Page 23 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“The devil in a nice suit,” she snarled. “Taking advantage of innocent people – holding over their heads the money they owe you. You don’t care about me or my family or anything but what we owe you. It gives you power and control and that is what you love most.”

“Is that what you think?”

“I think you are... that you are... that you are the most wicked, despicable, evil man I have ever met. A rakish scoundrel who if the world found out about then...” She widened her eyes at him, anger boiling to the surface. “I do not even know. But maybe we should find out.”

His expression hardened, as did his tone. “Is that a threat.”

“You want to keep me under your thumb?” She scoffed. “Perhaps it is time you found out what that means.”

As always, he remained calm, even if she could see the anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I will remind you that I am not the one who put your family in debt. That was your father.”

“But you are the one who --”

“Has done everything he could to help you,” he snapped. “I did not have to. Better that I not help you, for it has brought me nothing but pain.”

“I --”

“Am insolent,” he continued, this time stepping into her. Aurelia was so incensed that she did not back down, rising her chin to meet his eyes, wanting him to see how angry she was. That she wasn’t afraid and that she was through being taken advantage of. “You always have been. Since I first met you, you have been nothing but trouble. More than she is worth.”

“At least I am honest about who I am.”

“The good that has done you,” he continued, hissing at her now. He stood over her, their bodies mere inches apart. Aurelia felt the urge to step back again, not liking how close he was... “You wonder why you cannot find a man willing to marry you? You wonder why you are in this predicament in the first place – why I must help you? Perhaps you should look at yourself.”

“There is nothing wrong with me. You are the one who --”

“We are not talking of me,” he spoke over her. “You are the one who needs all the help she can get.” Somehow, he stepped even closer to her. Their bodies pressed together, his hand moved to her waist and snatched it. She gasped and tried to wiggle free, but he did not let go. “Help which I have been willing to offer you. Although why I do...” He scoffed. “I know a hopeless case when I see one. Better that I amputate now and save myself the hassle.”

“I am not...” She tried to wiggle free, but he held her. “I still have one month. Don’t you dare even think about cancelling our deal. Your promise.”

“A waste of time,” he said. “You and I both know it. Give me one good reason why I should bother.”

She curled her lip. “Why waste my breath? A man like you? As if I could trust anything you say.”

He closed his eyes and groaned. “You...” A deep breath which she felt wash over her. “You really need to learn to keep your mouth shut. It does nothing but get you into trouble.”

“Do not tell me what to do.” She widened her eyes at him, trying to ignore the way his hand held her. The duke continued to look down at her, a look now in his eyes that she didn’t recognize but made her heart race.

“Why not? Until you pay me, as far as I am concerned, I own you.”

“You do not! And stop saying that you --”

The duke moved on her before she could stop him. Before she knew what was happening. Her mouth was open to reprimanded him, which saw him pull her in close, lean his head down, and plant his lips on her open mouth.

It was as if a fire lit itself inside of her. As if it rose from her stomach, engulfed her heart, and then spewed from her mouth. But the duke swallowed it, accepted it, taking it on himself as he continued to kiss her passionately. Both hands now held her. Even if she wanted to, she would not have been able to pull away. And she did want to... she did not enjoy kissing him... although the way her tongue played inside his mouth, the moans that escaped her lips, and the tingling sensation which ran down her body and spread to her loins suggested differently.

She hated this man. Oh, how she did! And yet… she could not help but imagine her reaction had it been Lord Littlefield kissing her instead. Would it have felt the same? Would she have been so enraptured by it? Somehow, she doubted that very much.

As quickly as it started, it ended.

“There,” the duke said, still holding her, smirking to himself because he seemed to take pleasure in her shock. “That is one way of shutting you up.”

“How dare --”

“Quiet,” he snapped, which had her shutting her mouth. “What am I going to do with you...” He clicked his tongue, his hands squeezing her waist. “Make no mistake, I want nothing more than to be done with you. You vex me...” He groaned, his hands still squeezing. And that wasn’t to mention the throbbing she felt at the front of his pants... “But I am correct about you. As you are, no lord in his right mind will have you.”

“I don’t care what you think,” she snarled, even if her heart wasn’t in it. Her mind was fractured. Her thoughts in a million places. And it was all she could do not to stare at his full lips.

“You should,” he said. “If you really do wish to be done with me. Or was that a lie?” He raised an eyebrow.

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