Page 35 of A Duke for Hire

Suddenly she hated him for being so tender.

“You have to stop this, Your Grace. You have to stop showing up everywhere that I am, especially in my home!”

“Why do you keep running from me?” He demanded, his handsome face twisting into a frown.

“Why do you keep running toward me?” She shot back. “I already told you no. My mother has told you no. What more do you need to hear?”

“I come to you because it is not your fear of me that has you hesitant, it is the gossip of theton.The same gossip that forced you to perform a play in order to gain suitors,” Hugo replied with equal vehemence.

“You cannot marry me just because I am not afraid of you,” she argued. “Surely I am not the only one. There is another woman out there who would give you less trouble in your pursuit of her.”

“Not like you,” he countered, shaking his head. “No one is like you.”

Seraphina’s anger suddenly flared into hatred. For his kindness toward her. For the way her body responded to his presence. For the way it all tore at her mind and soul.

“Stop talking as if you know me,” she snapped, “You do not know me!”

“And your other prospectsdo?” Hugo shot back.

“Don’t be rude!” She shouted.

“Do they?” He snarled.

“They do not have to if they are suitable for marriage, which you are not. I need someone to save my reputation, not make it worse.” Even as she said it Seraphina felt a heavy wave of guilt crash down on her, but she had to get him to leave.

Hugo stepped forward, clearly untroubled by her words, and grabbed her round the waist. More self-hatred poured through her as she felt her body instantly react; the physical attraction between them becoming embarrassingly apparent.

“Let me go, and leave immediately,” she warned, fresh tears pricking at her eyes as she stared at up at him.

Hugo stared back, his gaze cutting into her like shards of glass.

“I will not leave you like this,” he stated.

“Why? Why do you care?”

Then, as if neither her mind nor body could stand to wait for an answer, she pushed away and slapped him hard across the face.

Though sharp, Seraphina’s slap was like the flutter of butterfly wings across his cheek compared to the blows Hugo’s father delivered. Instead of letting her go, his hands tightened around her waist, and he pulled her in until her chest was pressed against his.

“You think a slap to my face is going to chase me away?” He demanded of her. “I have had far worse and not even blinked an eye.”

Seraphina’s rage seemed to dim just a little at his words, and she blinked in startled realization.

“What?” She whispered.

“It does not matter,” he replied quickly, refusing to delve into it. “What matters is that you want me and I want you.”

“But why?” She demanded, seemingly finding her rage again. “And do not dare say that you find me fascinating again.”

Hugo stilled, refusing to say what he felt. That he was drawn to the way she survived her surroundings. That hewasfascinated by how she’d turned out so different from the other women of theton,even if she was good at pretending that she was not. That the carnal beast inside him felt that it had somehow met its match in this seemingly innocent lady.

No. He wouldnottalk about his feelings. To her, or anyone.

“I am not saying it make sense,” he bit out, pinning her with an intense stare “But thereissomething between us, even if it drives us both insane.”

Seraphina stared back at him with equal grit, but she said nothing.

“You want to know what else?” He asked, and Seraphina nodded.

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