Page 70 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

Christian tensed. “Marcus may have returned to us, but we still do not know the circumstances of his disappearance.”

“Which he can tell you about. You no longer need me or my father for that purpose. It would be best if we spend as little timeas possible with one another from now on, just as you originally intended.”

“You forget,my sweet,that you and I have an agreement. And I am eager to honor it.”

“We are only four days into that agreement,” Louise protested.

“Indeed,” Christian muttered, the certainty of his next decision settling deep within him as he looked down at her beautiful face. “And I am pushing it forward. I am tired of these games, Duchess. I expect you in my chambers tonight, and I will be most displeased if I am kept waiting.”

CHAPTER 28

Louise fiddled with the edge of her nightgown, her nerves bubbling to the surface as she stared at her bedroom door.

A part of her was incensed that Christian had pushed forward their agreement, but a darker, more secret part was excited by the prospect of him finally claiming her.

Looking down at her bare toes, she shivered from the low temperature of the floorboards and approached the door as though it were a dragon she must slay, wrenching it open in one movement.

The corridor outside her room was dark and empty, but there was the gentle patter of a servant’s footsteps in the distance and the clinking of cutlery from the kitchens as the remnants of their supper were cleared away.

Louise had barely been able to eat anything that evening. Christian’s dark gaze had not left her as she sat beside his mother and Marcus, making small talk.

Marcus had not stopped glancing between her and his brother throughout the meal, and her cheeks were crimson red by the time she had excused herself and hurried to her room.

She reached Christian’s door and lingered outside, her hand twitching as she contemplated what she was about to do.

She froze as she heard the sound of soft footfalls on the other side of the door. Louise scowled, sensing Christian’s presence as the handle turned and the door swung open.

Christian leaned one arm against the doorjamb, looking down at her, his green eyes twinkling.

“How nice of you to join me,” he said softly, his pose so casually seductive that Louise had to draw in a long, deep breath to calm herself.

He had dispensed with his jacket, and the line of his torso was visible beneath his waistcoat and shirt. His shirt was undone at the neck, exposing a golden triangle of flesh.

Louise adored the color of his skin, although she would never admit that to him. She was ashamed to say that she had enjoyed the contrast between her pale skin and his tanned one thelast time they had been in bed together. She felt a frisson of anticipation run through her at the thought of seeing it again.

“Won’t you come in, Duchess?” he asked.

Louise slowly walked inside. As she passed him, the scent of oranges and pine trees wafted to her, and she held herself back from closing her eyes and breathing it in.

It is he who has gone back on our deal. I shall not succumb so easily.

But as she turned around, her resolve wavered.

Christian looked unfairly handsome, his dark hair swept back from his face, his full lips curled into a small smile. His expression reminded her of when they had first met. Even without a mask on, he looked like a wolf about to devour her.

“Wine?” he prompted, walking to the fireplace, where she spotted a bottle with two glasses on either side of it.

“Are you in need of courage, Your Grace?” she taunted, stalling.

“I thought perhaps you might prefer a nightcap of some sort.”

Louise could not deny that she was a bundle of nerves now. Standing before the foot of his bed and watching him move about the room in so relaxed a manner was putting her on edge.

“A glass of wine would be much appreciated, thank you,” she replied and watched his large hand clutch the bottle as he poured two glasses and handed one to her.

“I wondered if you would stay up to speak with my brother after supper,” he admitted as she grabbed the wine glass and took a healthy sip. “Whatever he was speaking to you about in the park today was clearly very amusing.”

“Would you believe me if I said we were discussing you, Your Grace?”

---