Page 21 of The Duke's Virgin
More, I wouldn’t have to listen to anything from them about it.
I doubted my parents would be shocked at the idea of me having sex. I wasn’t a child, but my mother, in particular, had no idea what boundaries were, and I could already imagine the commentary I’d get from her.
He’s attractive, Stacia, but he’s beneath you. Get it out of your system, then move on.That would sum up her reaction nicely.
I shoved thoughts of her out of my head and focused on Luka.
Just ask him.
So I did.
“Would you think I was crazy if I said I’d rather we go to my room instead?”
His lids flickered once more, and I could see that I’d surprised him, but I didn’t say anything else. Neither did he.
If he said no, I’d just calmly go back to my room and pretend I wasn’t embarrassed. I’d never have to see him again, right?
The silence was thick and heavy, and just when I thought he wasn’t going to answer, he lifted his hand and cupped my chin, angling my head back.
I caught my breath as his mouth came down on mine. He tasted sweet like the oranges, apples, and strawberries we’d snacked on, tart and rich, like the wine. And…unique. Like the man he was.
My breath hitched and caught as he pushed his fingers into my hair and caught a fistful of curls, twisting, then tangling.
His tongue slid over my lower lip, then pushed inside. My knees wobbled, and I reached for him, clenching my fingers in the soft, fine weave of his shirt.
A moment later, the kiss was over.
“I’d love to go to your room, Stacia. But are you sure that’s what you want?” He studied me in the glow of light cast from the moon and through palace windows.
Still gripping his shirt in my hands, I stared at him and nodded. “Yes.”
You better tell him, the voice of reason urged.
His eyes darkened, and intrinsically, I knew I was staring into the face of raw, blatant lust. My belly tightened, and my nipples started to throb just holding his gaze.
I’ll tell him, I promised.In a couple of minutes.
A couple of minutes turned into five, then ten, because we had to go through the ballroom to get to my room, and the ever-moving wall of people didn’t make for a quick retreat.
Luka held my hand the entire time, his thumb sweeping over skin I’d never realized was so sensitive.
By the time we broke free of the crowd, my heart was racing like I’d run five miles. It made it hard to project a calm smile to the security men who held position at the hall leading to the suites set aside for personal guests or visiting family.
They looked from me to Luka, but even as the shorter, stubby man on the right went to speak, I smiled and sailed right past them.
Luka tightened his hand on mine.
“Afraid they’ll stop and subject you to a round of Twenty Questions?”
My face heated. “Maybe you’re the one who should worry about that. But…no. That’s not my concern.”
It might have been a tiny part of it. Okay, all of it, but I had enough issues with all my nerves at play. I didn’t need anything else.
We passed another set of guards, turned a corner, and abruptly, Luka stopped. Since I still held his hand, I came to a halt as well. Looking up at him, I went to speak, but before I could, he cupped my face with his free hand, fingers splaying over my jaw. I whimpered, but the sound was lost against his lips as he kissed me.
His tongue stroked over mine while he released my hand, reaching up to grip my hip and tug me closer to him.
Something thick and heavy pulsed against me, and I felt an answering pulse deep inside my core, but it took several seconds and him guiding my hip as I started to rock back and forth, for me to figure out justwhatI was feeling.
