Indecision and yearning spread all over her face.

God, she was beautiful. And--damn it--his. He'd make her see that. He couldn't endure this biting ache for a woman he could see and talk to, but never truly have. He needed her love in return.

He pressed a kiss to her mouth. "Did I tell you that a wizard knows his mate by taste?" At the surprise that crossed her features, he smiled and worked down her body.

"So the first time I kissed you, I knew unequivocally that you were mine."

As she gasped, he unclasped her bra and drew it away in a sweep of his hand.

She opened her mouth to protest, but he laid a finger across her lips. "Lie back and feel."

After a long moment, her anxious blue gaze softened. She exhaled in surrender.

The sound went straight to his cock.

He laved her nipple with his tongue. She stiffened, trembled. So responsive. Duke smiled secretly against her skin. The sugary-gardenia scent of her lured him. He inhaled deeply, struck again by the rightness of her in his life.

"But what wizards love most is to taste their mate's flavor." He eased a palm down her abdomen, curling his fingers under her knickers and right into her folds. And she was wet. Duke shuddered, nearly coming out of his skin. "Here, where your flavor is pure and most intimate. That, we love."

To prove his point, he whisked her knickers down her thighs and dropped them to the floor. Her damp golden curls beckoned.

"Spread your legs."

Felicia tensed again, but fresh moisture slickened her folds. Damn her fears for making her fight what she wanted. Duke understood, but refused to bend. He must get past this before they could progress.

"That's an order." He sent her a firm stare. "There's nothing for you to think through, only to feel. Let me in, Sunshine."

Biting her lip, her body tense, she did as he asked, oh-so-slowly easing her thighs apart. He could have done it for her but this ... she opened herself to him like a gift. She trusted him. He was truly grateful.

Easing her folds apart, he breathed in her essence, then pressed his tongue to her.

She gasped, jumped. Duke held her hips down and laved the swollen knot of nerves. Yes, she was aroused. But she wasn't comfortable with it.

He sucked her clit gently, then released it, raking his fingertip over the little ridge.

His eyes closed, and she clutched the headboard more tightly, as if restraining her need.

"Why can't you let yourself want me?"

Felicia tried to wriggle away. Duke held her firm, his fingertip working erotic circles over her most sensitive flesh.

"It makes me ... too vulnerable," she mewled, her body arching.

"You don't want to be close to me."

He kissed her again intimately. Even if her heart was fighting him, her body's defenses were breaking down. With every touch, she slickened, swelled, arched more.

"No." Her high-pitched admission bounced off the wall.

"You think I'll leave you."

"The minute I let myself care ..." She writhed, fighting the pleasure.

She was dead wrong. His reassurances weren't convincing her. What the hell kept her from tearing down that wall around her heart?

"The minute you let yourself care," he whispered, "I'll be there to fill you up with love for the rest of your life."

Her face told him how much she wanted to believe him, but her head thrashed from side to side in denial.

Duke lowered his head to her slick, tender flesh again and feasted, using slow licks that lasted forever, soft brushes of his fingers. "You're perfect for me," he whispered. "Until you, I never felt as if I belonged anywhere. I never truly connected to anyone. Money and fame insulate. I've often felt alone, even in public or when I had a lover. But you ..." He lapped at her with a long groan. "With you, I'm at home."

Felicia perspired, her body writhing. She looked at him with fevered blue eyes.

"Why?"

"Because you're mine."

"Simon, you--"

"Don't try to say otherwise. Do I make you feel safe?"

"Yes-- oh!" she cried out as he toyed with her swollen bud again.

"Do I make you feel cared for?"

She paused, then nodded. "You're high-handed."

He smiled. "Part of my charm."

Swiping his thumb across the little bundle, he settled into small circles that had her stiffening her legs and arching her back. "Simon ..."

"Do I give you pleasure?" He put an exclamation point on the question by drawing her sensitive flesh into his mouth again.

"Oh. Ah ... I--oh my ... Ah!" Her body shuddered, thrashed as climax racked her.

He stayed with her to the end, easing off as she recovered. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Yes," she admitted weakly.

"I'll do everything in my power to shelter you from pain. I'll never break your heart." Duke gripped her hip with one hand and guided himself to her slick entrance with the other. "Someday, you'll believe me."

He raised himself over her, and eased inside the hot silk of her sheath, gritting his teeth. Felicia's expressive eyes widened, darkened. He drank in her face and sank into her with every inch he had, every bit of love coursing through him to her.

She gasped, a new flush creeping up her cheeks, across her chest. Everywhere he 144

touched her, she scalded him. Sinking in a bit more, he hissed, tensed against the astonishing rise of pleasure. Under him, Felicia moaned, clamping down on his cock. He grabbed her tighter.

Gliding down, down, into her wet perfection, he tunneled deep in a seemingly endless stroke. Finally, he was immersed in her. God, she was incredible. Silken. The most amazing woman he'd ever touched.

"Oh, S-Simon!" Her voice fluttered. "That's--" she gasped, tilting her hips up to him, taking him even deeper. "So good."

Indeed. He'd never felt anything like the electric pleasure racing through his veins.

"Hang on," he warned.

She sent him a shaky nod. And he pulled back, nearly withdrawing, before drowning in her again. Felicia cried out, clinging to him, parting her thighs more and inviting him deeper.

Bloody hell, already she was decimating his restraint. Pleasure shot up his cock, coiling heat low in his belly, curling his toes.

As he invaded her body again, he took her mouth in a desperate kiss. Felicia melted around him, parting her lips, canting her hips up to him, and ripping through his control.

Duke gritted his teeth, growling as he filled her to the hilt again. Felicia's little pants as she tensed drove him mad. He refused to find pleasure without her.

