Page 18 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

Her eyebrows rose at the question. Despite saying that he wanted them to start with simple questions, that was not what she had expected him to ask her.

“It would be a mighty surprise if you didn’t know the answer to that, My Lady.” He chuckled.

“Apple slices. My favorite snacks are apple slices,” she said quickly, worried that he would touch her if she did not answer sooner.

She blushed and looked away, making him laugh.

“If you do not wish to answer and would rather go straight to being touched, I could work with that.”

His voice lowered, and he stared at her with eyes that told her exactly what he meant to do if she simply agreed. Images of the mystery lady flashed in her mind once again. Her loud moans as he pleasured her and the way that she clung to him like he was her lifeline.

Nora blushed. “N-no. I can answer your questions.”

He smiled again. “Very well then. I believe it’s your turn to ask a question.”

“What’s your favorite flower?” she asked him, feeling silly when he raised an eyebrow in amusement once again.

She hated that he made her feel silly. She looked at her cloak, which he’d hung up. Perhaps it would be for the best if she ended things here before they even began and found her way back home before anyone found out where she had gone.

“No one has ever asked me that before,” he said, smiling.

Her lips clamped shut before she could retort. This time, his smile was genuine. She did not think she would ever see that.

“I don’t think I have a favorite flower. However, I have always liked foxgloves. They are very unforgiving flowers. Touching one can be so terrible for you. It’s like a person with so many defenses to protect itself from danger.”

Nora stared at him with her mouth open wide. She hadn’t expected an answer so profound and with reasons.

“Your turn,” she said simply, unsure how to respond to that.

“Hmmm… I have a good one. What is your favorite pastime?”

Nora’s lips turned up in a smile. It was the one topic she wouldn’t get tired of speaking about if she had the opportunity to do so.

“Horse riding. I have a horse named Mindy. I have had her since I was a little girl, and she is simply the most perfect horse. Taking her for a ride is always my favorite activity.”

“I would love to meet Mindy one day. It would be great to see this horse that makes you so excited,” he said. His eyes showed his sincerity.

As the game progressed, Nora relaxed into her chair. He had been right when he said that asking questions and getting to know one another was the best way to begin. She felt better nowthat she had talked to him and found out certain things about him. It wasn’t just about the answers he gave but how he reacted to her answers also.

“All right. I have one more question,” he said, pouring each of them another glass of wine.

A buzzing sensation coursed through her, calming her as the drink settled in her belly.

“What’s your question?”

“Have you ever been touched by a man before?”

Nora blinked slowly as she struggled to understand what he was asking her. Her lips slowly dropped. He had betrayed her. Of course, he had. She should have known that he would pull a mean trick like that.

Picking up her glass, Nora sipped from it slowly, allowing the taste to linger on her tongue.

No, what am I thinking? There’s no way I am being too unreasonable.

She glared at him. He’d begun with simple questions she would have no problem answering. She should have known not to fall for the innocent act he had put on. She couldn’t believe she had talked herself into thinking that he truly cared for the innocent answers.

He does not care that my horse is named Mindy.

“I haven’t,” she said, not looking at him. “How many women have you touched?”

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