Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

A urelia chewed the inside of her cheek as she watched the Viscount from the parlor window.

Philip had not provided her with any opportunities to learn more about her father's clandestine lifestyle. How was she to make sense of anything in her life when he kept her locked up like a prisoner?

The sun began to set, ushering in yet another evening that promised nothing but loneliness.

There is only one way to remedy this unhappy situation.

She shook her head in frustration, turned away from the window, and made her way determinedly across the room toward Philip's study.

If the Duke thinks he can continue to punish me for something I have not done, he has another thing coming.

She marched into his study and slammed the door behind her. "We need to talk."

Philip looked up from his desk with a frown and blinked in the flickering firelight.

The room was dark, stuffy and overheated. She examined the drawn drapes and the fire, then placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Why is there a fire blazing in here when it's the middle of summer?"

"I like the heat; it helps me think. This is my house. I may choose to light any fires I wish without being questioned." The muscle in his jaw ticked as he glared back at her.

In the aftermath of their previous arguments, Aurelia had realized that Philip's jaw muscle only twitched when he became annoyed, more so in her presence than in anyone else's.

He tore his gaze away from hers and stacked the letters he'd been reading into a neat pile on the side of his desk. "Speak then."

Aurelia took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She was determined to get an answer, whatever the cost. "Am I to be a pawn in your schemes for the rest of my life? I demand to see my father, especially since you are so determined to keep me from speaking to anyone else!"

Philip's eyes darkened as he sat back in his chair and rubbed the tips of his fingers against his thumb.

"Why does his absence bother you so? Is there a good reason you are so adamant about seeing your father again?"

She huffed in astonishment. "Because he is my father. What is it about that statement you do not understand? I would inquire after your parents, but I am, of course, forbidden to ask."

Placing his hands flat on the desk, Philip pushed himself up and scowled at her. "He may be your father, but he is the one who unceremoniously offered you up as payment for his many debts."

"And you were the one who accepted, Your Grace."

Philip's eyes darkened as he stood and straightened to his full height. Desire knotted in her belly as she watched the muscles of his chest strain against his shirt.

"I will not have you gather information that you can feed to your father. Do I make myself clear? There are plenty of activities and other engagements to fill up your days."

Aurelia balled her fists at her sides and rolled her eyes in fury. "Do this! Do not do that! Are you certain that you do not wish to draw up a schedule for me, Your Grace? Perhaps I should accompany you on your many evening adventures; then you could be sure that your little prisoner behaved according to your constant demands!"

Something inside Philip snapped as he made his way around the desk and advanced on her, his eyes dangerously dark.

"You seem to be under the impression that you can speak to me in whichever manner you choose, Duchess. I am still the master here, and thus you will respect me."

"How am I to respect a man who keeps me captive and refuses to even provide me with a plausible reason why?"

"Enough! I will not be spoken to in this manner. You will obey me." He moved quicker than a flash as he gripped her wrist and held it beside her head, staring her down as his nostrils flared with anger.

Her breathing deepened when she suddenly became increasingly aware of his proximity.

"And how exactly do you intend to make obey you, Your Grace?" Her voice dropped to a whisper as her chest heaved.

There was something about the Duke that made her lose all sense of propriety when she was in his presence.

His lips were on hers in a matter of seconds as she fought against his grip.

Philip's kiss was hot and searing and her body began to yield to his intense touch. His hand released her wrist and trailed down to her hip, caressing her flesh through the fabric of her dress.

It didn't take long for his tongue to part her lips, searching the warm depths of her mouth with a fierce passion that left her breathless.

Aurelia's hands worked their way into his hair, tugging on the roots when his grip on her waist tightened.

The Duke broke their kiss for a brief second and growled, before taking her lips in another fiery kiss.

A gasp escaped her throat as his hands moved up her sides and pushed her against the desk. Her fingers twined in his hair, and forced his head back as he kissed a path across her jawline and down her throat.

Aurelia's moans of deep pleasure filled the air and caught her off guard as she surrendered to the carnal desire that coursed through her veins. She wanted him to touch her, to stroke and caress every inch of her body and devour her completely.

A loud growl rumbled in his chest as he swept aside his paperwork, lifted her up and laid her on her back across the desk.

His hands moved down her thighs, lifting her dress when he reached her ankles.

Her skin tingled with pleasure when he positioned himself between her legs and ground his hips against hers, taking her lips in another passionate kiss. Snaking her fingers down his chest, Aurelia felt the chiseled muscles that further ignited the growing flames of desire between her thighs.

His hard member pressed against her secret place as he gripped her hands, intertwined their fingers and held them fast on either side of her head. Pleasure shot through her body when he nipped the crook of her neck, using his tongue to draw a path to the valley between her breasts.

I want him…

Aurelia writhed beneath him as the sensations he stirred in her core pushed away all rational thought from her mind. A light layer of goosebumps broke across her skin as his rough tongue licked the swell of her breasts. He dragged his teeth across her sensitive skin before kissing it passionately.

A knock suddenly sounded at the study door.

"Your Grace, will you be needing the new stallion saddled for this evening's ride?" The butler's muffled voice carried through the door, causing the Duke to jump back.

Cool air suddenly hit Aurelia's heated flesh despite the warmth of the blazing fire.

"You may have the horse saddled," Philip called back without taking his eyes off her.

As she pushed herself up on her elbows, Aurelia drew her lower lip between her teeth and panted in rapid breaths.

My dear God, what was that? What had just happened?

"Very well, Your Grace. I will instruct the stable hands at once." The butler's voice drifted away from the door as a loaded silence fell over them.

"Leave my study," the Duke spoke through labored breaths, his chest heaving from their interrupted passion.

His eyes were dark with lust, but Aurelia felt a sting of rejection as she pushed herself off the desk.

Did he regret kissing me? Did he truly view me as his enemy?

She hurried to fix her dress and straighten her hair, taking a moment to meet his gaze. "Will you dine with me this evening, Your Grace?"

His eyes clouded over with mistrust and his gaze dipped to her chest before moving back to her eyes. "No. Before I partake of my evening meal I will go riding as I had planned. There is no need to wait for me."

"As you wish. I will see you in the morning." Aurelia licked her bruised lips, buried the hurt in her heart and turned to leave Philip's study.

I need him to trust me. I need him to believe in me.

She closed the door behind her and leaned her head against the wood in frustration. She had desperately wanted his kisses and had not wanted him to stop.

Why do I become so helpless in his presence? It cannot just be me that feels this heat, this need…

She recalled the way he'd obliged her when she'd tugged on his hair. The feel of his tongue caressing her skin still sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. He'd listened to her then and had responded to her touch.

Biting her lips, she stepped back from the door and made her way toward the spiraling staircase.

If she was to get anywhere at all with the Duke, she would need to make him yield to her in the same way she'd yielded to his kisses.

I need to seduce His Grace.