Page 35 of Keeper of Secrets

“Miss Fairchild.”Ryker’s voice shivered over her skin.

“Your Grace,” she answered, dipping into a curtsy as she turned toward him.She did not meet his gaze, however, choosing to look at a point just over his shoulder.Meeting his eye now would surely shrivel all her determination.

He was bound to be furious, and she could not let either fear or attraction pull her from the path she’d laid out tonight.

The men around her turned toward Ryker as well, each bowing.But Ryker ignored them all, stalking toward her, only stopping when he’d breached the circle of admirers and stood just in front of her.

“Gentlemen, have you met my guardian, the Duke of Helmsworth?”

A murmur of assent went about the ring of men, but Ryker continued to stare at her until she had no choice but to meet his gaze.

His hand snaked out, grabbing her elbow.“We need a word, my charge.”

She did her best to bat her eyelashes.“About what, my duke?”

But he was already pulling her away from the men and toward the edge of the ballroom.

Before she knew it, they were in a quiet hallway, where a set of stairs led up to the next level.Without pause, he turned and lifted her into his arms, carrying her up the stairs.“Put me down,” she gasped.

Ryker ignored her completely, testing doors until one opened.

It was only when they were in a room alone, a small sitting room, that he set her down.But he didn’t let her go.Instead, he crushed her to his chest.“What are you doing here?”

She looked to the side, presenting her profile.“Attending the ball.”

“Collecting admirers,” he growled out.

She drew in a fortifying breath, remembering Mildred’s advice.“Maybe.Someone will have to keep me company when you leave me all alone.”

He began moving forward and she backed up until her rear was against the wall.

The hard length of him pressed to her front.She ought to be frightened.Or irritated at least.But raw desire coursed through her as his thigh wedged between her legs.“No one touches you but me.”

“But you said you won’t touch me.”

His jaw hardened, his mouth achingly close to hers.

“Will you also be abstaining?”She already knew the answer to that question.

“I am a duke.”

She forced herself not to rub against him like a cat in heat.Angry and determined as she was, she still couldn’t quite control her reaction to him.But he didn’t deserve to know the effect he was having on her, despite the fact that he was a complete ass.“And if we should wed, I will be a duchess.”

“If?You mean when.”

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.How far did she go?“You locked me in a room.You want to continue to lock me away.I don’t know that I want to be your wife.”

His lips curled.“You think another man would be better?”

She looked at him then, her chin lifting, her fingers biting into his arms.“I have needs too.Who is going to meet them?”

“Is that what this is about?Your needs?”One of his hands came to her hip, pulling her more firmly against his leg.The shock of pleasure that coursed through her cut off her breath as her eyes widened, meeting his.

He closed the distance between their mouths, taking hers in a scalding kiss.Heat and want flooded her body.She couldn’t stop herself from rolling her hips, more sparks of pleasure heating her entire body.

Her hand came up behind his neck as she pulled him closer, deepening the kiss, wanting all that he had to offer.She wanted to show him that she could give him all types of love if he’d let her.

He held her hips, their bodies grinding together as her pleasure spiraled higher.

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