Page 30 of A Duchess to Unravel
Theo’s voice was hard, laced with a bitter ice. Even though he barely knew her, it stirred something within Alistair he hadn’t felt before- a need to soothe. To take her fury and transform it into something gentler and submissive. Even now, with her face marked with fury--perhaps even a little hurt--the thought of doing so stirred something awake within his loins.
He ignored it as his mouth settled into a grim line, and he walked back to the ball of crumpled paper. He picked it up, looked at her one more time, then smoothed the sheet out. What he read caused a clashing of responses. Surprise. Worry. And like Theo, rage.
“You believe I sent you this?” He asked, his tone measured as he raised his eyes back to her.
Theo blinked several times, as if his question had her doubting her accusation for a moment. Then she seemed to snap out of it and shook her head.
“Do not do that,” she warned, “Do not try to act innocent now. You are the only one that knows. You signed it with a letterA.You might as well should have written your full name. At least that would not have been as cowardly.”
“I am not a coward,” he countered quickly, the letter crumbling into his fist, “And I certainly do not need to threaten you oranyone into a marriage. Do you have any idea how many nagging mothers arebeggingmeto court their daughters?”
“Oh, I doubt that is true anymore,” she retorted, “Especially after what I heard of you today.”
“I do not care what you heard. I. Do. Not. Lie,” Alistair stated, enunciating each word.
“No, you just wear a mask,” Theo scoffed.
Alistair’s brow drew up as he raised a finger and stepped close to her.
“Careful, my lady. You are very close to being a hypocrite.” His voice deepened as he warned her, and he felt a small surge of pleasure as he watched a shiver move down her spine.
She shook her head as if trying to disperse the desire that had settled briefly into her eyes, then looked at him for a long moment. Alistair waited silently with his hands in his pockets, allowing her to conduct her study of his half-naked body. There were things he had to hide. His more erotic lifestyle being the largest. He didn’t have to hide that from her, though, and there was a freedom in that. So, he let her take him in as she no doubt mulled over his words.
“So, it was not you,” she said at last.
“It was not.” He stated. “But this noteisfrom someone who also knows you have been to the Devil’s Masquerade. All the more reason that you should consider my proposal.”
“Are you sure that would solve my problem?” Theo asked. There was still a harshness to her tone, but he could see that some of her rage was twisting into fear. He didn’t like it.
“If you are married to me, we can make our union public. The papers will spread the news and whoever sent that threat will no longer be able to intimidate you.”
“You think it is that simple?” She asked, swiping the crumbled letter from his hand and holding it up.
“This man is not going to stop just because he hears we are married! He is obviously vicious, he will probably become enraged and still release the rumor! He could come after me!”
“If you are married to me, I can offer several layers of protection,” he replied, wrapping his hand around the hand she held the crumbled paper in, “body guards, financial protection, inspectors to find this idiot. I can also take you away from London. Tuck you away from prying eyes and threatening letters.”
Warmth and desire spread through Alistair’s hand as his fingers stroked over hers. Already his body was responding to touching her, reigniting a yearning in his loins that was like no other. He’d been aroused by other women before--plenty. But not like this. Not so intense, instant. As if heneededto touch her.
“But my brother,” she argued, though her body swayed toward his, “his businesses will suffer, his investors could--”
“Your brother is not fond of me,” Alistair interrupted, “but I know a good business man when I see one, which is why, despite the way he acted earlier, I have brought him into my businesses. My success goes beyond England and as long as he is in business with me, he will have no reason to fear financial ruin.”
Theo’s dark brow drew up.
“What do you mean the way he acted earlier? I thought he was fond of you?”
Alistair smirked.
“Your brother lets you know what hewantsyou to know. Trust me. He has his own secrets too.”
Theo began to nibble on her bottom lip as a look of contemplation took over her pretty face. For a moment Alistair was resigned to simply watch the soft flesh be worried with those sharp little teeth that enunciated her sharp words. That was, until he became more interested in being the one that was nibbling on them. He reached out, his movements slow, and put the crook of his pointer finger under her chin and caressed her bottom lip away from her teeth with his thumb.
“Stop that,” he whispered, “You’ll worry a blister right into them.”
Theo sighed and swayed toward him, a look of fatigue and yearning taking over her face. Then, as if catching herself beginning to relax around him, she wrenched her chin from his grasp.
“Why do you care?”
