Page 15 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

Before she could become desperate for air, before she could comprehend that she had started to subtly move her hips against his thigh, Percy released her completely. One minute, she was being consumed by him—the next she was gazing at him from a few steps away, watching as he drew in a ragged breath. His eyes glinted with venom and confusion as Madeleine stared back at him, wide eyed and in shock.

“Th-th- that was n-not a kiss!”

Madeleine had no idea who’s voice she’d just heard, but she could have sworn it was not hers. It was too thick, too raspy and clumsy to be hers. Yet Percy smiled at her devilishly as he nodded his head.

“Oh, yes, it most certainly was,” he replied, reaching up to adjust his mussed jacket.

Is he trembling?Madeleine asked herself, catching the subtle motion as Percy appeared otherwise unfazed by their…

“No,”she insisted, determined to be right. “I have received many kisses from my mother and father, andnoneof them were like that!”

“Thank heaven,” Percy teased, still grinning. “We would have bigger problems if that were the case.”

Madeleine flushed, feeling her entire face—hell, her entire body turn red as she continued to reach for the control she once held over herself.

Say the words,the stubborn voice inside of her demanded.Say the words and secure this deal!

“Nothing,” she breathed out, looking back up at Percy’s handsome face.

The arrogant look he wore shifted subtly, so much so that Madeleine almost did not notice it at first. But the brightness in his eyes dampened, the corners of his mouth flattened, and his at ease stature grew rigid. Seeing this gave her the tiniest bout of strength, and she let out a deliberate sigh as she shrugged her shoulders and turned both hands up. To her surprise, she was even able to pull on a rather pitying smile as she said, “I felt nothing.”

“Nothing?”he said the word as if disgusted with it.

Realizing she couldn’t pass the lie through her lips another time, Madeleine only cocked brow as she twitched her lips and gave another small, impartial shrug.

The glower in Percy’s eyes brightened as he studied her silently for a moment, and in that time, she wished that she could reach the sarcastic part of her that yearned to ask him whathefelt. But while her appearance was collected, her body was not. In fact, she was not sure how long she could hide her trembling flesh from him as they continued to stare at one another.

“Very well,” Percy said at last, his tone begrudging.

Unable to help herself, Madeleine let out the deep breath she had been holding, and a small sigh escaped her lips. This earned her a shift in Percy’s expression, his frown turning into a small smirk.

“I will help you,” he continued, raking his eyes down her figure once more, “and in so doing, it will rid us both of undesired romantic entanglements. I will speak with your father upon the morrow to ask for his consent to court you.”

Hearing this, Madeleine smiled brightly as relief washed through her.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Madeleine replied sincerely, even going so far as to offer him a formal curtsey. “With you by my side, I will be safe from all men.”

A look of dark pleasure filled Percy’s eyes as she lowered herself to him.

“Safe from them,” he murmured, turning from her as if he had to force himself to do so, “but not me.”

Like it had when he’d pulled her into arms, a lick of dangerous pleasure swept over Madeleine as she heard his threat, but before she could fathom a response, Percy was gone.

“Nothing,” Percy growled to himself, uncorking the bottle of whiskey before the fireplace in his bedroom.

It came undone with apop, and instead of pouring a glass, he brought the bottle to his lips and took a long pull. He savored the way the liquor burned a trail from his mouth to his stomach. He forced himself to swallow and took another long swig, trying in vain to wash the taste of Madeleine’s sweet kiss from his lips.

He’d laughed at her first feeble attempt at a kiss, mocked her for it, but the little minx had somehow turned the tables on him, and now,hewas the one reeling. Everything—everythingabout her had brought forth a heady pleasure that tunneled through his veins and pooled in his groin, turning every part of him into a sensitive young buck.

Putting the bottle down, he shook his sweating hands, trying to dispel the way her soft curves had melted into them. He rubbed his palms against his trousers when shaking them out didn’t work, and he was instantly reminded of how, even through his trousers and her nightgown, he had felt soft, dewy flesh between her slightly parted legs.

Had she felt him in return? Had she felt how hard his cock had grown? How it had strained against his trousers and curved upward toward his navel?

Arousal had been a part of his life since he was a young man. He’d learned to think his way through the haze of desire when he needed to and how to give in to it when the time was right. Frustration was never a factor, no matter how intense his urges got, but now…

He had to get ahold of himself. This was wrong. On so many levels. Madeleine was his best friend’s sister. Not a conquest, nor another one of the simpering ladies trying to win his affections. She was an associate in need of help and willing to give help in return. That was all. He had to regain control of this little game they were playing. And he had to do it quick.

But… how was he to do that when they were to be convincing thetonthat they were a love match?

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