Page 25 of His Grace, the Duke
“Burke, what—”
He leaned against the frame. “This is my room,” he said, gesturing with a nod to the other room.
“What?” She paced around the end of her bed. “James put us in adjoining rooms?”
Burke took two steps back, letting her see into his much larger room. Touches of Burke were everywhere. Art to his tastes decked the walls—hunting scenes and landscapes in warm greens, golds, and browns. Messy stacks of books were piled on the table. His coat was flung over a chair and his boots sat flopped by the door.
“Oh, thatdevil,” she hissed. “This is so inappropriate. Why would James do this?”
“Easy,” Burke said with a laugh. “Ladies are usually roomed in the east wing, true enough. But I’m sure James spun an appropriate tale to Mrs. Robbins about needing all the rooms for the coming guests.”
“He has put us in adjoining rooms! Is he trying to start a scandal?”
He just shrugged. “I’m not sure anyone in the house knows these rooms functionally adjoin anymore. George always kept the key well-hidden when he lived in here. For the longest time an armoire even sat before this door,” he added, glancing around. “If we’re discreet, no one need know we have a key,” he finished with a wink.
She rushed back into her room. “I need to pack. I need to move. I—”
Burke just stood in the doorway chuckling. “Do you plan to drag all of this through the house tonight?”
She spun around to glare at him. “You could help me.”
His gaze heated as his eyes roved slowly down her body. “You are so beautiful when you’re angry.”
She wrapped her arms around herself, knowing it did little to hide her shape in the paper-thin chemise. “Don’t flirt with me. Why would James do this?”
He sighed. “It’s just a peace offering. He’s been conflicted about you... to say the least. I think he’d made up his mind at Alcott to try and keep us apart. Clearly, he’s reconsidered. This is his way of blessing our... union.”
Rosalie felt a twisting in her gut. This was more than just a peace offering. James meant to wash his hands of her once and for all. Now that he’d placed her in Burke’s arms, he couldwalk away. Treacherous feelings of sinking self-worth were mirrored by rising anger.
She chose anger.
“Howdarehe,” she snarled. “What a high-handed, despicable thing to do! He does not own us, Burke. He doesn’t get to keep doing this—making decisions for the rest of us and just assume we’ll go along.”
Burke watched her intently, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. “What do you intend to do about it, little siren?”
“I mean to have words with him. The clothes, the rooms, dismissing our help tonight—that man will learn he’s not an island, or so help me...” She didn’t even know how to finish the threat, so she just let it hang, chest heaving as she took a shaky breath.
Burke took a step closer. “Can I watch?”
She blinked. “Watch what?”
His stormy eyes danced with interest. “I want to watch you excoriate James.”
“And why would you want that?”
“To see you both together, tempers flared... voices raised... it is sure to become my new favorite pastime.”
Warmth pooled inside her. “You would enjoy watching us argue?”
He closed the space between them and reached for her hand, placing it over his stiffening cock. Her breath caught as desire burned though her. He leaned in and brushed his lips along her jaw, pulling her flush against him.
“I would see the two of you undone,” he whispered. “I would see you dominate him in all the ways I know you can. I want him on his knees, bending to your will. I want you toownhim.” He ran his lips along the shell of her ear, makingher shiver. “Own us both. Show us your power until we bend only to you. Worship only you... need only you...”
“Burke...” She stroked him, lost to the visions his words conjured in her mind.
“I want you to remember the sound you just made,” he murmured, using one hand to tug on the front tie of her chemise. “Make it again with my cock in your mouth.”
She bloomed, feeling that strange siren’s magic coursing through her. Only Burke could wake it in her. She felt powerful, beautiful, controlled. She opened her eyes, taking in the look of longing on his handsome face. Her smile widened. He was done for. She would have this man. She would make him beg. She dropped her hand away and stepped back. “Take off your clothes,” she whispered. “And get on my bed.”
