Excerpt of The Heart of a Duke by Victoria Morgan

"Don't you want to kiss me?" Before she lost her nerve, she moistened her lips as Emily had once showed her to do to make them more alluring.

He expelled a choked laugh. "Of course, I want to kiss you. A man would have to be lacking a pulse to reject such an offer. But Jules—"

She paused at the old childhood nickname. He hadn't used it in years. But his hands had drawn her back to him. "You do have a pulse, don't you?" she whispered. She was standing so close that she could see his long eyelashes, the black rim circling the lovely green of his irises, and how his eyes warmed at her question.

"For the moment," he returned dryly. "And I would prefer to retain it. Should we proceed further with this, that could be dangerous for both of us."

He had a point and the old Julia would have heeded it, considering the warmth of his gaze sent her pulse skipping into a treacherous rhythm. However, his look and the grip of his hands on her waist made the new Julia feel young, beautiful and desired, something Edmund had not made her feel in years. "Really, Edmund, it is one kiss. How dangerous could it be?" She raised a brow, knowing Edmund never could refuse a challenge.

He sucked in a sharp breath and stared at her. After a beat, he exhaled and swore softly. "Hell, I have been living dangerously my whole life." His eyes dipped to her parted lips. "Why stop now?" He yanked her to him, his arms vising around her waist and crushing her tight.