Page 63 of A Duke for Hire

“What about me, wife?” He asked.

Seraphina leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his ear that made every muscle within him harden. He closed his eyes to the sensation, letting her lips wander.

“When do I get to learn about you? Get to know you?”

“I…” he began, letting his hand wander over the outline of her breast, “Am what some would call a complicated man.”

Seraphina giggled, leaning into his touch.

“Well that is a given.”

“Funny,” he chuckled.

Connections, like static, started to form between them as he felt his body relax into a slow-burning arousal. Hugo slipped his hand up to her throat, caressing his thumb over her pulse. Gently, he pulled her toward him.

“I am a demanding master,” he murmured, grazing his lips beneath her chin.

Seraphina let out a soft sigh and leaned into him closer.

“Mhmm,” she murmured.

“I can at times be impatient,” he went on, then let the tip of his tongue glide from her jaw to her chin.

Seraphina whimpered, her entire body melting into him now. He wasn’t even sure if she was listening anymore, but it didn’t matter. Hugo liked this little game they’d begun.

“And sometimes,” he whispered, bringing her lips down to his, “I forget that there are other things besides work that deserve my attention.”

He kissed her slowly, deeply; the seduction between them rising in its own natural wave. He wasn’t sure if it had lasted seconds or minutes, but when they released from another, his head spun in a most fascinating fashion.

“Well,” Seraphina whispered, placing soft kisses along his cheek, his temple, “Perhaps I could you remind you when otherthingsneed your attention.”

Hugo was about to chuckle and agree.

Then her lips grazed the scar slashed from his ear to the middle of his cheek. The soft touch slammed through him like a lightning bolt, causing panic to erupt in him. Hugo pushed her off of him, all his arousal lost in defensive rage, and he knocked his chair over as he scrambled backward.

“Don’t do that,” he snarled, feeling like a caged animal.

Seraphina should have stepped back, but instead she took one forward, her eyes searching for understanding.

And he could not stand it.

“Hugo, I-” Seraphina began to say, but he cut her off.

“Enough of this game,” he growled, taking a further step back. If there is something I want you to know then I will tell it to you. If there is something I want from you I will ask it from you. But until I do, keep your distance. Do you understand?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

They’d begun with warmth, arousal, even laughter. What had she done that had turned it all around so quickly?

Seraphina’s brows dipped down as she took a brave step forward and grit her teeth.

“Yes,” she bit out. “But I am your wife now, Hugo.”

“And it is that fact alone that saves you from being thrown out of this house this instant,” he snarled back.

Disappointment poured through Seraphina as she felt the same trapped sensation she’d felt at her mother’s house envelop her all over again.

“I see I have made a mistake, Your Grace.” she stated Her voice shook, but she held back tears of disappointment and hurt. “Ithought my life would be different here. Clearly I was wrong. Do not worry; I will not make that error again.”

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