Say Yes to the Duke
Page 31
“It did?”
“Only one,” he said, “and I killed it. But I don’t know about mice.”
Janice shuddered, and she didn’t know if it was from contemplating mice and spiders or from Luke’s touch. His finger was running loopy circles around her nipple while he kissed the side of her neck.
She decided that it was Luke—and for the next three minutes they rolled and kissed and pulled and tugged until they were both naked and Luke was poised above her.
Already.
“This is awfully fast,” he said, a bead of sweat on his temple. “We should stop now and start over. This time we’ll take it much slower.”
“No, let’s not.” Janice was a little short of breath. “That was yesterday. And the day before. Remember?”
He gazed down at her adoringly. “How could I forget?”
“My back remembers.” She giggled.
“Mine, too,” he said. “You demanded to be on top the second time.”
“Well, a girl can take only so much cellar floor.”
He laughed and brushed some hair off her cheek. “This is our first time in a real bed.”
“I know.” She felt shy of a sudden. “But I’m ready—if you meant that this signifies something more than a bed of hard-packed dirt would.”
“I don’t think it does at all.” He kissed her softly. “But you mean more to me. Every time.”
“As do you,” she whispered. “Your grandmother told me love can’t be measured. And she’s right. I have no way to explain how loving you is bigger than anything I’ve ever done or been a part of.”
He kissed her again. “Only this comes close for me,” he said, and with a firm, loving kiss—one that claimed her as his own—he entered her.
“Mm-m-m.” She wrapped her legs around him. “Me, too.”
They clung and let their bodies speak what they couldn’t say, riding to a sweet conclusion that was both wild and beautiful.
When it was over, Luke collapsed upon Janice’s neck and she sighed with happiness.
Together they were love.
Also by KIERAN KRAMER
THE HOUSE OF BRADY
Loving Lady Marcia
The Earl Is Mine
THE IMPOSSIBLE BACHELORS
When Harry Met Molly
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right
Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage
If You Give a Girl a Viscount
Praise for Loving Lady Marcia
“Kramer’s unique take on the TV series The Brady Bunch is a delight: funny, sweet, sexy, smart, and more charming than the show. With Kramer’s enchanting sense of humor, the blonde, lovely Brady girls and their irascible brothers, loving parents, and housekeeper Alice are off on a romp that rivals Shakespeare for a comedy of errors. Readers will be up all night before drifting off to dream of a love story like this.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Kramer scores with the inaugural House of Brady imbroglio.… Though [she] includes her characteristic lighthearted touches, she’s smart and confident enough to take her characters and their situations seriously, turning what could have been a one-line joke into a deep and appealing story.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The Impossible Bachelors feature[s] delightfully witty and vibrant prose to match the books’ unforgettable titles.… Kramer’s clever and engaging style is now employed in the service of finding the perfect mate for each of the six Brady siblings. Libraries should buy a bunch.”
—Library Journal
“An emotional story that will leave readers loving Lady Marcia.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“[An] entertaining homage to [the] television series.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Fans of the TV sitcom The Brady Bunch will be amazed at how cleverly and unexpectedly Kramer improvises on the show in her latest incandescently witty, completely captivating Regency historical.”
—Booklist
Praise for Kieran Kramer’s Impossible Bachelors series
When Harry Met Molly
“A delectable debut … I simply adored it!”
—Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
“Clever banter, stellar pacing, and appealing, exceptionally well-drawn characters make this fresh, sexy, and gloriously funny debut a knockout and a perfect start to Kramer’s Regency-set quartet.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“In her exceptionally entertaining literary debut, Kramer deftly sifts deliciously humorous writing, a cast of exceptionally entertaining characters, an outrageously inventive yet con-vincing plot, and a splendidly sexy love story into a delectable literary confection that will have Regency historical readers begging for seconds.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“You’ll smile and even laugh out loud reading Kramer’s delectable debut—even the title’s nod to the famous film elicits a grin. With her perfect sense of pacing, comic timing, poignancy, and marvelous characterization, this utterly enchanting new voice will have you eager for more.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4½ Stars, Hot Top Pick
“At once frothy and heartfelt, When Harry Met Molly satisfies. This book is better than dessert!”
—Celeste Bradley, New York Times bestselling author of When She Said I Do
“Kieran Kramer pens a delightful Regency confection … a wonderfully bright debut.”
—Julia London, New York Times bestselling author
“I couldn’t put it down … a charming delight!”
—Lynsay Sands, New York Times bestselling author
“A wickedly witty treat … an exquisite debut!”
—Kathryn Caskie, New York Times bestselling author
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right
“Utterly charming and delightful with a twisted spy plot mixed in with Russian royalty, unruly dogs, and gossipy cooks.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Kramer’s captivating Impossible Bachelors series returns with another memorable, well-crafted, deftly plotted story as enchanting and romantic as the first. There is great joy in her storytelling (and titles) that compels readers to smile and laugh with her characters. You’ll be up all night until the satisfying conclusion to this delicious romance.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4½ Stars, Top Pick
Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage
“Quirky, fresh, and filled with brilliant dialogue and whimsy, this sexy confection from the talented Kramer is pure sunshine.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“Wonderfully quirky characters, a devilishly clever plot, and writing that is both laugh-out-loud funny and sweetly romantic all add up to a completely captivating Regency historical from one of the romance genre’s most dazzling new authors.”
—Booklist (starred review)
If You Give a Girl a Viscount
“A smart, resourceful heroine, a clever, worthy hero, two stepsisters you want to shake, and a rotten-to-the-core stepmother combine in a delectable, most rewarding story that sees the last of the quartet of ‘Impossible Bachelors’ happily wed and a delightful series put to bed.”
—Library Journal
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Kieran Kramer is a former CIA employee, journalist, and English teacher who lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her family. Game show veteran, karaoke enthusiast, and general adventurer, her motto is, “Life rewards action.” Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.kierankramerbooks.com. Or stay connected to Kieran on-the-go with her FREE mobile app available for iPhone and Android devices!
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SAY YES TO THE DUKE
Copyright © 2013 by Kieran Kramer.
All rights reserved.
For information a
ddress St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 9781466805538
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / September 2013
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.