Page 34 of The Duke's Sinful Bride

His chest, bare in the cool air, was well-defined, his skin tanned from hours spent outdoors. His back was wide and rippling with muscle. His shoulders were broad, and every movement seemed to highlight the grace of his form, even as he walked toward the dogs.

Yvette’s breath hitched, her mouth going dry as she caught sight of the taut muscles shifting beneath his skin with each movement.

The sight of him, so raw and so powerful, did something to her—something that made her feel both alive and conflicted in equal measure.

The ache in her chest tightened, and she quickly looked away, though the image of him stayed burned into her mind.

She couldn’t quite explain it. How seeing him like this, without the usual restraint of his clothes, made her feel both drawn to him and yet repelled, as if some part of her knew it was a vulnerability she shouldn’t want to touch.

She wanted to feel his arms around her, to be held by him, but at the same time, she recoiled from the sudden heat of that desire. She fought to ignore it, focusing instead on the dogs, barking furiously behind the small house.

Her gaze, however, kept drifting back to Killian. He moved fluidly, tending to the dogs, his hands working deftly as he soothed them into submission.

“Sit, Doris. Come on, girl,” he said to one of the dogs wagging her tail with her tongue hanging out.

Doris didn’t respond immediately, but when she did, it brought a smile to Killian’s face.

“That’s my girl.”

The muscles in his back shifted under his skin with every motion. She couldn’t help but watch, her heart fluttering erratically.

She stayed frozen, her thoughts swirling as she continued to watch him, the raw energy of his body creating a heat that had nothing to do with the temperature of the day.

Her heart seemed to pound louder in her chest with each movement he made.

It wasn’t until she heard the rustle of his movements stop that she realized she had been staring too long.

Killian had raised his head, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. He paused for a moment, his lips quirking into a slight smile, though there was a hint of challenge in his gaze.

“Can I help ye with something?” His voice was thick with amusement, yet there was an edge to it—a knowing, almost teasing tone that sent a shiver down her spine.

Yvette’s breath caught. She hadn’t realized how close she had come to him, how intently she had watched him.

His question felt like a challenge, like he knew what she had been thinking, even if she hadn’t voiced it.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she simply stood there, heart racing, caught in the tension of the moment.

CHAPTER 11

“Yes. I have something very important we must discuss, and I need your attention in the drawing room,” Yvette finally spoke after taking a deep breath, her voice a little firmer than she felt.

Killian, however, didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he narrowed his eyes at her, studying her with an inscrutable gaze. Was he not trusting her words?

His silence stretched, and Yvette could feel the tension building between them.

“We can discuss that here,” he suggested, his voice cool, but with a certain edge that made her feel as though he were playing some sort of game.

She shook her head immediately, not giving in.

“No, that will not work,” she replied, her voice more forceful now.

She didn’t want to have this conversation at this moment, in the middle of the small house where he was tending to the dogs. But mostly, she wouldn’t be able to concentrate with him half-naked and exuding an energy that was far too distracting.

“Not when you’re not decent.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them, muttered under her breath, but Killian heard them nonetheless.

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