Page 72 of Rough Around the Hedges

“You’re right. It’s not.” He turned his face slightly into mine, and his lips grazed my jaw, sending a tingle across my skin. “But I’ll take responsibility foryours.”

I gripped the edge of the desk. “I’m not horny.”

“Oh?” He nudged the robe to the side and slipped his hand under it, stroking his thumb across my thigh. “Then is there any other reason why you’re clenching your legs together like this?”

“Defense mechanism against a horny, handsy duke,” I ground out.

“A horny, handsy duke that you aren’t pushing away,” he said in a low voice and kissed my neck. “Admit it. You don’twantto push me away.”

Damn it.

“I hate you.”

“Mhmm. I know.” He hooked one finger through the belt of my dressing gown and untied it. “But you want me, too, don’t you?”

I jerked my face around and found my nose barely an inch away from his, and I flinched at just how close his face was to mine. “I…”

“Because I want you.” He slid his hand into my hair and cupped the back of my head, holding me firmly in place. “You’re the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met, yet every time I look at you, I remember that night, and all I want is to relive it.”

“You do remember that just a few hours ago, I was running through the centre of the village to protest against you and your actions, right? What’s wrong with you that you watched me do that and thought to yourself that hitting on me is a good idea?”

“I didn’t think it was a good idea until you pointed out what you’re wearing.” He dropped his gaze to my body where, thanks to him undoing the belt, his shirt was now visible. “I didn’t know I had a thing for a woman in my shirt, but perhaps it’s because you’re the one in it.”

“You’re insane.”

“Mhmm. But youstillhaven’t pushed me away.”

Bloody hell.

Yeah. I hadn’t. If I was completely honest with myself, I didn’t want to. Sure, the current purpose of my existence was to makehis life as difficult as possible and save the allotment in the process, but that didn’t mean I was immune to his seduction. Even if I desperately tried to be, it wasn’t like he was the only one who remembered that night clearly.

“The way you keep bringing it up makes it seem as though you want me to push you away,” I said. “Yet you don’t seem to have any inclination to let me go.”

“I don’t.” He chuckled, his fingers twitching in my hair. “You’re haunting me, princess.”

“Good. I’ll check that off my bucket list.” I gripped his collar and pulled his face close to mine. “If I tell you no, will you let go of me?”

“What kind of rotten cur do you think I am? Of course, I will. Push me away, tell me to stop, or simply say ‘no,’ and I’ll do as you wish.”

He would, too.

I had many, many complicated feelings about this man, and I wasn’t sure I knew him all that well, either, but I knew enough to know that he’d never go against my wishes.

Well.

Not in this situation.

If only he were as respectfuloutsideof his horniness.

“What if I don’t push you away and tell you to carry on?”

He met my gaze with a heated look. “I’ll fuck you so hard that you’ll hate me all over again.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” I slid my hands down his body and, after parting my legs, tugged on his shirt so he could step between them. “You better keep your word, Oliver.”

“For what?” His lips hovered over mine.

“Fucking me hard.” I leant into him, fisting his shirt. “I’m not your lover, so don’t treat me like it.”

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