Page 44 of A Bargain with the Rakish Duke
His eyes flicked towards the door that connected his chamber to Beatrice’s, the temptation gnawing at him.
I shouldn’t. It’s better this way.
But the memory of her touch, her scent, and the way she looked at him kept pulling him back.
Damn it, Kenneth, have some control.
He rolled onto his side, exhaling sharply.
But why not? She wants you. You want her. Why pretend otherwise?
He clenched his jaw, trying to push away the images of her from earlier that day, the way her gown had hugged her curves, the fire in her eyes when they argued.
It’s just physical. That’s all it is. Don’t complicate it.
Suddenly, the door to his chamber creaked open.
Kenneth bolted upright, his eyes widening as Beatrice stepped inside.
“Duchess?” he breathed as she closed the door behind her with a determined look on her face.
“Enough games,” she said, her voice steady and resolute. “We both know we desire each other. And before you get any silly ideas that I’m fawning over you, let me clarify—it’s purely physical. We should… help each other with this frustration.”
Kenneth stared at her, stunned by her boldness.
She’s serious.
He rose from the bed, his eyes locked on hers. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Beatrice.”
She took a step closer, her chin held high.
“I am absolutely certain,” she replied, her voice unwavering.
She untied her dressing gown and stood before him naked, glorious as an alabaster statue. Her breasts were perfectly sculpted mounds. The soft moonlight cascaded over her flawless skin, accentuating every curve and contour of her body. Her slender waist led down to hips that swayed with an enticing grace.
His whole body tensed, and his manhood hardened instantly at the sight of her delicious body.
As her dressing gown fell to the floor, the room seemed to hold its breath in awe of her beauty. Her luscious locks fell down her shoulders, framing a face that radiated both innocence and desire. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glimmer, inviting him into a world of forbidden pleasures.
Kenneth clenched his jaw, wrestling with the urge to take her into his arms.
She’s right. This is what we both want.
He closed the distance between them, his eyes dark with intent.
“All right,” he said, his voice a low growl. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Beatrice met his gaze, a spark of challenge in her eyes. “I won’t.”
Somehow, he became even harder at her words. The effect she had on him just by talking…
“I have thought of taking you since the moment I laid eyes on you,” he whispered.
With a swift movement, he pulled her to him, his lips crashing down on hers, the tension between them igniting into a fierce, consuming kiss.
All the arguments, the doubts, and the reasons why they shouldn’t do this melted away, leaving only the raw, undeniable desire that had been simmering between them from the start.
He pressed his lips to hers, coaxing and demanding a response. And she yielded to him. He wanted her. And it was no secret that she wanted him too. He felt a shudder run through her.
