Page 22 of Duke of Chaos

Ezra suddenly beamed a genuine smile and let out a chuckle as he shook his head.

“You are going to make me a lot of money, you are you not?” he asked, looking at her with approval as he drew his hands into his pockets and feigned a relaxed stance.

Lydia seemed taken aback by this, but her briefly widened eyes quickly narrowed with confidence as she crossed her arms and replied, “If you can behave.”

Ezra chuckled again, more mischievously this time, and let out an audible sigh.

“I wonder, my dear Duchess, if it is I that will try to resist you, or it will be you trying to resist me?”

Lydia’s haughty expression flattened into one of annoyance, and she stomped to the door to open it for him.

“Trust me, Your Grace,” she huffed, “I will have no issue resisting you.Ever.”

“We shall see,” Ezra purred, feeling more playful than he had in a long time, and strolled casually through the doorway “Sweet dreams, Lydia. Try your best to not make them about me.”

“Arrogant…pompous…rake…” Lydia could get out words, but proper sentences were beyond her reach as she viciously yanked the pins from her hair.

Her body still felt warm and tingly from Ezra’s possessive touch, and she was as annoyed by her reaction as she was by Ezra’s arrogant behavior. Suddenly though, she paused in her fury and smiled ruthlessly into the mirror. She had bitten him back, and it had filled her with a delight unlike any other she had ever felt.

It still shocked her that she did not mind the taste of his blood, but it had been his reaction to her retaliatory blood kiss that had thrilled her. His shock and her fury; the pure satisfaction that had flashed between them for just a second was priceless. Ezra, like any predator, had always attacked so quickly and viciously with his teeth, that no one had ever dared to bite back, but shehad.

Lydia’s anger started to dissipate as she began to brush her hair, her touch gentler now as her thoughts progressed to the memory of their kiss. She had lost herself in Ezra’s touch before she had sought her retribution. She had forgotten every warning, everythought of self-preservation, and had given in to the pleasure of his embrace.

She had known he was strong and well-built. All of the orphaned dukes were, thanks to their shared passion for boxing, but she had not been prepared for how small she had felt in his arms; how light she would be for him to simply pick up and do with as he pleased. And, for the briefest of moments, she had wanted to.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts, and before she could answer Alice appeared in her bedroom with a big grin. Lydia gasped, unable to believe her eyes, and jumped from her stool to embrace her younger sister.

“What are you doing here?” Lydia asked as she laughed along with Alice. “Did you follow us?”

Alice grimaced as they pulled back from one another, still holding each other’s hands.

“Would it be dreadful if I did?” she asked.

“But Duncan and Beau?” Lydia asked, glancing toward the open and empty doorway. “Surely you did not come alone?”

Alice smirked and led Lydia to the settee.

“As if Duncan would ever allow such a thing!” she laughed, rolling her eyes. “No, my overprotective husband would never let me leave Beau’s side again even if I begged for it. He isdownstairs, no doubt boxing with Ezra by now, and Beau is with his nanny in the room adjacent to ours. The poor love is simply done in and fell asleep a few hours ago. You shall see him in the morning, I promise.”

“Boxing?” Lydia asked, feeling suddenly alert. “Why are they boxing? Is it because of what happened at the wedding?”

Alice sighed, then motioned for her to stand.

“Come, I shall help you dress for bed while I tell you. The dukes’ history is…well, complicated.”

“I thought they were like brothers?” Lydia asked as Alice helped her out of her wedding dress.

Although she had told Ezra he would never be allowed to do so, Lydia felt a small wave of disappointment that he was not the one undressing her.

“Like all siblings, they fight,” Alice replied, carefully pulling away the dress so as not to tear the delicate fabric.

Not at all like Ezra would have,Lydia suddenly thought as she watched her sister handle the gown with care.It would surely be in shreds by now.

“The others are angry at him for not discussing his plans with them beforehand. From what I have gathered from eavesdropping on Duncan and Ambrose, Ezra is also the one leftin the direst position because of his father’s financial neglect. Oh, and his mother is apparentlyso wicked…”

“Alice, darling,” Lydia sighed, taking her sister’s hands. “Stop, please.”

Alice’s eyes widened before drawing her brows down in concern, “But, Lydia, you need to know…”

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