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His mouth touched hers in a chaste kiss, his lips warthe sea her flush against his body as he lifted his other hand and threaded his fingers through her hair

His body was hard, her breasts crushed against his chest as she tilted her head back, opening her rowl, deepening the kiss, his tongue delving into hershivers of desire racing through her body She lifted up onto her toes, wanting ry htened around her, and she felt the un, thick colus Sudden i with sweat, his ar--

Duncan broke the kiss with a groan, his breath hot against her neck as he held her close, his hands flexing against her back

"E hard

Emma heard him, but she didn’t answer, couldn’t find the breath to answer He was trying to protect her, she knew Trying to be sensible, to be sensitive But Emma didn’t want sensible She wanted to lose herself in the heat and passion that was buried beneath that cool, Duncan exterior Wanted to warm herself at the fire that he kept so carefully banked and hidden from view

"Eretfully, knowing he was right He eased away fro

"I apologize," he said "This isn’t the time or place"

"Will there be one?"

Duncan’s brown eyes heated, gloith that same bronze fire before he brushed her ear with his lips "There will be a time, Emmaline," he whispered "And when the tihtened and kissed her lips one one

"Sleep well," he said "And if you need anything, call I have people on staff around the clock"

"Okay," she said, already ht"

Duncan’s ar until she felt his lips on her neck She gasped at the hard scrape of his teeth--his fangs!--against her skin He breathed deeply, as if inhaling her scent, then lifted his head with a growl

"Don’t be late"

And then he was gone, leaving the door rattling in its fra as she raised shaking fingers to her neck, feeling the heat of her skin where his lips had touched her She hugged herself, wondering what it would be like to ainst her tongue orshe shivered reainst her neck And she kneasn’t fear ination She was overloaded emotionally, that’s all this was She was drained and exhausted, and Duncan had been there to hold her when she needed it He’d been so kind, the perfect gentleman, and she’d all but assaulted him when he’d tried to help her, to comfort her And, okay, he’d been interested, but only because she’d thrown herself at hiroaned aloud, reainst her belly, the heat in his eyes

She squeezed her suddenly aching breasts, rubbing the flat of her pal with pleasure as she sank to the stairs She was in so much trouble

Chapter Sixteen

Duncan stormed into his office, furious with himself, with the entire situation He hadn’t wanted to leave Emma alone, despite her insistence But he certainly hadn’t helped matters when he’d all but attacked her It had taken all his considerable will power to break away from her seductive warainst the wall, shove that tight skirt up to her waist, and take her right where she stood She’d been ready for hiainst his chest despite the layers of clothing between them And her scent! God, the sweet scent of her had driven him mad with desire

Thankfully, he’d come to his senses in ti, es raw and wide open Only an anie of her in that state