"I'm okay with that. For now." His voice was deep and sexy. His eyes dark. "I'm enjoying looking at you. Soon enough I'll get naked, too."
I thought my heart was going to hammer out of my chest. "Riggins, I don't want this to be a test…"
"It's not a test." His thumb caressed me. "I want you." He circled my nipple with his tongue.
I was getting nearer and nearer the edge, trying to hold back. Wondering what I should do. "I thought you said we wouldn't…"
I didn't want to tell him. I didn't want to say it. But…
"Riggins, I'm a virgin."
He pulled away from my breast and stroked my hair, smiling at me, his face shadowed by the fire behind him. "Yeah? Just now, I pretty much guessed."
I blushed.
He hadn't removed his fingers. He covered my mouth with his, silencing my protests, thrusting his fingers deep inside of me until I lost myself in the pleasure.
"Let yourself go, Haley," he whispered, and sucked my breast until I gasped.
I hadn't thought I'd needed or wanted his permission. But now that I had it, I relaxed, losing myself in him. I climaxed with my head thrown back, my eyes closed, and his name on my lips.
"Haley—"
A scream pierced the silence. Then another. A high-pitched female voice that sounded almost inhuman shrieked in the hall.
Riggins swore beneath his breath, released me, grabbed his shirt, and ran into the hall. I slid into my dress and shoes, zipping myself up as I raced to the door.
"I saw her! I saw the ghost. I saw Grace." Lady Rose was pale and white.
Was she really that good an actress? I shivered, feeling the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
Lazer came racing around the corner. "Where? How did I miss her?"
"There. She was there!" Rose pointed to the end of the hall and the window.
Outside, the fog had rolled in. When her gaze met mine, she was both smug and angry. She knew what she'd interrupted. She'd done it intentionally.
Thorne came out of his room. Kayla and Justin poked their heads out of theirs. Sid came out into the hall in her robe, carrying a vase, ready to clobber any ethereal beings with the strictly material world. I hoped the vase she'd chosen wasn't an expensive antique. But, unlike the rest of us, at least she'd come prepared with something.
Lazer came up behind her, carrying some kind of camera and electronic gear. "EVP recorder and full-spectrum camera. This would work better, in this case, I think."
Justin shook his head. "Since when have you had ghost-hunting equipment?"
Lazer grinned. "Since I bought it for the weekend." He pushed the playback button. "Damn. All I got was Rose's scream."
"Sorry." Now that she'd gotten what she wanted, Rose put on a pretty pout and tried to look a little contrite. "I simply saw her and didn't think." She put her arms around herself.
Lazer wrapped his suit coat around her shoulders. I resisted rolling my eyes. Obvious bitch.
"Nothing to see here now." Riggins shook his head. "Show's over."
"Everyone back to your own rooms." Justin put his arm around Kayla. "Is that what you're saying, Riggs? What a house party!"
Riggins turned to me. "I'll walk you to your room."
People, meaning Rose among them, were still lingering in the hall, so he could hardly kiss me goodnight. "See you in the morning." He kissed my cheek. "Goodnight."
"She did that on purpose," Sid said when we were both safely locked in for the night and the door barred against all specters. "Rose couldn't stand the thought of you having Riggins to yourself."
I was embarrassed. Maybe I'd just blown it forever with Riggins now that he knew my secret. Not even Sid knew. I might have let her have an accidental impression of how far I'd gone with some of the guys I'd dated. If Riggins wanted an experienced woman, I wasn't it.
"How was it?" Sid asked. "What did he say? Did he propose?"
I shook my head.
"Do you think he will?"
"I have no idea."
Chapter 11
Riggins
I woke early. I'd made up my mind. I knew who the next duchess would be.
I showered. Shaved. Dressed carefully. Rehearsed the words I planned to say when the time came. My phone was on the nightstand with my wallet. I was about to stuff it in my pocket when I got a text from Thorne.
The DNA expert's report is in. Let's meet later to discuss particulars and implications.
He linked to a website with a detailed report. I took a minute to review the results. Now there were no obstacles. And no escape from marriage.
I grabbed the antique velvet ring box with Helen's engagement ring inside and took a deep breath. I'd propose before breakfast so we could announce it to our friends and sell this relationship. I'd worry about the details later.
The castle was quiet. Just the sounds of the staff downstairs. The hall was empty. This wasn't the way I'd planned my life. But now I knew which woman I would share it with. At least for a while.
I strode down the hall and paused before her door. Another deep breath. I knocked, ready to get down on one knee if necessary, clutching the ring box in my pocket.
I heard footsteps on the other side of the door. My heart raced, though why I should have been nervous I didn't know.
The door swung open.
"Rose?"
* * *
Thank You!
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Also by Gina Robinson
The Billionaire Duke Series
Part 1—The Billionaire Duke
Part 2—The Duchess Contest
Part 3—The Temporary Duchess
The Switched at Marriage Series
Part 1—A Wedding to Remember
Part 2—The Virgin Billionaire
Part 3—To Have and To Hold
Part 4—From This Day Forward
Part 5—For Richer, For Richest
Part 6—In Sickness and In Wealth
Part 7—To Love and To Cherish
The Billionaire’s Christmas Vows
Gina Robinson’s Contemporary New Adult Romance Series
The Rushed Series
Book 1—Rushed, Zach and Alexis’ story
Book 2—Crushed, Dakota and Morgan’s story
Book 3—Hushed, Seth and Maddie’s story
The Reckless Series
Book 1—Reckless Longing—FREE
Book 2—Reckless Secrets
Book 3—Reckless Together
About the Author
Gina Robinson's books have delighted readers and received positive reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A voracious reader and fan of all types of romantic stories, she writes romance and women's fiction across a wide variety of subgenres—new adult, contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense. Her love stories are infused with a happy blend of romance, adventure, a bit of mystery, and humor. Readers are drawn to the light touch she gives even serious topics and the fast, fun, easy-to-read pace of her books. From college campuses to Seattle to Las Vegas to England, her settings become almost characters of their own, driving the story.
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