Page 19 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
Iris blinked and looked up. “What question?”
“What you plan on doing today.”
“I thought you did not care?”
He shrugged. “The truth is, I find myself in a bit of a bind. One that I am, admittedly, having a hard time getting around.”
She sighed with exaggeration. “And what bind is that?”
“On the one hand, I am of the same mind as you. And truly, I am glad that we are. It will make things a lot simpler going forward. Yet on the other…” His smirk grew and his dark eyes flicked slowly over her body, and she could see the wicked thought contained behind them. “I have not changed my mind, concerning what I expect from you.”
Despite her best efforts, Iris’ heart began to beat quickly. “I… you are speaking of…”
“The heir you will give me,” he said, his eyes resting on her bare neck. He licked his lips and then tore his gaze away, giving his head a small shake. “We can ignore one another all we wish, but my mind will not be changed. You must know this.”
“I did not consider that.” She swallowed.
“Oh, I doubt that very much,” he laughed.
“I did not,” she snapped, determined for him to believe it.
It was a half-truth at best. Iris had been so shaken by what happened the previous evening, and so resilient in her need to rebuff the duke’s advances, that she had forgotten about what he expected… what was to come. That despite her desire to ignore him fully, the day would come where he would bed her.
A tingle ran up her spine at the thought. Excitement, it was, which she tried desperately to beat back.
“Be that as it may, it will happen. Only now I am wondering how that might look if in a month’s time you and I are little more than strangers.”
That had her frowning. “Are you saying… you want to spend more time with me?”
“Not at all,” he said, his eyes flashing. “But seeing as you have nothing to do today, all those hours to kill, I thought you might want to…” He clicked his tongue. “How can I put this? Skip ahead and do as I know you want to.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?”
“Was I not clear? Come now…” He reached down the table and rested a hand on top of her own. She eyed that hand, feeling its touch spread through her body. “Let us not play games. If anything, you should want this.”
“I don’t.”
“Think of it like this. The sooner we do, the sooner you can put me from your mind completely. I thought that’s what you wanted?”
“I… I…” Her mouth ran dry. “I told you what I wanted.”
“Words are one thing, but actions are another entirely.” His hand squeezed. “And your actions last night spoke very loudly.”
She shook her head. “That was you.”
“You liked it,” he said.
“You’re wrong.”
“You want more.”
“I want you to leave me alone.”
“And if I refuse?” He flashed his eyes.
Iris’ body was shaking. She could hardly breathe. Her eyes were trained on his hand as if it was a snake that might bite her, and where it would have been nice for her to be disgusted by it, hating the feel of the duke’s touch and wanting nothing to do with him… that was a lie too big for her to swallow.
Would it be such a bad thing? He is right, one day, maybe two or three, and then I can put him out of my mind entirely…
