Dancing with the Duke Read Online Free PDF Page B

head. “I don’t want to. I have
waited so long for this. Years. Please, no more waiting.”
    Her admission surprised him and a small
corner of her brain, the only part still capable of rational
thought, chastised herself for betraying her feelings so easily.
The rest of her, however, simply didn’t care. Alex was attracted to
her, wanted her as a man wanted a woman, and absolutely nothing
else mattered at that moment.
    She didn’t have to exert much pressure to
coax his head back down and they were kissing again. He cupped her
breast in one hand and she arched into the caress, a whimper of
need rising in the back of her throat.
    He pushed her away with a curse and turned
away, his harsh breathing sounding like a condemnation of her
wantonness. She wasn’t quite able to steady her own breathing.
Feeling bereft without his touch, she wrapped her arms around
herself and waited.
    “I apologize,” he said. “I don’t know what
came over me. Here I was, warning you about another man when it
appears you have more to fear from me.”
    When he turned to face her again, she could
see that the mask of composure he normally wore was back in
place.
    “You should return to the ball. I’m sure the
last thing you want is to find yourself forced to marry me.”
    His words were like a knife to her heart, and
she had no doubt that Alex’s true concern was that he not find
himself forced to marry her. She nodded and without another word
turned and made her way back to the ballroom.
     

Chapter Four
    Alex was in hell. For the rest of the night, as he watched
Charlotte laugh and dance almost every set, he couldn’t stop
remembering her stricken expression when she’d left him. He’d hurt
her feelings. That small, stupid voice inside him, the one whose
ears had perked up when she’d told him she’d been waiting years for
him, hoped she’d been hurt because he’d pushed her away. The more
practical side of him, however, knew she’d been upset by his
deplorable lack of self-control.
    He’d sent away his valet when he returned and
was now waiting. He had to apologize to her. He knew he should wait
until morning, but he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t do so
right away. Charlotte had gone with his sister to Lucy’s bedroom
after their return from the ball and stayed with her for some time.
But she had to go past his bedroom to reach hers, which she’d done
only moments before. He had to see her and somehow assure her that
she was in no danger from him. He only wished he could assure
himself of that same thing.
    The house was quiet when he made his way to
her room and knocked on the door. When she opened it, she was
surprised to see him.
    “I know you were expecting your maid,” he
began, “but I needed to apologize.”
    Now it was his turn to be surprised when she
opened her door to allow him to enter. He hesitated, but since her
maid was likely to appear at any moment to help her undress, he
decided there would be no harm in having this conversation in
private. He entered and she closed the door after him.
    “What are you apologizing for, Alex?”
    He frowned. She was in a very strange mood.
It didn’t help that he was feeling more than a little cast adrift.
He was in her bedroom and the door was closed. It was all he could
do not to draw her back into his arms and take her in that bed that
seemed to dominate the room. He turned his back to the prominent
piece of furniture and tried to concentrate on what he’d come to
do.
    “For my forward behavior earlier this
evening, of course.”
    She sighed and looked away. He waited for a
reply, but none came.
    “Charlotte?”
    “I don’t want an apology from you,” she said.
“Not for that.”
    Her words confused him. “If not for that,
then for what?”
    She met his gaze again, and he hated seeing
the hurt and disappointment reflected in her eyes. She seemed to be
waiting for something from him, but he could no longer think
straight. It was with great difficulty