Page 85 of A Duke for Hire

Seraphina had no defense. It was true. Her only goal in marriage had been to rise above her station.

“That was what I was told to want,” she said quietly, “And for a while, I believed it myself. I know otherwise now, though, and what I want is what I have. To be your wife.”

“You being my wife has done you no favors,” Hugo rasped, still looking like a predator ready to pounce.

“That is not true,” she insisted quickly. “It has shown me what protection feels like. What peace feels like.”

She paused, mustering up the courage to speak the next part.

“Whatdesirefeels like,” she added quietly.

Hugo’s body relaxed further, and the anger in his gaze slowly shifted to intense contemplation.

“You do not desire him?” He asked, his tone still wary.

“No,” she said in a rush.

Unable to take the distance between them any longer, she stepped forward and laced her arms around his neck. Hugo body tensed for a moment, but then his hands came to her waist.

“What I desire is you,” she whispered, looking at him with begging eyes. “Just you. I don’t care about him. About the rumors. All I think about- all I want- is you, Hugo.”

His grip on her waist tightened until she was pressed tight up against his chest.

“Is this true?” He demanded.

“You were honest with me about being jealous,” she murmured, “I am simply in turn being honest with you. I do not care what my life would have been like. All I care about is the life I have now. Even if you still haven’t let me in. Even if you don’t want consummate this marriage with me. I still want you.”

A tortured sound slipped from Hugo’s throat, and he ground his jaw.

“Is that what you think?” He rasped, pressing his forehead against hers. “That I do not want you ineveryway? I am trying to leave some part of you uncorrupted by me. Saved from me.”

“I do not want to be saved,” Seraphina whispered back, drawing her hand to stroke the scar above his temple. “I want to be yours.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Seraphina.” Hugo’s voice came out ragged, tortured.

Need pumped through his bloodstream like a lava, consuming him and burning him from the inside out. He’d been careful. Careful not go too far. Careful not to lose control of the monster lived and breathed inside him. He’d kept it shackled, locked up tight deep inside.

But this sweet, innocent, kind woman had strolled into his life, into his very being, and brushed her fingertips over that cage, disintegrating its heavy bars the most gentle touch.

“I want you,” Seraphina breathed, her lips hovering against his. “I want you so much it makes me ache.”

Control slid from Hugo’s tight grasp like water, and he lunged. Hungrily his lips met hers, pressing against her with such forced that he felt their teeth gnash together as his hands tunneled through her loose curls. She whimpered at the assault, but as hetried to pull away she pressed her hands to his cheeks and clung to him.

Sharp, quick teeth nipped at his lips in revenge, but she did not push him away. Did not run in fear. Instead she worked her lips against his, bewitching him until his lips parted further and gave her access to his tongue.

The moment he felt her tongue slide possessively over his own, Hugo moaned and moved forward, pushing her until she was braced against the wall. He cradled his hand to her head at the very last second, saving her from a harsh thud against the well as her trembling hands began to tug his shirt free from his trousers.

Pleasure raced through him as her nails sank into the naked flesh of his chest and abdomen, leaving hot, red traces behind. He loved that burn, reveled in it, and wanted more.

“Again,” he commanded into her lips, still unable to break away from their kiss. “Scratch me again. Hard.”

“But your scars-”

“Damn the scars,” he rasped, breaking his hold from her just enough to pull his shirt over his head and fling it to the floor. “I need you to touch me.”

Seraphina’s eyes were a blue haze of worry and need as they flashed up to him, and then she obeyed.

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