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She swallowed, and the blush that crept to her face was even stronger.
“I’ll take the spanking, Duke.”
12
Patience couldn’t believe what she’d just agreed to. What on Earth was she thinking?
She didn’t mind the idea of organizing his library; in fact, it didn’t seem like a punishment at all. To her, it sounded like an adventure, a chance to discover new books and perhaps even unearth some botanical treasures.
No, she was going mad from loneliness, she thought. Was it that she craved human touch so much she’d take a spanking? Or was it that she couldn’t tear her gaze from this powerful, wounded man, so haunted, with secrets lurking behind his eyes, that she was ready to accept anything he offered her?
Like that kiss before the soirée.
That kiss was magical.
“But I have conditions of my own,” she said, her head high. “If I take the spanking, you will let me sleep here in your bed tonight.”
His head snapped back. “What?”
“I came here for a night of sleep. And that is what I shall have.”
“I do not let anyone sleep in my bed,” he said. “No one ever has.”
She frowned. “No one?”
“No one. Not even Titan is allowed.”
She squared her shoulders. “Well, Your Grace, too bad. You took away my freedom, my life, and my family. I demand that you at least give me back some sleep.”
He was like a cornered animal. It was quite a strange sight… He felt cornered—by her? He, who had all the power?
“It seems this will hardly suffice as a solution.”
“We will try. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Then, I suppose, I’m doomed to suffer from insomnia for the rest of my days. You owe it to me to try.”
He scowled, his fists clenching.
“Well?” she asked. “What do you say?”
He swallowed. “But you will never come here again. That is the lesson. You must learn to obey.”
“All right. I’ll stay away from here after tonight, if that’s still your wish. But if you reconsider, if you decide you would like me to come to your room again after all, then you must let me sleep here.”
He was silent for a moment, looking her over, his dark eyes like shining pieces of onyx. “Very well, dear girl, we agree so.” He chuckled softly with self-depreciation. “But that will likely never come to pass, for after tonight, you will want nothing to do with me. You’ll flee from this room as if possessed.”
“We shall see.”
He went and sat down at the edge of the bed, his knees wide apart. The sides of his crimson dressing gown fell away, exposing his powerful, well-defined thighs, strong knees, and sculpted, muscular calves, covered with soft-looking dark hair. A thrilling, hot shiver pulsed through her. For the first time in her life, she was seeing naked male legs.
“Come here, Duchess,” he said softly, his gaze holding her like a physical touch on her skin.
She obeyed, not feeling the rug under her feet.
The warm simmer started to feel like an ache in the lower part of her stomach. Her sex felt hot and swollen. What was happening to her? She felt heavy and pliable, like she was made of warm wax, and he was the fire warming her.
She approached him as if on cotton legs. “Aren’t you going to remove your glove?” she asked.
His gaze grew more tortured. “No.”
