Page 25 of His Duchess' Mischief

Her full lips were slightly parted, and as he watched, those stunning blue eyes flitted over his face and down, taking in the loose cravat around his neck and the cut of his waistcoat.

Her pupils were wide and dark, her interest in him written all over her face.

Damn it all to hell.

Seth needed to leave—immediately. Only a small part of him could recall his reluctance as he had ascended the stairs. Any doubts had been replaced by intense lust, and as his eyes fell to the floor, he saw her tiny, perfect toes and miniscule feet.

She was so petite, so easy to lift and bend to his will. His big body would engulf hers in every way. He would be able to tower above her, pin her to any surface, andownher in every sense of the word.

“I came to say goodnight,” he muttered gruffly, his voice hoarse and an octave lower than usual. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at himself.

Alicia’s eyebrows lowered as she stepped back toward the fire, moving behind the chair placed there—creating a barrier between them, for which Seth was very grateful.

“You are wishing me goodnight?” she asked skeptically. “You have barely spoken to me all day. Are you sure it is merelygoodnightyou are seeking, Your Grace?”

Seth’s jaw clenched.

And now I am thinking of all the other things I could be doing to her.

“Yes,” he bit out. “Is it not customary for a husband to wish his wife goodnight?”

“Following their wedding, Your Grace? Perhaps not, but I do not believe I need to educate you in what a husbandusuallydoes with his wife on such an occasion.”

She was entirely unabashed as she said the words, and Seth was astounded to feel his neck heating at the matter-of-fact way she voiced her thoughts.

Ever since he had met her, he knew she had a spark, but it was clear she was also not afraid of him.

Even though she believes I am a murderer.

Her eyes ran over him again, and he could feel himself hardening in his breeches.

What was it about her that made his body react this way? He had been around many women like Alicia Holton—perhaps none quite so pretty—but he had never felt this wicked need topossessthem.

He wanted to stride across the room, tear that robe off her, rip her nightgown asunder, and throw her to the floor, thrusting into her mercilessly until she was moaning so loudly that the whole house would hear.

By the look on her face, she might even let him.

He took a step forward, his eyes on her lips.

She watched him, unmoving, the frown remaining on her face as he came level with her.

“Well then, goodnight,” he half-growled as he attempted to get himself under control.

“Goodnight, Your Grace,” she said tentatively, stepping out from behind the chair, one hand clutching her robe.

She has not even tied it. With a flick of my wrist, I could rid her of it for good.

It was as if he were watching himself from a distance, his mind screaming at him to walk out of the room. Instead, he took another step toward her.

She was exquisitely beautiful in the firelight, all soft curves and doe eyes. He could not stop staring at her mouth, thinking back to the kiss in the church, that illicit moment when she had captured his lower lip between her own.

He wanted to taste her again, desperately.

Seth took another step forward.

Alicia’s breath hitched as he towered over her. How he wanted to command her to sink to her knees and pleasure him, to put that mouth to good use.

His hands rose against his better judgment, gripping her upper arms as she all but melted against him.

---