Page 31 of A Duke for Hire

“As for what you said about your birth,” Tristan continued, “That does not give these pompous gits the right to mock you, Seraphina, and if any of these other men had a modicum of sense, they would see you for who you truly are, which is a decent, kind, intelligent woman, regardless of how you came to be.”

Seraphina smiled at him, thankful for his kind words.

“Are you flirting with me, Lord Briarwood?” she attempted to tease, pulling her thoughts away from Hugo’s past. “If I am such a prize, then why do you not marry me?”

Tristan chuckled as he took her for another turn.

“Alas, my affection for you is familial in nature,” he sighed with feigned regret, “And you, Seraphina, deserve something more than that. So does he.”

Seraphina was shocked at his words but before she could inquire about it, Tristan twirled her once more then let her go, sending her right into the arms of the man in question. Instantly she felt the difference of their touch.

Tristan’s had been polite, cordial, but even if she’d been blindfolded, she would have felt the difference between his hand and Hugo’s. Hugo’s touch was more possessive, more caressing, and it sent shivers of delight throughout her entire body. She hitched in a breath as desire snaked down the back of her neck and made her knees tremble for a moment.

“Miss Seraphina, you look absolutely beautiful this evening,” Hugo praised, immediately guiding her into the dance as if he had been her partner all along.”

Seraphina felt her entire body heat and hum at not just his praise and charming smile, but his closeness. But she could not,would notgive into it.

“Your Grace,” she whispered, feeling her cheeks turn scarlet, “You must let go of me at once! My mother has proclaimed that I need to stay away from you!”

“And what do you want?” Hugo asked, his hold from her unmoving as they danced. “For it seems to me that you yearn for the exact opposite.” He smirked, then added in a hushed tone,“At least that is what I felt from that kiss we shared from the other night.”

The annoyance she felt for him the other night speared through her once again, and she felt her nose scrunch as her brows drew down.

“I want you to stop presuming what I want and respect what I actually request,” she hissed.

“It seemed like you quite enjoyed my kiss the other night,” he mused. “Tell me now that you did not.”

Seraphina felt her face grow crimson with a mixture of embarrassment and rage; hating the way he was using her reaction to him against you.

“Don’t youdaredo that to me again,” she hissed. “What you did was absolutely uncalled for and dangerous. We could have been seen!”

“So youdidlike it?” He asked, his brow cocked in amusement, “You just didn’t approve of where it took place. That can be remedied.”

“It certainly will not be,” she retorted quickly. “I will not be alone with you again.”

Hugo’s grin grew more wolfish and- to her annoyance, more devilishly charming.

“You still have not said you did not enjoy it,” he pointed out. “Tell me, Miss Seraphina, do you find me as intriguing as I do you?”

Seraphina faltered in her steps, but Hugo’s arms lifted her with ease, making it appear as if it were an intentional move. Desire coursed through her veins at the effortless movement, and despite her annoyance for him not letting her go yet, her mind began to wonder toward all the ways he could sweep her off her feet.

“I am not answering that,” she insisted, fighting her inner passion. “Either way it does not matter.”

Hugo raised his brow in amusement.

“Let me ask you this then. What bothered you more? The way I handled Fellon? Or that I kissed you in such a public space?”

“Your behavior toward Lord Fellon was most obnoxious,” she fired at him, “but the two do not compare! You should not have done either!”

“Ah, but your answer indicates you were more offended by my words toward some pompous noble than by having my lips on yours,” he countered matter-of-factly.

Heat radiated from Seraphina’s face so strongly she was sure she could have fried an egg on it.

“You are most insufferable!” She huffed.

“You enjoy it, though,” Hugo replied, his eyes searching hers deeply. “Admit it. There is something between us. A spark neither you nor I can deny.”

Something about the intensity of Hugo’s stare sent her insides aquiver. There was a knowing there. A recognition she had never felt before, even from her friends.

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