighten her away. “You’ve listened to too much gossip. And my name is Harry.”
The pause that followed vibrated with significance.
“Harry…” she breathed, turning his prosaic name into music.
His heart crashed against his ribs. Dear God, he was in trouble. “Lovely, lovely Sophie,” he whispered and despite the risk of taking everything too far too fast, he curled his arms around her.
“Oh!” She jerked from the brush of his lips.
He set her free and withdrew as far as the cupboard allowed. “Forgive me.”
To his astonishment, she caught his shirt. “You took me by surprise.”
“I had no right—”
“You’re a very chivalrous rake, Harry Thorne,” she said drily.
Her tone piqued his curiosity. Ignoring common sense and self-preservation, not to mention the gentleman’s code, he placed his hand over hers. “Don’t you want me to be chivalrous?”
“Not right now.”
“You deserve better than a furtive courtship,” he said helplessly, even as his other hand snaked around her slender waist to arch her against him. “But since the day we met, I’ve dreamed of you.”
Her sigh conveyed wonder. “Really?”
His voice deepened into urgency. “I’ve dreamed of kissing you.”
And other things, but he couldn’t sully her innocence with his wanton fantasies.
“I’d like to make your dreams come true.” She leaned closer, her breasts grazing his chest. “Will you kiss me, Harry?”
“Sophie—” Her scent filled his head like wine, overwhelmed thought. His hand tightened around her waist.
“Don’t you want to?” she asked in a small voice.
“Of course I bloody want to,” he said roughly, then dragged in a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m not acting the gentleman.”
This time her sigh was disgruntled. “You’re acting too much the gentleman.”
“Sweetheart—”