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.