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Abundantly curvaceous, Octavia Stapleton has been relentlessly chased by fortune hunters to the point she intends never to marry. When she overhears the Duke of Ashurst call her a charity case, Octavia is mortified. Her humiliation is complete when she falls into a rose bush while eavesdropping, only to be rescued by the sinfully handsome duke.

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When Atticus finds a voluptuous Aphrodite bathed in moonlight and ensnared by roses, he's captivated. Unfortunately, she wants nothing to do with him, and finding her isnt easy. When he finally learns her whereabouts, he risks his life to arrive on her cottage doorstep in the middle of a Christmas snowstorm to keep her safe.

While a blizzard rages outside, inside the cottage the tension sizzling between them rises to a feverish pitch. As Octavia's desire for Atticus strengthens, his resolve not to claim her weakens by the hour. Convinced her contempt for marriage will make her reject his love, he strikes a bargain with her. One that could land him in a hell beyond imagining.