Page 13 of A Villain for a Duke

“How?”

“He stunk.”He hadn’t meant it as a joke, but Astrid laughed all the same.

That’s the way it was supposed to be.She was supposed to be laughing at his non-jokes.Her laugh was supposed to coat his soul in warmth and…something like goodness.He waited for her touch.His forearm aching for her delicate fingers to grace his coat.He even lifted his arm a touch, oblivious to how foolish he might look standing with his arm propped up in the open space.His heart pounded as he watched her fingers fall into place.

Magic.It was magic.Shewas pure magic.

And that’s when Michael knew his heart was in trouble.

If only the chaos had ended there, perhaps he might have enough time to collect his thoughts and regain control of his actions.

But then the wanton seductress bought the rose oil.Right in front of him.All while bearing a coy smile.She purchased a megrim tincture for The Maven, and then they were off to join the group.He could only hope.But Astrid had other plans.

First, she waved Hope down and told her about the apothecary.“I really think you might enjoy the products in there, Hope.”Showing off her rose oil, Michael looked away pretending not to be giving his full attention to the words dripping off her lips.

That rose oil…it could be used…alone.

God, he couldn’t stop the blood from boiling in his skin.She may be wanton, but did she have to corrupt everyone around her as well?

But was she acting corruptly?The smile on her face lit a flame in his heart.And the appreciation from Hope was genuine.And Mavis had mentioned that Astrid was generous in her donations to the orphanage.

Who was this beguiling woman?

Pockets of heat were exploding all over Michael’s body.He felt like a geyser.Ready to blow.

Chapter 8

ASTRIDCOULDFEELTHEheat radiating off of Michael, and the sadistic side of her wanted to see him suffer a little more.She didn’t know how she knew it, but without a doubt she knew that the rigid man was berating himself for his actions last night.Her bottom had stung in pleasure, and a new wave of giddiness rolled through her in remembrance.He was uptight in public.But in private…she fanned her face.

“Are you all right Astrid?”his deep baritone embraced her heart.

“Perfectly fine, thank you.”

She couldn’t be the only one affected, so just before they were about to return to the group, she made a decision she knew he couldn’t refuse.She needed more time with him.He was baffling.One minute he desired her, the next he was holding her at arm’s length.She needed him to make up his mind.And more importantly, she needed to make up her own mind about him.

He was devilishly handsome.Her body hadn’t ceased to make that observation.

“I just need to grab something from the bookstore.”

With a grumble, he followed her into the store.

“I’ll take this time to look for a few books myself.”She could practically hear him grinding his teeth as he said the few words.

He was mad at himself, that much she knew.But why that ire had turned its hostile face toward her, she wasn’t quite sure.He was grumpy no matter what she did.Or didn’t do.

When she left him alone, he glared at her from across the street.When they visited the apothecary, he fumed the entire time.And now…he was practically a simmering volcano.

Well, let the man be for now.He was already off to search the philosophy texts.She thought she heard him mutter something about Hume and Kantian ethics.The names meant next to nothing to her.

Instead, Astrid was just pursuing some books in one of the less frequented corners when she saw a book on the top shelf.It stood out for its deep pink color.Very few books were pink.Blue.Red.Brown.But pink…it looked delicious.As delicious as a book could look.

If only she could reach up and just nick it with her fingers, surely it would fall right into her hands—

A warmth encased her.His arm—Michael’s arm—was crawling up her limbs, bracketing her.

“That will fall on your head,” the murmur blew into her ear and seeped into her brain.Melting something.Probably reason.

His solid body was close behind her.Too close.She could feel his chest against her back.His chin in her hair.And his…hardness at the top of her bum.

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