Page 24 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
Philip’s brow furrowed as he observed her a moment longer. The sun caught in her hair, making her seem almost ethereal.
Was she…practicing archery? And why did it seem as though she intended for him to see her?
She wasdaringhim to come to her.
Philip smirked. It was a dare he had no difficulty accepting.
Without further delay, he hurried outside to meet her in the field.
As he approached, Aurelia loosed an arrow. It barely skimmed the edge of the target before landing in the grass, but herattention remained focused ahead, as though she hadn’t noticed his presence. Philip knew better, but he wanted to play along.
“And what, may I ask, are you doing?” His tone was casual, though there was an undercurrent of curiosity he couldn’t quite hide.
“Practicing how to shoot,” Aurelia replied without turning to him, her tone light but carrying a hint of something else, something almost playful.
“I want to feel that thrill again,” she added, with a glance over her shoulder. “Or am I forbidden to touch a bow and arrow in your absence? I did not handle your lucky arrow.”
There was something about the way she said it that caught him off guard.
Philip narrowed his eyes at her. Her tone wasn’t defiant, nor was it entirely submissive.
“I didn’t say you were forbidden,” he muttered, his gaze drifting to the bow in her hands. “Carry on.”
She nodded, returning to her stance and fumbling through the steps of nocking another arrow. It was clear that she remembered little of what he had taught her before: the string was pulled too tight, and her grip was awkward and unsteady.
She loosed the arrow, and it veered off course entirely, landing far away from the target.
Frustrated, Aurelia bit her lip before turning to him. “Will you be so kind as to refresh my memory on the steps to meeting my target?”
Her voice was softer now, more inviting, and the way she looked at him stirred a strange sensation in his chest.
Philip hesitated for a moment, considering her request. Then, tilting his head slightly as if to study her further, he finally gave in.
“Very well,” he said, stepping closer.
As he positioned himself behind her, the memory of their nearness during the last lesson flashed through his mind. However, this time, it felt different.
Philip noticed that she was not as stiff or unsure as she had been before. Instead, she leaned into him, her posture open and her movements more assured, as though she had learned something about herself in such a brief time.
It unsettled him, though not in an entirely unpleasant way.
Philip placed his arms around her, his hands gently guiding hers as she held the bow. The scent of her hair, faintly perfumed fromher bath, tickled his nostrils, and he found himself all too aware of the feel of her body against his.
He cleared his throat, trying to focus on the task at hand. “You are holding it too tightly,” he murmured, his voice unintentionally husky. “Relax your grip…Remember what I told you…the bow has to be an extension of you.”
Aurelia did as he instructed, her body relaxing under his touch. Philip’s fingers wrapped around hers, adjusting her aim, and for a brief moment the world seemed to stand still around them. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze, and the only sensation was the warmth of her skin beneath his hands.
“Now,” he whispered, his lips close to her ear, “release.”
Aurelia loosed the arrow, and this time, it struck the target with a soft thud. She turned to him with a bright smile, her eyes shining with triumph.
“Again,” she whispered, tilting her head up slightly to meet his gaze. Her hand reached for his, lingering longer than necessary.
Philip’s pulse quickened. He stared at her, trying to discern her motives, but all he could feel was the heat rising between them.
Is this part of some plan?
He kept his gaze trained on her, watching for any signs of weakness. Aurelia’s body was tense, her fingers trembling ever so slightly as she tried to nock the arrow. The thin thread of vulnerability was there, just enough for him to notice, but it was buried beneath layers of defiance.
