The creamy swells of her breasts begged for attention, and he was loath to deny them.
Cupping one breast, he worshipped the other with his tongue and teeth, licking and nipping kisses on the tender skin. She pulled at his hair, ran her hands down to his hips, brushed the stiffness in his breeches.
God, it was not enough. He needed to see her, all of her. He needed to sink himself deep into her, feel her as she welcomed him into her bed and her body.
Into her life.
Forever.
Oh God, what am I thinking?
His eyes flew open. He staggered backward, dropping all contact with Leah. She swayed, nearly falling as he fought to regain his senses. He’d been dreaming.
He’d been mad to do that to her. He could not be what she needed.
“Leah, Miss Ramsey, I…” He had no words. His manhood throbbed with frustrated lust, but he ignored it. “My apologies, Miss Ramsey.”
“Don’t stop. Please…” Her hand trembled as she pressed it to her swollen lips. Her eyes were wide, dazed, and wanting.
“I should never have forced myself upon you so.”
Avery bowed deeply, cursing himself. “You have my sincerest apologies. It shall not happen again.”
“Wait just a goddamn minute.” She glared at him.
GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 200
4/11/13 11:26 AM
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
201
“You didn’t force anything on me. Couldn’t you tell how much I wanted that?”
He glowered at her. “There is no need to prevaricate, Miss Ramsey. The fault is mine.”
She stomped toward him, mayhem plain in her gaze.
“You’re going to answer some questions for me in a minute, but first you need to get something through your thick caveman skull. I wanted that. I want you. You didn’t trick me into kissing you, so get over yourself.”
His frustration and confusion battled for the upper hand. “Over…myself?”
She sighed. “Forget it. Did you get into a fight?
Because no offense, but you look like hell.” Her brow furrowed as her gaze raked over his still-swollen cheek.
He set his jaw. “It is no concern of yours.”
She barked a bitter laugh. “The hell it isn’t!” She lost some of her vitriol as she pressed a warm palm to his cheek. “Listen, Avery. I’m not sure what’s between us right now, but I do know that I care about you. I can’t help if you keep shutting me out.”
He wanted so badly to turn his face into her palm and press a kiss there. To lay his head in her lap and tell her he’d put her in danger. To apologize for jeopardizing her chance at happiness with the duke.
“Miss?” A young female voice floated into the garden.
“Are you here, miss?”
“Shit, that’s Muriel.” Leah tossed an irritated glance over her shoulder. “Can you wait here while I get rid of her?”
“I must go,” he said, disguising his relief at the interrup-tion. He had to get away from Leah before he lost his head again. She wreaked havoc on his already tenuous control.
GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 201
4/11/13 11:26 AM
202
Gina Lamm
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
She looked at him, hurt in her gaze. His heart ached, but he stayed motionless.
“Okay. See you later, I guess.”
She walked away, leaving him alone by the stump of the old oak.
He’d bungled that properly.
i
Leah tried like hell to keep from crying as she walked away from Avery. The tears weren’t so much from sadness as they were from being frustrated, pissed, and straight up horny. The man had just left her with the feminine equivalent of blue balls. Blue ovaries? She sniffed and swallowed her emotions, pinning a pleasant expression on her face for Muriel.
“Sorry, I needed some fresh air,” Leah said to the maid. “What’s up?”
“Your new gowns have arrived from the modiste.
Lady Chesterfield bade me fetch you.”
“More new gowns?” Leah pressed a hand to her forehead. A monster headache was starting to zoom around her skull like a Mario Kart party was going on in there.
“But she already bought me a closetful.”
Muriel laughed as she led Leah into the house. “Miss, Lady Chesterfield would not dare to arrive at a ball in a previously worn gown, and she would not see her protégé do so either.”
Leah trailed after Muriel, trying to find some happy.
Damn it, it wasn’t there. She was too riddled with anxiety to do anything but keep moving forward like a shuffling zombie. She’d have to do something drastic to clear these cobwebs, and soon. There were two men GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 202
4/11/13 11:26 AM
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
203
in her life, two very different men, and even though she was pretty confident she knew what, and who, she wanted, she had to do something to make sure.
An entirely wicked idea popped into her head, and she grinned. This was going to be delicious.
“Are you well, miss?” Muriel said, tilting her head.