Page 39 of The Duke and the Unwanted Bride

“No…” She tittered and fixed him with a sensual look, licked her lips, and purred. “Not that.”

He stood with his shirt open, the flickering firelight accentuating the hard planes of his chest. His hands were on his pants now, and she looked at them as if doing so might make his pants fall away. A suggestive look at his crotch, so he could see what was on her mind.

“I… I told you…” He took a step closer to her. “I will not touch you.”

“Then leave,” she dared. “I cannot stop you.”

“This is my room.”

“Then stay. I do not mind.”

A step closer. Her breathing became labored. Her lips parted. It was happening. She knew in her soul that it was.

He stood less than five feet away from her. His eyes roved over her, traveling from her legs to her waist to her breasts to her lips. She could sense his inner turmoil… and the decision he was coming to.

“I made a promise to never touch you.”

“Promises are made to be broken.”

“But…” He licked his lips.

“Yes?”

“I—” A deep breath, his body shaking. “I never said anything about you touching yourself.”

Hannah frowned and leaned back, caught off guard by a comment she did not wholly understand. “I do not… I am not sure what you?—”

“Tell me, wife,” he growled as he took a step closer, “do I arouse you?”

She swallowed, her cheeks suddenly flushing, the reality of the moment hitting her. “Y-yes. Yes, you do.”

“How much?”

“I…” Her mind scrambled for an answer. “More than I knew was possible.”

“Show me, then.” He stopped two feet away, his arms crossed. He looked down at her and cocked an eyebrow. “Well?”

Now it was her turn to feel confused.

“I do not… What do you mean? I am here. Is this not me… I am showing you now.”

He chuckled deeply, the hesitation gone, confidence radiating from him now as he was no longer fighting himself. It was a side of him that she had not seen before—a more powerful, determined, masculine side. He knew what he wanted, and he was going to get it.

“Spread your legs further for me.”

Her eyes went wide. “Like… like this?” She did as he asked.

The fabric of her skirts fell between her thighs, covering everything, but that didn’t seem to matter.

“Pull your skirt back,” he commanded. “Above your thighs.”

Her hand shook as she reached for her skirt.

“Look at me as you do it,” he growled.

She swallowed again and forced herself to look at him. She gasped. The look in his eyes was animalistic. Savage!

“Is this…?” She pulled the dress up slowly, her thighs quivering as they became exposed.

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