Page 19 of The Spinster and Her Rakish Duke
“My reputation is largely exaggerated.” He was leaning closer now, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body. “And even if it weren’t, do you truly think I’d dishonor my wife so blatantly?”
“I think you’d do whatever pleases you, consequences be damned.”
“Then you don’t know me at all.”
“I know enough.” But even as she said it, she was becoming acutely aware of how close he was, how his proximity made her pulse race.
“Do you?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “Do you know that you’ve been driving me to distraction since the moment I saw you in that corridor? Do you know that I’ve thought of nothing but you for days?”
“You …You lie.” She whispered, but she couldn’t seem to look away from him.
“Do you know,” he continued, his voice like velvet, “that you will beg me for pleasure before this marriage is through?”
Indignation flared in her chest, but it was quickly subsumed by lust. “I will not.” She protested, but the words came out weak, unconvincing.
“You will.” He was so close now that she could feel his breath against her cheek. “You’ll beg me to touch you …totasteyou, to make you forgeteverythingbut the way I make you feel.”
Her breathing had gone shallow, and she could feel heat spreading through her body in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. “You’re very sure of yourself.”
“I’m very sure ofyou, my wife.” His hand came up to trace the line of her jaw, and she shivered at the contact. “You may pretend you want nothing to do with me, but your body tells a different story.”
“My body—” She tried to argue, but he smiled.
“Responds to me,” he finished softly, giving her a once over that sent shivers down her spine, “Just as mine responds to you.”
She was drowning in the intensity of his gaze, in the promise of his words, in the way his touch made her skin come alive. Everyrational thought was deserting her, leaving only the awareness of him, of the electricity crackling between them.
“I can feel your pulse racing,” he murmured, his thumb brushing against the sensitive spot at the base of her throat. “I can hear the way your breathing has changed. Tell me again that you want nothing to do with me.”
She opened her mouth to do exactly that, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she found herself leaning into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed as his hand cupped her face.
“That’s what I thought,” he said, satisfaction evident in his voice.
The carriage lurched to a sudden stop, throwing them apart.
Samantha gasped, her eyes flying open as reality crashed back over her. The duke’s hand fell away from her face, and they stared at each other in the sudden silence.
“Your Grace,” came the driver’s voice from outside. “We’ve arrived at Valemont Hall.”
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Samantha seemed to collect herself, straightening her dress and smoothing her hair with shaking hands.
“Excellent,” she said, her voice artificially bright. “I’m eager to see my new home.”
She reached for the carriage door, but his hand shot out to stop her.
“Samantha—”
“Your Grace,” she corrected sharply, though she didn’t look at him. “I think it’s best if we maintain proper formality.”
He said nothing to those words, but he released her wrist.
“Allow me.” She heard amusement loud and clear in his voice.
He opened the carriage door and stepped down, then turned to hand her out. She had no choice but to accept his assistance, though she tried to ignore the way her skin tingled where his fingers touched hers.
I feel nothing,she thought, even though she knew it was a lie.
Valemont Hall rose before them like something from a fairytale, all golden stone and mullioned windows gleaming in the afternoon sun. It was magnificent and imposing and utterly intimidating.
