The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1)

by Julia Quinn

When his lips finally covered hers, he was not gentle. He was not cruel, but the pulse of his blood was too ragged, too urgent, and his kiss was that of a starving lover, not that of a gentle suitor.

“I-I’ve always known that I wasn’t the sort of woman men dream of, but I never thought anyone would prefer death to marriage with me.”

And in that moment, as he slowly closed the distance between them, he became her entire world.

“none of us is perfect.”

To say that men can be bullheaded would be insulting to the bull. Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, 2 June 1813

“And if you say that’s because you lot barged into her home like a herd of mentally deficient sheep, I’m disowning all three of you.”

“I love you so much it scares me. If I could give you the world, you know I would do it, don’t you?”

whispered. “I don’t need the world, just your love. And maybe,”