Page 73 of To Ensnare a Duke

His gaze softens a touch as he slides his fingers under my chin to force my gaze to his. "I was not engaged with any other female. Neither were any of the others. This is a place where we can meet, drink, and talk without interference or someone revealing the nature of our conversation. Now you."

The tight band eases around my heart just a touch at his words. I might be naïve, but it's far easier on my soul to believe him at his word than to think the worst. Besides, to my knowledge, he's never outright deceived me before.

Exhaustion floods my system as I slump down on a nearby bed. "I forgot."

His hands tighten as he looms above me, his mouth agape as if shocked at my words. "Please repeat yourself, madam, for I fear I did not hear you correctly. What do you mean you forgot?"

I stand up and plant my hands on my hips. A strong need to defend myself races through, winding its way up my spine. "It's not as if a lot did not happen that night. As I recall, I was reeling from the abuses you heaped upon me."

"Abuses," he grinds out, "that you enjoyed."

"It still doesn't mean I remembered your command. Teresa was so excited. I merely got caught up in it all."

He crosses his arms and shakes his head. "You cannot tell me there isn't a part of you that didn't want to do this, that didn't find a bit of thrill in doing something naughty."

"Well, no. I'm not going to lie."

"That's a good start."

Irritation floods my system as he stands here, looking all high and mighty. "And what would you have done?" I counter.

"This isn't about me. In most cases, I can come and go as I please. What you did tonight was downright reckless and dangerous."

I wave him off as his melodramatic senses start to grate on my nerves. "We had three married duchesses with us as a chaperone. We were never in any danger."

"You know absolutely nothing," he hisses, his eyes narrowing me as he stalks forward.

That familiar tendril of arousal slides through my body, sending tingling warmth over my skin and down further. I wish to stay furious at the man, but pure, unadulterated need flits through my body until it’s all I can think about.

I need him to have his rough way with me. Unfortunately it shoves aside any rational thought, leaving me nearly begging for it. If only I could resist.

His hands curl around my shoulders in a tight grip, his fingers biting into my skin. I choke back a moan as he shakes me, his touch rough and demanding.

"There are forces at play that you cannot even begin to comprehend."

"Then perhaps you could explain them to me instead of insisting I know something I shouldn't."

He looks back and forth for a moment before dropping his voice. "There is a potential threat, a person who has made his desire known to have our backing in parliament whether we choose to or not. Though they have not revealed any sort of blackmail, it's understood that anything can be a lever in which to turn us to their liking. Your actions today put you in grave danger."

"No one knew it was us," I cry out. "We kept ourselves concealed the entire time."

"And your scent? Did you lot think to conceal that as well? You made sure no one followed you from your house. Damnation woman," he roars. "You could have been kidnapped. Stolen away. Killed even. Anything is possible."

Fear edges out my irritation, but it flares back up as I stand toe to toe with him.

"You should have told me."

"I didn't think I had to tell you to keep yourself safe, woman. And not just from physical harm. You are to be the wife of a duke. Our name is already tinged with scandal. A scandal you caused, I might add. More eyes are on us now than if your little coup never happened."

"Oh." Unfortunately, when he puts it like that, it's easy to see how the blame is partly mine.

"Oh," he repeats, the stench of his anger flooding the room until I nearly choke on it.

"The issue is, I still don't think I'm solely to blame, and reject the idea that all of this should be cast at my feet."

"You don't? Well, worry not. All of your friends will no doubt have their bottoms blistered for what occurred here today. Make no mistake about that. Even the poor Duchess of Blackport, who probably begged and pleaded with you to reconsider."

"Her sins are not mine to bear," I insist, feeling just in my anger. "Let the other husbands deal with their wives and you deal with me and me alone."