Page 21 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
“What is?” he asked, tilting his head a little.
“Your reputation of being a man who… has a way with words,” she explained, not wishing to delve more deeply into the rumors. “Tell me, is that an inherited talent, or have you carefully been cultivating it over the years?”
Neither of them could hide their amusement any longer. She knew he wanted her to be here just as much as she did. And that was probably the most dangerous aspect of the whole thing.
“Perhaps a bit of both,” he replied roguishly. “But I do believe the cause of it lies in inspiration, really. And true inspiration comes in the presence of extraordinary company.”
Anna couldn’t help but chuckle at such words. Truth be told, she knew this was just an overture into their game, and they were both playing it to perfection. In a way, she had already revealed what she had come to say, only she had not said it in those exact words. Or was it the brandy speaking on behalf of them both?
Her laughter tinkled like wind chimes in the breeze. “Extraordinary company, you say? Tell me, what other talents does Your Grace possess, besides the perfected art of flattery?”
He leaned in, having nestled in the chaise lounge that stood facing the armchair in which she was seated. The look he gave her made her weak in the knees.
“I am a man of many talents, Lady Ravenscroft.” As he spoke, he swirled the glass in his hand, and the silent voids between his words were filled with the sound of ice clinking against the confines of the glass.
“I am quite skilled in the art of dance, although I do not show it often. One should not, you see, plaster such talent in the face of those… less versed in the art. I am also a connoisseur of fine music and,” he paused again for dramatic effect, “a master at unraveling the tangled yarn of the human mind.”
Anna feigned surprise, pressing her hand to her chest. “Goodness me, it seems I am in the presence of a true Renaissance man.”
She indeed was, and she knew it. But she spoke the words in jest, not wanting him to get big-headed, which he already obviously was. Yet that only seemed to make him even more alluring.
“Indeed,” he replied, with a playful glint in his eyes. “But my most impressive talent is just that, the ability to recognize when I am in extraordinary company and to actually appreciate it.”
“Why do I notice only now how dangerously charming you are?” she asked, purposely being direct as she spoke. She wanted him to know that she would not be easily swayed by his poetic compliments, no matter how much she enjoyed them.
“That makes two of us then,” he revealed, leaning back into the rest behind him. “Do not, even for a moment, think that your charms have gone unnoticed.”
She could not control what his words did to her body. The flicker of desire burned ravenously inside of her, and his words only enflamed it even more. Her cheeks flushed as she wondered about the dangerous seas she was sailing. This man was perilous to her.
She could easily recognize that. She ought to walk out of this house and never look back. But she couldn’t. Something was keeping her there, an invisible force the likes of which she had never felt before.
“I am not the one bestowing compliments upon my guest from the moment she walked through the door,” she reminded him mischievously.
A smirk lingered on his lips. “Inspiration, Lady Ravenscroft. Do not underestimate it for a single moment.”
Did he just call her his inspiration? She could feel the drumming of her own heart inside her ears, drowning out all reason and logic and leaving just pure desire for this man, who seemed to be playing the tune to which her body responded instinctively. To be quite honest, he had caught her off guard and she needed a moment to gather her thoughts.
Fortunately, a knock on the door provided a distraction.
“Yes?” the duke called out.
The door opened, revealing the apologetic face of a servant girl who had come to inform them that the dinner would be served shortly.
“Thank you.” He nodded, dismissing her. He waited for the sound of the doors closing, then he turned to Anna once again. “Shall we continue this at the dinner table?”
She nodded with a smile, feeling the rush to her cheeks slowly subside. As she accepted his proffered arm, allowing him to walk her toward the dining room, she could feel that this was only the beginning. And the thought made her feel both thrilled and petrified at the same time.
Chapter 11
Alexander should be feeling on edge. He should be concerned, wondering how the night would end, but all he could think about was Anna’s lips, the sound of Anna’s voice, and the thought of her saying his name in the darkness, her hot breath spilling against his naked skin.
It’s the brandy talking,he assured himself.All of this is just… the brandy.
But it was not. The realization dawned on him suddenly, with no warning. He could not remember the last time he had desired a woman to such an extent that he could not think straight in her presence. He knew he was exaggerating with the flattery, but he could not stop himself. In his mind, none of it was an exaggeration. She truly wasthatstunning,thatmesmerizing,thattempting. Strangely enough, it seemed that she herself did not see that.
With the notes of their flirtatious banter still in the air, Alexander and Anna made their way from the parlor to the dining room. The double doors swung open, revealing a space that had taken on an even more polished note than it usually had.
Especially for the occasion, the dining room was adorned with luxurious draperies and a dainty, embellished table cloth in the same hue of lavender. Purple wildflowers peered out of what seemed to be a million small vases scattered about the room, enhancing the romantic ambiance.
