Page 28 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
“Is that so?”
“Indeed,” she replied, taking a sip of her wine. Her eyes glimmered with mischief as she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “I never would have known I had such…accuracy.”
The words were innocent enough but her tone implied otherwise.
Philip’s eyes darkened and his body grew taut, but his lips curled into a knowing smile. “You are tempting fate, wife,” he murmured, his voice roughened by a mix of amusement and something deeper. “Do you think you could handle me?”
Aurelia’s pulse quickened but she kept her smile steady, leaning in further, testing the boundaries. “I believe, Your Grace, that I can handle much more than you give me credit for.”
She reached out again with a smile, this time letting her fingers rest on his wrist, the contact deliberate.
Philip’s hand shot out, gripping her shoulder firmly, stopping her advance. His eyes bored into hers, a warning flashing just beneath the surface.
“Do you really think I do not know what you are doing?” he said, his voice low but sharp. “You think I am so easily swayed by a pretty dress and a soft touch?”
Aurelia’s heart hammered in her chest, a mix of frustration and defiance surging within her, but she refused to falter. “And if I am? What of it, Philip? Perhaps we can both gain something from this…arrangement.”
For the briefest moment he looked taken aback by her boldness.
Slowly, a dangerous smile spread across his face. “You are not as innocent as you pretend to be, are you?”
She met his gaze squarely, jutting her chin. “I never claimed to be innocent.”
Aurelia wasn’t sure of what she was saying anymore, but she knew she didn’t want to lose to him, especially not now.
Philip’s hand slid to her stubborn chin, pulling her face closer to his. His breath fanned her lips, the tension between them palpable.
“I am still in control,Aurelia. Do not ever forget that.”
With a smirk he released her and rose from the table.
He paused for a moment, glancing back at her as if to savor the sight of her breathless and wanting, before walking out of the room, leaving her to stew in the heat of her desire.
Chapter Eleven
Aurelia did not back down. More truthfully, shecouldnot back down. The stakes were too high, her need for answers too pressing.
Philip had caught on to her plan and had uncovered her attempts at seduction. Yet, even as he tried to resist, he still reacted. His body betrayed him as surely as hers had betrayed her. Each touch, each glance was charged with undeniable tension.
She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the lingering sensation of his hands upon her, the way his breath had stirred something deep within her when he spoke so near to her lips.
This is not about desire.I am doing this strictly because the faster he opens up to me, the faster I will learn what truly transpired between my father and his brother.
The reminder seemed necessary, almost like a talisman to keep her mind focused on her true goal. The tension between them was becoming a game, and games were dangerous when played with someone like her husband.
With a sigh, she lay back against the soft pillows on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. The quiet of her room seemed at odds with the restlessness that hummed beneath her skin.
When had she become so bold? The woman she had been when she had first arrived, so timid and unsure, was now openly teasing her husband, challenging him with her eyes, her body and her words. It was an awakening of a part of herself she never knew existed.
Turning on her side, her gaze fell on the book resting on her bedside table;How to Tame a Duke,the very manual that had emboldened her to pursue her course of action.
A wry smile tugged at the corners of her lips.So much knowledge from such a small volume. But now that Philip was aware of her plan, now that he had seen through her attempts, would continuing her charade still work?
She chewed on her bottom lip in thought. Perhaps it would. He was not immune to her, he had proven that much. How long could he truly resist?
Reaching for the book, she buried herself in its remaining pages, absorbing each word and each sly bit of counsel as though preparing for battle.
The morning came too soon, the pale light filtering through the curtains, rousing her from her restless dreams. Aurelia woke up earlier than she had the previous morning, filled with renewed determination.
