Page 15 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

She took another sip and groaned as the warm liquid slid down her throat.

Little, bloody hellion.

Her groan went straight to his cock. His breath stuttered as he clenched his fists. His heart skipped a beat when she pointed to him.

Oh God, can she read my thoughts?

He desperately wanted to look down to make sure he wasn’t embarrassing himself when she then pointed to the chair behind his desk and motioned for him to sit.

Inwardly, he was thanking the heavens that she wanted him to sit—it would be a lot easier to hide any further physical reaction to her sounds. Outwardly, he raised an eyebrow at her.

Bossy, little thing.

Jenny positioned her body away from the fire, sitting sideways in the chair. “I’m going to get straight to the point, Your Grace. I want to know whatexactlyyou are offering to teach me and whatyouget in return.”

David shook his head in approval. He always appreciated those who didn’t pussyfoot around. He took a moment to consider the enigma of the woman sitting in front of him.

She was just a slip of a girl. Her dark reddish hair had fallen loose and hung in wet tendrils around her face. Yet, she could stand toe to toe with the likes of him.

He licked his lips. “I thought we went over this. You want to secure a match, I can give you tips and teach you tricks to catch the perfect suitor.”

She furrowed her brow as she looked at him. “And what do you get?”

David sat back in his chair. He watched as her narrowed eyes followed the movement of his thumb rubbing his bottom lip.

“Your time.”

“You want my tim?—”

“Alone.”

Jenny bolted from the chair. “You want to be alone with me?”

David couldn’t help but laugh at the hypocrisy. “Why is that so shocking?” He looked around his study. “You’re alone with me right now. In fact, if my memory serves me right, you were perfectly fine being alone with me during our very first meeting.”

Jenny bristled. “Oh, Iknewyou would bring that up.”

She hoisted up her water-logged skirts and stomped over to his desk, slamming her hands down on the blotter.

“Listen, and listen well. I don’t know how you know my name, or what you know of me, but I assure you that my common background does not mean you get to take advantage of me. If you think for one moment that I would agree to such a torrid affair, you are gravely mistaken. I am no wanton lady or a lady of the night—or whatever you call them.”

Her breath came out in hot puffs of air as her chest rose and fell with each inhale and exhale. She was emotional. She was seething.

She wasbreathtaking.

David placed his hands on his desk, just on either side of hers. He slowly rose to his full height and leaned across the desk, towering over her.

“You have a very dirty mind, Miss Bennett,” he drawled.

Jenny gasped at his insinuation. Her hand came up to slap him, but he caught her wrist right before it made contact.

“Now, now, kitten. There’s no need for violence,” he tsked.

She sucked in a breath as her eyes trailed up his lips to meet his eyes. Her wrist felt so delicate in his hand. A shiver that he hoped was hidden under his clothing ran down his spine.

His eyes darkened as he leaned further across his desk.“Youlisten, and listen well. Inevertake what is not offered freely, and I certainly wouldn’t need to stoop so low as to bargain for it. If I want a woman, I go and find a willing partner. It’s never been an issue for me, and I don’t see that changing in the future.”

Jenny flinched at his words. If the closeness of her body wasn’t causing his brain cells to misfire, he would have taken a moment to study her movement. Alas, he made a grave miscalculation by leaning so close to her.

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