Page 22 of Ravished By the Beastly Duke

He cleared his throat and turned away from her, which caused her to frown.

“I… I am sorry to intrude on your privacy,” she stammered. “I… I just wanted to inquire if you will be joining me in my chambers this evening, as is customary.”

His hands clenched into fists at his sides as his body stiffened.

“I just?—”

“I will not be joining you tonight,” he answered tonelessly.

“Why?” she asked, taking a step closer. “We are married. It is expected.”

She worried her lip, as his refusal only served to remind her of the insecurities she thought she had overcome. If she were more beautiful, then he would have come to her chambers without her asking.

“It is, but I intend never to touch you,” he murmured, sparing her a glance. “That is not why I married you.”

Eveline frowned and stepped closer to him till she was looking into his eyes.

“Then this is not a marriage,” she spat. “You should have let my father marry me off to someone else. I did not need you to save me from my fate.”

“Yet here we are,” he said, his eyes straying to her shoulder. “I cannot give you what you desire.”

“What am I to do, then?” she asked. “If you will not touch me, then I will need instructions on how to please you when you finally choose to come to my bed. I said I would not end up in a passionless marriage, and I intend to stand by it.”

“If you will not touch me, then I will need instructions on how to please you when you finally choose to come to my bed.”

Did she even know what she was asking?

And coming into his room so late, wearing such a flimsy excuse for a garment?

This woman was nothing like he had expected, and he frowned at his body’s reaction to her. He knew his answer would hurt her, but he wasn’t going to scare her with the entirety of his scars by attempting to consummate their marriage, and with the lust burning within him, he did not think he could be gentle with her.

He knew he was resigning himself to a life of trouble by marrying someone who would fight against every mold life attempted to fit her in, but he decided to do so anyway, hoping her moment of bravery would be a one-time incident. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Why couldn’t she just be a sedate woman who would wait for her husband rather than seek him out?

His brain was already formulating all the instructions he could give her, and the images of her doing such things sent a wave of lust so strong through him that he stumbled back.

It did not help that she was wearing such a flimsy nightgown. Her pale, creamy shoulder peeked out as a thin strap slid down her arm. If the other strap were to slide down too, it would take no effort to have her naked before him.

His body responded to the desire to see just how smooth the rest of her looked.

Damn.

He needed to rid himself of her presence soon, or he would indulge himself in what she was offering so willingly.

“Teach me, or I shall find someone else to do so,” she added stubbornly.

“You will do no such thing!” he protested.

“How do you intend to stop me, then?” she asked stubbornly.

Damned vixen.

He pulled her to him, slanting his mouth over hers as he had longed to do since he saw her walk down the aisle towards him. She had been beautiful then, innocent and not this temptress moaning softly into his mouth.

She felt so smooth in his hands, and the feel of her curves pressing against him drove him senseless with need, as his hands itched to rip the garment off her and bury himself in her sheath.

This woman would no doubt be the end of him if he continued kissing her.

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