Probing until he found the sweet spot guaranteed to hurtle her into climax, Duke worked it with slow strokes, nonstop friction. Her eyes opened wide as she writhed, trying to catch her breath. A darker flush spread across her gorgeous golden skin.

"Oh! Simon, I need ..."

"I know," he rasped in her ear. "I'll give it to you."

He did with languorous strokes that sank into forever. After this, there'd never be a way to untangle himself from her--and that suited him just fine.

"Yes." Her fists gripped the headboard. "Yes!"

With another deep thrust, she came apart, jolting in his arms with a guttural cry.

His self-control followed, and white fire shot down his spine, spreading ecstasy through his body. He needed her so much. Needed to reassure her that his love and desire for her was everlasting. Duke wasn't about to deny that need as he shouted in satisfaction.

Slowly they caught their breath. He kissed her cheeks, the tip of her pert nose, her swollen mouth. He caressed her from hip to waist, then his palm wandered up over her breast, settling around her shoulder. He held her close, their hearts galloping together.

He could stay like this, with her, forever. Being with Felicia was beyond anything he'd ever known. He wanted to tell her that he loved her again, stay in bed all evening, talk her through her fear and clear it away. Then make love to her all night.

A knock on the door reminded him they didn't have that kind of time. He glanced quickly at the bedside clock and cursed. Right on schedule.

Felicia went stiff with fear. "Who is it?"

"The people to help us build our scandal," he murmured, then called to the attendant constantly outside their suite, "Ms. Hodge, let them in!"

The door opened with a soft click. Panic raced through Felicia's veins.

"My robe. It's in the bathroom and--"

"You won't need it," he assured softly and pressed his surprisingly hard erection 145

deeper inside her with a groan. "I don't want to leave you, but ..."

He quietly withdrew. Her body protested. With the friction, nerve endings flared to life, and she gasped. The secretive smile he sent flipped her heart.

Felicia waited for him to get up, find his clothes, and greet his guests. He didn't.

"Your Grace?" called a woman whose voice Felicia had never heard. "Where are you?"

"The bedroom. Follow the stunning city views."

Her jaw dropped and she scrambled to rise. "You can't--"

"Shh." He held her down and eased onto the bed beside her, then drew the sheet firmly over her breasts. He smiled like she was the only woman in the world, and her heart flipped. "You look perfect."

"I need clothes," she whispered furiously. "My hair is mussed and ... and--"

"Your lips are beautifully swollen, and oops, I left a little love bite on your shoulder." He shrugged with a wicked smile.

The smattering of footsteps drew closer, then rounded the corner. A pixie doll blonde with a Stallone expression stood beside Caden, who had a camera looped around his neck.

Felicia drew the sheet higher and scrambled away from Duke. He brought her closer with an iron grip.

"They've come to take pictures?" she hissed.

"Holly, Sydney's former editor, insisted on the pictures. A forty-eight-hour exclusive in exchange for her help with the press." He turned to the other woman. "You didn't specify what sort, but I assume this will be sufficient to sell newspapers?"

Spoken like a question, but Simon knew the answer. Sex always sold.

Holly smiled widely--a shark with pink lipstick. "Of course."

"They must be released within the hour," he warned.

Holly snorted. "Ten minutes after we're gone, more like. Caden?"

The other wizard stepped forward, camera in hand.

Felicia whirled on Duke, clutching the sheet to her throat. "You're going to let him take pictures of us in dishabille?"

He whispered, "This wasn't my first choice of tactics, but to keep these vultures'

attention, we have to stay shocking, at least until we can divert Mathias's attention from you or kill him. Staying in the public eye will keep you safe."

That made sense, but ... "Photos? You gave me no warning. No time to consider.

No say in the matter!"

"Ruins the authenticity of the moment." He nipped at her lobe, breathed in her ear.

Despite her better intentions and her anger, she shivered. Her body turned to putty, but she wasn't ready to give up her anger. "Simon ..."

He frowned. "You're really distressed. Wait a moment, Caden." The other wizard nodded and dragged Holly with him to a corner, then the gorgeous man beside her brushed the hair from her face. "I didn't tell you because I feared the pictures would look staged or posed, and they won't. I not only want everyone to see us together; I want them to believe it. Talk about us for days. Weeks. But I never meant to upset or embarrass you.

If you're too uncomfortable, I'll call a more traditional press conference. I believe this is more effective, but I'll leave the decision to you."

Felicia bit her lip. Every word Simon spoke was truth. He made sense as well. He 146

not only risked himself to keep her safe and gave up his bachelorhood. He caused scandal again and again, not caring he'd be the target of tabloids, too. Or that he would be further alienating his family. His first thought was her safety.

While she'd been more concerned about Mason and her modesty.

"I'm sorry. You're right. Tell them to proceed."

The smile Simon flashed her radiated pure approval and told Felicia how much he valued her trust. She basked in its glow, warming as if she bathed in golden rays on a summer afternoon. "Excellent. Smile, Sunshine ..."

Chapter 14

AN HOUR LATER, F ELICIA'S head hadn't stopped spinning. Holly called for extra lighting and a touch of makeup. Caden kept clicking away to "capture the moment,"

and Felicia blushed.

Between shots, Simon kissed her, long, lingering, deep. Caden snapped those pictures as well, and Simon knew it. After those forever kisses, he'd send her intimate toe-curling smiles, as if they were the only two people in the room. Or on the planet. The world faded away until all she saw was him.

Felicia soaked up her time with Simon, stunned by how much she enjoyed his single-minded attention--and by how much she liked the thought that women everywhere would soon know that Simon had feelings for her. Yes, this was all part of a larger plan to keep her safe, and she normally hated pictures, but he kept her feeling both relaxed and secure.