Page 52 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

The corset came undone, and she dropped it on the floor. Still covered entirely, she noticed the way that Anthony’s eyes so very obviously lingered on her bosom, a hunger in his stare which made her flush. She opened her mouth to chastise him, but stayed her tongue, not wanting to draw attention to it.And because I like the way he stares…

She took the next piece, and she had her question ready. “You mentioned your father just now. Tell me more about him.”

“That isn’t a question.”

“Humor me.”

He sighed and she saw him curl his lip. But not at her, rather the memory of his father. “He was an old wart,” he said simply. “The kind of man who took pleasure in the torment of others.”

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she joked.

He eyed her with exaggerated warning before sighing and looking away. “He was not physically violent. He did not hit me or my mother. It wasn’t like that. It was more…” He considered the framing, withdrawing inside of himself. Caroline watched, surprised that a mere memory could humble Anthony so much. “He liked the power he had as a duke. He liked how people acted around him. He liked that…” He winced. “That he could make others do as he wanted.”

“And your mother…” she pressed.

“She did not love him, but he did not love her,” he said, despite it being a second question. “The truth is, I do not think my father was capable of love. A shame too, as my mother…” A soft smile. “She deserved so much more than he was ever able to give her.”

Caroline found herself frowning as she studied Anthony. It was amazing what a few simple questions could do, forcing the duke to drop his armor and be honest for a damn change. What was more, it didn’t escape her notice how he spoke about his mother. There was love there, which suggested the rumors about him and the way he treated her were not entirely accurate.

“That’s another,” Anthony said with glee, bringing Caroline back into the room.

“Wh—what?” She shook her head and looked down to see her own rook removed from the board. “What? How?”

“Take it off,” Anthony said smugly. “Slowly, thank you.”

She tried to glare at him, but she could not maintain the farce. Her heart was racing, her body flushed red as she was forced to reach down and shuffle from her gown. It was awkward to do, and her chemise very nearly came with it. But she managed well enough, not that this made much difference.

All she had on now was her chemise.Why did I remove the earrings and the necklace as one!The chemise was made from thin cotton, and it was a little too tight so that her curves were pressed against it. In the light of the fireplace, she was certain it was translucent too, and the look Anthony held on her confirmed this.

He did not speak. Nor did she. In fact, and despite herself, Caroline leaned back slightly, pronouncing her breasts which had Anthony’s eyes turning wide. She found that she liked the way he stared. The hunger he had for her. All this talk about him having power over her and she found in that moment that she was the one with power over him.

She made her next move.

He made his quickly, not once looking away.

She made another, followed by a similar move on his part.

This, she saw right away, presented a chance for her to take his queen! And when she did, she would ask him finally about his mother. After all, that was the reason she had agreed to this entire thing in the first place.

Only, as she moved her hand for the knight which she planned on using, she found that she couldn’t do it. For some reason, Anthony’s honesty just now had unsettled her, and she felt as if she was taking advantage by getting so personal. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted answers. Only, she wanted him to want to reveal them.

Despite herself, she did not take his queen. And this, she saw immediately, opened her own queen to being snatched from the board. In this, Anthony did not hesitate.

“And there she is,” Anthony said with clear pride. “If you do not mind…” He indicated to her chemise and purposefully licked his lips. “Again, slowly might be nice.”

She looked at him flatly while ignoring the goosebumps erupting across her skin. “I think that is enough for one night.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” It took all the effort she possessed to do so, but she stood quickly. “I am tired and…” She swallowed, her body shaking. Deep down, she wanted to do as he asked her. She wanted to drop her chemise and reveal her naked body to him. Only, she did not trust herself.Not even a little bit.“… and I think it is time that I retire.”

“That’s not the deal we made!” He was on his feet too.

“And now you know how I feel, concerning broken promises.” She raised a warning eyebrow at him.

He stepped over the chessboard and came for her. She did not step back, wanting him to take her. Perhaps even force her to remove the chemise. That way, at least, she could tell herself she’d had no choice. That she had not given in…

“I told you already, I did not break my promise. At least not on purpose.” He stopped when he reached her, his eyes moving from her bust to her lips to her eyes. He licked his lips. His hands half reached out to take her… hesitating, the effort it was taking him not to act surely on a par with Caroline’s own.

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