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I nodded up at him. “So, you did.”
“And you made a point to defy me.”
I considered his words for a moment or two and then nodded. “Yes, yes I suppose I did.”
Before he could say another word, a gentleman interrupted us, bowing as soon as he made eye contact with me. I didn’t recognize him.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he began as he quickly gave Nikolo a glance. And in that glance was disregard. Clearly, he didn’t recognize ‘The Terror’ or if he did, he didn’t care.
“Then don’t,” Nicolo started but the man was already addressing me.
“I have scarce been able to pull my attention from your absolute loveliness all night and it’s taken all my nerve to approach you just now because I must admit… I have to know who you are.” Then he reached out, took my hand, and bringing it to his lips, kissed it. “I am the Duke of Hargate.”
“Oh,” I started and fluttered my fan as I gave him a very encouraging smile and Nicolo made a strange, grumbling sort of noise from his throat.
“She’s spoken for,” Nicolo barked, glaring at the man with such hatred, I was momentarily surprised.
The man looked at him but frowned. “Is she? I have not seen a gentleman at her side all evening and as I said,” then he turned and looked at me, “I have not been able to keep my eyes off you.”
“As I said before and will not say again,” Nicolo growled and when I say growled, I mean that quite literally—there was an inhuman purr that accompanied his words. “She. Is. Spoken. For.”
“Oh, do forgive me!” the duke responded and with a quick doff of his hat in my direction, quickly turned and walked away.
“Well, that wasn’t very charitable of you,” I started as Nicolo continued to fume at me.
“Dance with me,” he responded, then reached out and gripped my arm, giving me no choice in the matter.
“I thought you weren’t going to dance with me?” I asked. “Didn’t you say, owing to our difference in stations, it would be untoward?”
“I’ve heard enough.”
“I’m just trying to follow your lead…master.”
He paused from leading me through the crowd to look back at me and his expression was anything but encouraging.
“I have half a mind to take you over my knee and spank you until you cry.”
I felt my heartbeat race at that thought and my mouth went a bit dry as I imagined it—me with only my undergarments on, over his knee as he spanked me before fingering the delicate folds of wet skin between my thighs. My breath hitched. “I think I should prefer that to dancing…sir.”
“Charlotte,” he growled. “Now is hardly the place, nor the time.”
As the music started, he drew me to him and my breath caught in my throat. I’d spent so much time in his company, and I’d seen him in various states of undress, but this was different. It was different because I’d never been so close to him before—this was intimate, and the fact that he was so angry with me gave the whole thing a frisson of danger. Anything could happen, and as I felt his firm, masculine body pressed to mine, I prayed something would.
“Do you not appreciate my gown?” I whispered.
“No, I don’t appreciate it!” he nearly burst in return.
“Then you don’t believe I look… pretty?”
He pulled away from me and his glare was even more pronounced. “You are easily the most attractive woman in this blasted place,” he hissed in response and seemed very put out that the words were even leaving his lips.
I smiled broadly up at him. “Why, thank you, sir.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to whip you senseless.”
I couldn’t help my smile because I was fairly sure he wouldn’t whip me. No, not when he was clearly very attracted to me and as far as I could tell, doing everything he could to fight that attraction. I pressed my body still closer to his and felt a growing bulge in the front of his form-fitting trousers.
“I seem to have piqued more than just your anger and vengeance.”
