The Heart of a Duke(4)
When his tongue ran along her lips, she gasped and drew back. She needed to breathe, to pause and gather her thoughts, which had scattered like leaves to the winds. “We should stop. We cannot—”
“You are so right.” She shuddered at the smoldering look he gave her. “But Julia, I did warn you about this being dangerous. Now, it is too late.”
His mouth swooped down and plundered, devouring and demanding more and still more. Ripples of pleasure coursed through her body. He aroused yearnings in her that she hadn’t known she possessed. Had recently begun to wonder if Edmund could evoke such feeling in her.
He drew back and Julia blinked up at him, struggling to clear the sensual haze engulfing her. When clarity returned, she realized she was still pressed intimately against his body. His arms around her waist fully supported her, and through her riding habit, she could feel his heart pounding against hers.
Flushing, she tugged free of his embrace and straightened, grateful her legs managed to support her weight when she stepped away.
“Well, then.” Her voice was breathless and sounded strange to her ears. Lifting an unsteady hand, she tucked an errant curl under her bonnet.
“Well, then indeed.” He smiled. “I had doubts about returning, but no more.”
Her breath caught at the sultry look he swept over her. She wished she could say she was glad, too. The new Julia would have done so, but she was feeling more and more her old responsible self and a bit appalled at her brazen behavior. She tugged down her riding jacket, but refused the urge to run her fingers over her swollen lips. “So we are agreed. It is long past time we set a date and stop the run of wagers at White’s.”
She frowned when the smile curving his lips froze and then disappeared.
He rubbed his hand along his neck in that strange, new adopted mannerism of his. “Ah, about that date. There is one minor complication in regard to that.”
“Oh?” Her hand stilled. “And what is that?”
“As much as I wish it otherwise, I cannot set any future dates with you.”
“What are you talking about?” she demanded, a cold chill suffusing her, dousing the simmering embers of their shared passion. “You are not backing out of the betrothal agreement. You cannot. My father would ruin you.”
“Particularly after that kiss,” he agreed quite amicably, leaning close to her as his eyes flashed with a spark of defiance. “But it was worth it.”
She stepped back and fisted her hands at her sides, a hard ball of suspicion curdling deep in her gut. She should have listened to his earlier stammers—or warnings. Hoped it was not too late to do so.
“Your father’s desire to murder me would be for different reasons than you think. I cannot set a date because I am not in a position to do so, which is what I tried to explain earlier.”
She simply stared at him, waiting him out. She was done talking. Done with being young and foolish and reckless. Feared she was about to pay the price for allowing herself to be so for one lovely moment.
“You see, I am not Edmund.”
Chapter Two
JULIA blinked, not fully comprehending his words.
He lifted his hands and spread them in a mute apology, a rueful smile curving his lips. “I have never regretted it—until now.”
What was he talking about?
She rubbed her temple, tamping down her rising hysteria. “What game are you playing now? How can that be . . . ?” Her words trailed off and her eyes narrowed.
No, it couldn’t be.
He had disappeared a decade ago. Long lost and forgotten. Edmund had refused to allow even his name to be uttered.
“Daniel,” she breathed, unconsciously echoing his tone when he had first voiced her name. Edmund’s twin.
Lord Bryant, but she had known him as a boy, and he was Daniel to her then.
“At your service.” He dipped into a mock bow and, lifting his head, beamed that potent smile at her.
While they had been identical twins, dark haired and fine featured, their size had always differentiated them. Edmund was tall and dashing and, well, beautiful. Daniel had been a head shorter and of a slighter build. It was as if Edmund had sucked up all the nutrients in the womb and left nothing for Daniel. The runt. That was what Edmund had called him. Incredulity filled her.
As if reading her thoughts, he broke the tense silence with an explanation of sorts. “It is not unusual for a boy to grow. Edmund simply had a head start on me, always did.” His eyes darkened, and his gaze lifted to stare out over the ruins behind her, the whistling rustle of the wind filling the silence. “But I have had ten years to catch up.” His jaw clenched. His gaze snapped to hers. She stumbled back from the hard gleam of them. “And you can be sure that I will not be following in Edmund’s footsteps ever again.”