Page 19 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

For a moment, nothing happened and no one spoke. I felt as if I were a child again, caught stealing condensed milk from the kitchen.

Then flashes of light blasted out of Darius. “You did what? I was right. You wanted to do something stupid!”

“Stay calm.” I coiled an arm around Irene’s waist and kissed the top of her head to show him my fears were gone. “As you can see, I’m fine, and Irene is fine, too. There’s no need to get angry.” I clapped his shoulder, feeling his tense muscles. “See? I’m not afraid of touching anymore.”

“Good. So I can slap you now without feeling guilty!” He gripped the lapels of my shirt, forcing me to release Irene. “You daft dimbo. Carabosse’s magic requires a sacrifice from the requester. There’s always a price to pay.”

“But nothing happened.” I was growing tired of being yelled at.

“For now. Magic is slow sometimes. It takes time.” He brushed his hair away from his face. “This is terrible. Perhaps I can convince Cara to reverse the spell.”

“No!” I took his arm as he moved to leave. “For the first time in years, I’m not afraid or sick, or both. It was my choice, and I’ll face whatever consequences it brings me.”

Irene held my hand in hers. “I’m worried. I don’t trust Cara, and you shouldn’t have made a deal with her without talking to Darius or me first.”

I stroked her knuckles with my thumb. “You would have said no.”

“For good reasons.” Darius’s hair became more dishevelled. “You’ll lose something precious, and when it happens, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”

Darius was overreacting. Everything was going to be fine.

7

INSTINCT

Irene

Was I happy that Alex could finally hold me and touch me? Yes, but I trusted Darius in matters of magic. And I didn’t trust Cara. Of course, her spell was a trick, and soon Alex would pay the consequences.

Horrible thoughts filled my mind—Alex dying of a heart attack; his turning into a toad; his falling in love with someone else. The price could be our love.

Instead, he hadn’t stopped smiling from the moment he’d barged into my bedroom.

He was smiling now as I tried to get dressed in my bedroom, swapping the emergency gown—a gown I used when I had to dress quickly—for a proper one. The argument with Darius hadn’t worried him at all, and he kept staring at me with unmistakable hunger.

“You worry too much.” He stepped closer and kissed my hand. “May I touch you? I’m dying to touch you and kiss you. Right now, nothing has happened as of yet. Can’t we enjoy this moment?”

He sounded so happy that I got excited too.

I kissed his lips. “You may.”

He unbuttoned my shirt, standing behind me.

I had to admit his touch was gentle and careful, and he hadn’t been the only one craving to be together.

He slipped his hands underneath the shirt and unhooked my corset. His breath tickled my skin, and the hard wall of his chest pressed against my back.

I hadn’t realised how muscled and strong he was. Touching him was a new kind of discovery. But he was also infinitely gentle. His touch was almost shy and delicate. His lips on my neck weren’t demanding my submission, but he wanted to please me. His arm around me was there to protect me, not to cage me.

“This is so wonderful.” I moaned louder.

The more he touched me, the less I remembered why I was upset.

The corset sagged to my waist after he undid the first few hooks. He cupped my breasts. A deep groan rumbled in his chest.

The bond behaved strangely, remaining dull and muted. Its vibration stuttered, struggling.

“Doesn’t the bond concern you?” I asked, stroking his hand.