Page 14 of The Duke and the Unwanted Bride

She blinked. “Ah… excuse me?”

“On the contrary…” The Duke rose slowly from his chair. “I knew from the moment I saw you the exact type of lady you are. And you, Lady Hannah…” He chuckled deeply. “Are the exact type of lady I have been looking for.”

“I-I am?” She took a step back as he rounded his desk.

“Oh yes,” he growled. “Very, very much so. While I am somewhat surprised by this late-night visit, that is not to say I am not pleased by it either. It is as if you have read my mind…” Another growl rumbled deep in his chest.

He was bigger than she had remembered. As he strode toward her, his breadth was such that the room seemed to shrink around him. There was a purpose behind each step, a power to his gait that made Hannah feel hopeless and weak and completely at his mercy.

This was not the plan at all! She had completely misread the man, thinking him to be a typical gentleman of the ton, apropergentleman, not one who would welcome an unmarried woman in his bedroom late at night. One who would be ashamed at the thought!

Her heart skipped a beat, and her legs began to shake as she felt the blood drain from her face. The Duke was wearing a shirt, but it was unbuttoned, his chest and abdominal muscles glistening with a light sweat. His pants, too, were undone, and he was barefoot. He was practically naked, or in the process of getting so, and while Hannah felt a spike of fear for the position she put herself in… dammit, she could not help but stare.

He came to her, she took a step back, but he was on her before she could do much of anything.

“I… I must warn you, if my father finds out?—”

“He will not,” the Duke interrupted her, looming over her now. “I promise I will not tell.”

“I may be loud,” she warned, not even certain what that meant. “Too loud.”

“There are things we can do about that.” His voice was low and deep, and she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks as he leaned in closer.

“But Selina,” she tried again. “Surely, you would prefer a wife who is not as scandalous as I. If people were to find out about this…” She swallowed. “I know how much your name means to you.”

“Forget about your cousin. “ He chuckled, and his eyes flashed. “It was you who came to me, remember? Let us not play this game. You want me. I want you. Why pretend any longer?”

“I—”

“Am shaking…” He trailed a finger down her cheek, his touch making her tremble even harder. “Let us see if we can make you shudder.”

He stood less than a foot from her. Tall and commanding, she was forced to look up to meet his eyes—forcing herself not to gawk at his muscular chest. His deep green eyes drank her in, his toothy smile was enchanting, and for a moment, Hannah beganto wonder if maybe married life would not be such a bad thing, after all?

No! That was not why she was here. Selina was who she concentrated on, and for that reason, Hannah knew that a final push was needed. One more chance to remind the Duke that she was a no-good sort who he would do best to stay away from.

“Per—perfect,” she purred, and then she reached up and took his hand, holding it to her face as she looked into his eyes. As nervous as she felt, there was something else there that she could not ignore. A fire brewing inside of her… a desire that she had not known was possible until now. “What shall we do?”

He chuckled deeply. “You are the one that came to me. Surely, you have an idea?”

“I—”

“Or do you need some help?” His eyes twinkled, and she gasped, her breath catching as suddenly this plan she had concocted took on a new meaning.

She had not wanted to marry this man. She had felt guilty for it. Awful about the way things had happened. But now, with how he looked at her, Hannah began to consider the other side of the coin—that being the benefits of being trapped in a marriage with such a… such a… such amanas him.

He growled as he wrapped his large hand around her waist. She gasped, feeling her pulse quicken as her heart leapt in her throat. That same sensation grew inside of her, one that began between her thighs and built in her stomach until her body ran so hot that she thought she might catch fire.

And as he leaned in, Hannah found herself slowly closing her eyes, her lips parted, waiting for a kiss that she had not known she wanted until it was right upon her…

She felt his lips graze her own, his warm breath touch her skin, another growl leave his lips, and she could barely take it.

Kiss me! Do it!

She wanted to grab his head and pull his face toward her own, but then he moved his lips toward her ear. She gasped, for she thought he was about to nibble on it, and she nearly melted when she felt his breath on her earlobe.

“You must think I am an idiot,” he breathed softly.

Her eyes shot open. “Excuse me?”

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