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Sitting ducks?

Her comment hit a nerve

Did she think he wanted to play the rational investigator? Did she think he enjoyed being the pragmatic one? No, he wanted to throw caution to the wind Take risks Dance with danger

He braced his hands on the bookshelf above her head, locking her in hishis body closer than he had ever dared before “Being vigilant doesn’t make me a damn duck”

Miss Atwood laughed nervously, her hot breath breezing across his cheek Oh, she was so achingly close “Your promise to my father has made you too cautious This matter calls for a little recklessness It calls for the devil-may-care attitude you display in the ballroom”

Oh, so she wanted reckless

“I’ue I can be irresponsible” Indeed, his ropes of restraint were already frayed A hint of encourages in two “Don’t tauntimpulsive e’re locked in a dark roo against taking what I so desperately crave”

Long lashes fluttered against her porcelain skin “But you don’t find me attractive in that way”

Daent woman be so blind?

“Mada” He ainst his waistcoat He was already harder than he’d been in his life Mother of all saints If he didn’t kiss her now, heto devour yourto plunder you senseless”

She stared at his lips as her breath grew short and shallow

“Say it, Sybil Say no Say it now before we enter into so neither of us—”

She pressed her mouth to his in a soft, sweet kiss So innocent So sensual A rush of euphoria robbed hiht The rehearsed skills needed to seduce a woman abandoned him, too

This was so new

So exquisite