Page 9 of His Ruined Duchess

“Still,” his word halted her, and Selina glared as the man interrupted her chance to reply yet again, “I could be persuaded to forgive the error. Under one condition of course.”

Sighing, she folded her arms, leaning on one leg as she regarded the infuriating man.

“Which is?”

“That you admit that you liked it.” Too quickly, the man was right back in front of Selina again, his face inches from hers. “Should you confess what you were really thinking as youwatched, I will forgive the way you interrupted my personal business.”

Her throat felt too tight, and Selina fought not to tremble where she stood. The man’s proximity did something to her, and Selina hated it, wanted absolutely no part of it. And yet, as she was frozen in front of the Duke, her gaze fell from his emerald eyes to his mouth before she could quickly yank them up again.

The Duke smirked.

Anger bubbled up, even the momentary lustful thoughts were not enough to drive away the irritation she felt because of this manipulative man. Selina pulled herself away again, glaring and glaring and glaring—for there was nothing else she could think to do.

“I will say no such thing because it is the furthest from the truth. I loathe being in your presence, I can assure you.”

His brow slowly rose to meet his hairline, and the Duke looked down at Selina like she was some fascinating, vexing creature of mystery. It made her itch, wishing the low cut of her dress wasmuchhigher than it was.

“I dare say, Selina. I am?—”

Knock, knock, knock.

Before Selina could say another word, the Duke snagged her by the shoulders and spun her around, walking her to the far wall and pinning her there with her back to it. He held a finger to his lips, quietly shushing her.

“Selina? Are you in there? I thought I heard your voice, and we still cannot locate the Duke.”

It was Charlotte, one of her closest friends among the small group of confidants she had gathered around her, which including Amelia, Magnus, and Ethel as well. Selina mentally cursed, wishing for a simple escape from this bloody room. She was held beneath the Duke’s weight; however, the firmness of his stare pressed her down as surely as his hands.

Even more, Selina wished that she wasn’t so furiously hot beneath the man’s stare. His closeness ratcheted up the heat coursing through her just when it had turned from inappropriate to angry, and now, everything was swirled up again.

Leaning forward, the Duke whispered into her ear again, his breath warm against her skin as one of his hands came up to her neck, pushing her chin to the side so that he could get as close as possible.

“Don’t let her in, Selina. You wouldn’t want her to see you in such a compromising position, would you?”

Her voice trembling, Selina forced herself to answer as smoothly as she could.

“Don’t come in, please, Charlotte. I require a moment.”

“I… Selina, are you all right? You sound off, dear.”

Charlotte’s voice was full of concern as it filtered through the door. Selina hated this, but it would be too difficult to explain what was going on if Charlotte came in and saw her with the Duke.

“I am feeling unwell, I’m afraid. I don’t wish for you to see me like this. I am—” But her words cut short, and Selina had to force the gasp that escaped her as the Duke brushed his lips across her neck to remain locked within her. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I… I truly just… feel…”

Her words hung, the Duke still tormenting her with the feeling of his caresses against her neck and collarbones. A tiny whimper slipped free despite how hard she was trying to remain quiet, and Selina chewed on her lip. Her hand went to the Duke’s chest, gripping the fabric of his waistcoat.

She should shove the man away, but she simply couldn’t, horribly wrapped up in the feeling of his teasing ministrations along her throat and shoulder.

“… awful. I feel just awful, Charlotte.Please.”

Selina wasn’t sure what she was pleading for if she was honest with herself, but some of it was indeed that Charlotte wouldn’t come in. The rest… she wouldn’t let herself consider it.

“Oh, Selina. I am so sorry. Get your bearings. I shall work with your mother to locate the Duke for his introduction.”

With that, Selina heard the sounds of her footsteps in the hall diminish, and she let out a sigh of relief, which was quickly stolen as the Duke nibbled maddeningly on the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

The Duke pulled back then, looking down at Selina with a horrible smirk plastered all over his handsome face. A face that she wished was so much more awful than it was. That evil mortification snaked through her again, and Selina wanted nothing more than to disappear from the spot entirely without another word.

“I had hardly expected you to be so wanton, Selina.” The Duke’s smile stretched farther. “That little sound you made was… well.”

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