Free Taken by the Duke by Jess Michaels

the next three weeks?
    She shivered and reached out to shake, but when he caught her fingers, he tugged her in and she found his mouth descending on hers for the second time.
    Swirling desire caught her and dragged her under the moment his lips covered hers. His tongue breached her without resistance and suddenly he seemed to be tasting her entire mouth. He explored, sucked, and she was lost in sensation even if she did not wish to be.
    Her fears began to subside as the kiss deepened and deepened. She liked this. Wanton or not, it was true. When he kissed her, she felt utterly alive, tingling with anticipation. He seemed to sense that. He guided her back until he could perch on the edge of his desk. He let his cane fall away with a clatter, and then both his arms came around her.
    He was impossibly warm and very strong, despite his injuries. In his arms, she felt like a fluttering bird, captured and afraid…but also excited and yearning for whatever would happen next.
    She melted against him, again entirely against her own will, and moaned against his lips. She sensed him smile beneath her, and his fingers stroked along her spine until her body began to thrum with pleasure. It was…amazing. She had never felt anything like it. Heat spread from the places where his hands touched her, spiraling through her body and settling in parts of her that had always been considered private. Her nipples ached, the place between her legs throbbed.
    She went weak in the knees and gripped his shoulders to keep herself upright.
    He pulled back to stare up at her dizzy and dazed expression.
    “Fascinating,” he murmured, and she had a feeling his words were more for himself than for her. “So very responsive. I would never have guessed. It does make one wonder what would happen if one…”
    He trailed off and glided one of his hands away from her back. She shivered as he trailed it around her waist and then up the flat expanse of her stomach until he shocked her by cupping one small breast. She might have recoiled, but he held her firm with the hand that remained on her back, holding her steady as she tried to buck away.
    “Shhh, don’t. Just let me do this and feel how good it is,” he soothed, locking gazes with her. His eyes were…so beautifully bright and blue, she couldn’t look away. She couldn’t do anything but hold steady.
    He began to gently massage her captive breast, stroking, squeezing, playing with the sensitive flesh. Once her shock had faded, she realized how powerfully pleasurable the experience was. Her nipple began to pucker, and heated bursts of unbearable sensation throbbed from where he stroked her. It built and built, burning a flame in her loins that was unexpected and powerful.
    He flicked his thumb over the hardened peak of her breast through the fabric of her gown and for the second time in mere moments, Ava nearly collapsed with the intensity of the reaction in her aching, arching body. How was this possible?
    He released her, his breath short, and nodded. “Oh yes. Yes, yes, this will be something amazing.”
    She stared at him, still seated on the edge of his desk, continuing to watch her with as much intensity as ever. His gaze was so hooded, she couldn’t fully read his intent. But at this point, he must wish to consummate their bargain. She shivered and then lifted her fingers to the buttons along the front of what now seemed to be a very tight and constricting gown. She flushed as she popped one free, then a second.
    He got to his feet, swept up his discarded cane and took a step toward her. “What are you doing?” he asked.
    “Is this not the next stage?” she asked, heat rushing to her cheeks even faster and hotter now that she had been stopped in her actions and he was staring at her in what appeared to be shock.
    Slowly, he reached out and rebuttoned her gown, though he let out a low groan as he did so.
    “Great God, you will test a man,” he muttered. “Ava, yes, in a very short time I