The Duke's Runaway Princess Page 0,43
a soft laugh, “is that you’d probably bring the wrong types of people and they don’t want your kind around.” Everyone at the table laughed at her teasing before she said, “Now I could show up and it wouldn’t be a problem, would it?” she offered.
Zarah considered that suggestion and thought it might be a good idea. “I think that might be a better option. Your presence would be a wonderful boost to the festival, giving it a bit more legitimacy but not overwhelming the villagers with the press.”
“Oh, there will still be a ton of press,” Joe corrected with a chuckle. “This woman tends to bring those idiots swarming. But you’re probably right about me showing up versus my lovely wife.”
Alicia turned to her husband and rolled her eyes. “Of course she’s right. I’m exactly what the festival needs whereas you would ruin things.”
He turned to Derrick. “I love the way she boosts my ego with her charming wit.”
Derrick shook his head. “Don’t get me involved in this conversation. I’m not taking sides.”
They all laughed once again before digging into the fluffy raspberry dessert with white chocolate drizzled over the top. It was a delightful evening and Zarah was actually sad to see the couple take their leave. As soon as the door was closed, Derrick turned to face Zarah.
She noticed the dark, passionate look in his eyes immediately and backed up a step. “You’re going to take me back to my apartment.”
He took a step towards her. “I am?”
She understood his intent and was determined to not fall into his arms again. “Yes. You are.”
“Why would I do that? I have you here almost exactly where I want you.”
“Almost?” she asked breathlessly.
“Well, you’re in my house, the door is closed, we’re alone…” His voice trailed off, leaving the rest of his statement unsaid.
“But this isn’t where you want me?”
He shook his head and continued his forward movement towards her. “You’re not naked and in my bed so no, you’re not exactly where I want you. But we’re getting close,” he said softly.
Zarah looked behind her and saw the stairway. She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I want to go home.”
He smiled and reached out, his fingers picking up one of the curls laying on her shoulder. “No you don’t.”
“I don’t?” She licked her lips as she watched him move just a bit closer. When his large hand settled on her waist, his long fingers slightly massaging her hip, she shivered with anticipation.
“No. You don’t want to go back to your cold, unwelcoming bed where you’d climb into cold sheets and lay awake, staring at the ceiling thinking about what I could be doing to you and with you.”
She felt her heartbeat increase and her breathing was suddenly extremely ragged. “Oh.”
“You want to stay here with me. You want to find out what it would be like to finish what we started last week. You’ve been thinking about it every time you saw me. Every time you’ve run away and hidden from me as if I might hurt you.”
Zarah knew that he was right. She’d wanted to find out what it would be like to lay in his arms and feel his body press against hers, to find fulfillment in his embrace and know what it was like to be a woman. She wanted this man to show her what making love was all about. She briefly thought back to all the men she’d met for either lunch or dinner before she’d run away from her brother’s protection and she knew that she didn’t want any of those men to touch her. Not the way she wanted Derrick to touch her.
Suzanne’s voice came into her head, urging her to take the leap, to go with Derrick and let the future figure itself out. She knew that her brother hadn’t been a virgin when he’d married Sidra, why was she held to a different standard simply because she was a woman? There was something about pregnancy and her husband needing to know that any children were from his seed, but she banished that from her mind. She didn’t want to think about bearing any other man’s children. She wanted Derrick and focused solely on him and the way he made her feel just with one hand on her body.
“Yes,” she finally said.
Derrick had been watching the play of emotions rush across those beautiful features. One day he was going to find out what was happening behind those