Page 73 of Duke's Daring Bookworm
“Brat.”
“What are you going to do about it?” I could think of a few things, but they would need to wait until we were on steady ground.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
You can put me down now,” I said when we reached Duke’s penthouse. I didn’t want him to, but it seemed like the right thing to say, anyway. In truth, I enjoyed being carried. No one has since I hit puberty and grew six inches in one summer, and knowing he could pick me up and hold me the entire way up to his place excited me. So much power in this body and it was all mine.
I pushed back the little voice in my mind that tried to remind me he didn’t belong to me at all. He did for now, and that would have to be good enough.
“As much as I like the view up here”—I squeezed one of his ass cheeks— “I’m sure you’re getting tired of carrying me.” He was too stubborn to admit when he’d had enough, and I loved egging him on.
He bounced me on his shoulder a bit.
“I forgot you were even up there. I should feed you more. Your salary at that library is clearly not paying you enoughfor good food.”
From anyone else, I would have felt self-conscious, but Duke was one of the few people that knew why I didn’t eat and loved me, anyway.
“You know damn well it’s a museum.”
“Is it? They all look the same to me.” He shrugged and sent me bouncing against him again.
“I suppose I shouldn’t expect much out of a Pogue like you.” He made the mistake of teaching me exactly how to insult him best when he joined the Marines. This was one I’ve held close for years, just waiting for the perfect time to use it.
He stopped three steps into the entryway.
“That’s it. Now, I’m going to spank you for real.”
I giggled at his threat.
“If you insist, but can we move to the bedroom? It’s very uncomfortable up here.” I poked some of his muscles and grabbed his ass again. “You’re all lumpy and big.”
“Well, if you’re so uncomfortable up there.” He bent over and set me down like I was fragile and precious. My heart squeezed at the tenderness when he held onto me so I could get my balance and let my blood go back where it belonged.
My mouth went dry when he stepped back, took off his suit coat, and rolled up his sleeves. Anytime his tattoos peeked out from his fancy suits, they felt like a secret he kept just for me, like he was taking off the mask of billionaire Sam Pennington and becomingmyDuke again.
He smiled in a way I hadn’t seen before. Something about it was off—different—and it sent shivers down my spine. He was a predator, and I was his prey. My skin itched with the need to run.
“Bend over the table so I can give you anattitude adjustment.” A predatory gleam lighting his eyes.
I laughed, panic and excitement warring within me, as I gave into the feeling crawling up my spine and ran.
A bark of laughter and sedate footsteps echoed off the high ceilings and reclaimed walnut flooring as he followed, in no hurry to catch me. He knew I had nowhere to go.
My heart rate picked up as I moved, glad he tore away so much of my dress earlier so I could run without tripping. I ducked behind a door to catch my breath and gauge where he was in the house. Something about the slow steps moving inexorably closer to me had my pulse jumping and my pussy clenching.
I shoved a fist in my mouth, silencing my panicked panting and the little squeak of fear and excitement that tried to burst from me. Some long dormant part of me, something inherited from our more primal ancestors, woke up screaming at me to stay silent and still.
I’d read plenty gray and dark romance about women being chased through the woods, but had never understood just how thrilling it could be. The combination of fear, excitement, and adrenaline unlocked a hidden part of me, and I needed more.
“Lily,” Duke called out, his voice low and even, trying to cajole me out of my hiding spot. I didn’t fall for it, but I kept my fist against my mouth to hide the slightly panicked giggle threatening to burst free.
I inched away from the door to the hallway behind me, the one that led to his bedroom and our ultimate destination. I wanted a clear path to run when he finally caught up with me. Just a little more and he would spot me.
“You can’t hide from me for long.” His voice was louder, closer, just beyond the door I had been hiding behind. Hisshadow fell into view, and then he walked around the corner. I was right where I needed to be, so when he stepped around the door, I turned and ran.
This time, he didn’t follow me at the slow, sedate pace. Instead, he bolted after me, catching me just steps before I could reach the bed and launch myself onto it.
He wrapped his arms around me from behind and pulled me in close. “Got you,” he whispered into my ear. The gravelly texture of his voice sent shivers down my spine, settling in my core, and drawing a moan from the depths of me.
