Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Chloe stood in the circle of men, trilling another fake laugh. She felt better in one regard. If Ryker was all that she feared he might be, she had options.

Several pairs of adoring eyes stared back at her.

But that was a consideration for another time. Because she’d spotted Ryker across the ballroom, and she could swear that she felt him moving closer. With every second that passed, the tension that crackled in the air threatened to break.

“Miss Fairchild.” Ryker’s voice shivered over her skin.

“Your Grace,” she answered, dipping into a curtsy as she turned toward him. She did not meet his gaze, however, choosing to look at a point just over his shoulder. Meeting his eye now would surely shrivel all her determination.

He was bound to be furious, and she could not let either fear or attraction pull her from the path she’d laid out tonight.

The men around her turned toward Ryker as well, each bowing. But Ryker ignored them all, stalking toward her, only stopping when he’d breached the circle of admirers and stood just in front of her.

“Gentlemen, have you met my guardian, the Duke of Helmsworth?”

A murmur of assent went about the ring of men, but Ryker continued to stare at her until she had no choice but to meet his gaze.

His hand snaked out, grabbing her elbow. “We need a word, my charge.”

She did her best to bat her eyelashes. “About what, my duke?”

But he was already pulling her away from the men and toward the edge of the ballroom.

Before she knew it, they were in a quiet hallway, where a set of stairs led up to the next level. Without pause, he turned and lifted her into his arms, carrying her up the stairs. “Put me down,” she gasped.

Ryker ignored her completely, testing doors until one opened.

It was only when they were in a room alone, a small sitting room, that he set her down. But he didn’t let her go. Instead, he crushed her to his chest. “What are you doing here?”

She looked to the side, presenting her profile. “Attending the ball.”

“Collecting admirers,” he growled out.

She drew in a fortifying breath, remembering Mildred’s advice. “Maybe. Someone will have to keep me company when you leave me all alone.”

He began moving forward and she backed up until her rear was against the wall.

The hard length of him pressed to her front. She ought to be frightened. Or irritated at least. But raw desire coursed through her as his thigh wedged between her legs. “No one touches you but me.”

“But you said you won’t touch me.”

His jaw hardened, his mouth achingly close to hers.

“Will you also be abstaining?” She already knew the answer to that question.

“I am a duke.”

She forced herself not to rub against him like a cat in heat. Angry and determined as she was, she still couldn’t quite control her reaction to him. But he didn’t deserve to know the effect he was having on her, despite the fact that he was a complete ass. “And if we should wed, I will be a duchess.”

“If? You mean when.”

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. How far did she go? “You locked me in a room. You want to continue to lock me away. I don’t know that I want to be your wife.”

His lips curled. “You think another man would be better?”

She looked at him then, her chin lifting, her fingers biting into his arms. “I have needs too. Who is going to meet them?”

“Is that what this is about? Your needs?” One of his hands came to her hip, pulling her more firmly against his leg. The shock of pleasure that coursed through her cut off her breath as her eyes widened, meeting his.

He closed the distance between their mouths, taking hers in a scalding kiss. Heat and want flooded her body. She couldn’t stop herself from rolling her hips, more sparks of pleasure heating her entire body.

Her hand came up behind his neck as she pulled him closer, deepening the kiss, wanting all that he had to offer. She wanted to show him that she could give him all types of love if he’d let her.

He held her hips, their bodies grinding together as her pleasure spiraled higher.

But before she could reach the apex of her pleasure, he pulled back, not enough to break their contact but just enough that her body’s reaction slowed. His dark eyes filled with raw need as he searched her face. “I thought you were a little mouse.”

Had he thought to easily control her? Mildred had been right. It was time to be brave. “I’m being chased by a very aggressive cat.”

He still held her hip in his hand, his thigh between her legs. "True. Which means you can’t win.”

She shook her head, knowing she was about to hurt him. But it was what she had to do. “Just like your mother didn’t win.”

He pushed away, looking physically revolted, as he put several feet between them. “How dare you.”

She shuddered then, her arms wrapping about herself for strength. The air in the room was already cooling her skin. “You want to separate yourself from your father? Don’t be indifferent to me the way he was to her.”

“You don’t know anything about it.”

“Then tell me.”

“It’s time for you to go home.”

Her fists tightened as her chin notched up. “Stop running away from me.”

“I’m not running,” he rumbled, moving closer again but this time she shivered despite his heat. “I just don’t want you.”

His words cut into her. She’d known he was going to hurt her back. It was inevitable. “Fair enough,” she whispered, swallowing down a lump. “Then let me go. But don’t tie me to a man who doesn’t want me.”

She felt the rumble in his chest. He reached for her, but his hands weren’t rough. They were gentle as he tugged her from the wall and opened the door.

“You’re still sending me home?”

He stopped, his mouth twitching. “I’ll escort you.”

And then, lacing his fingers through hers, he pulled her out the door.

* * *

He was an ass… Ryker knew it.

Not only had he just lied, he was too selfish to admit it.

Christ, she was right, he was just like his father. She sat across from him in the dark carriage, staring out the window.

He was losing her. He could feel it. She was gaining strength and rapidly acquiring knowledge. Most important of all… she had options.

She didn’t need to marry an emotionally stunted prick of a man. He scrubbed his hands down his face.

He did have one weapon at his disposal. She was attracted to him…

He’d felt the roll of her hips when he’d had her pressed against that wall. Which brought him back to the reason he’d locked her in her room.

It was becomingly increasingly obvious he had to choose. Her or the path he’d laid out for himself.

There would be no middle ground.

But he didn’t want to think about that tonight. What he wanted…

Was her.

To keep her close enough to give himself the time he needed to make the decisions about his future. Again… selfish.

But it didn’t have to be.

“Chloe,” he rumbled, leaning his elbows on his knees. “Look at me.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

She nipped at her lip. “You just told me you didn’t want me.”

He was worse than horse dung. “I didn’t mean it.” There. He’d said the words. He pushed further out on his seat, reaching out a hand to brush her knee with his fingers. She turned to the side, pulling her legs as far away from him as the space in the carriage would allow.

“No?”

He let out a long sigh. “You’d told me that I was like my father, and I wanted to hurt you back.”

She looked at him then. “Was your father a philanderer too?”

His brows drew together. She’d mentioned his fidelity twice now. And then he remembered… he’d heard a noise outside his study the night that Strongborn had come calling. “It was you who was eavesdropping.”

Her chin dropped then. “I…”

He sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. She knew why he’d gone to that ball. “Why were you listening? Tell me. What did you hope to hear?” He sat forward, his legs spread wide, his elbows on his knees. Had she been instructed to do so? Was she in league with Adam after all?

Her hands pressed tightly together, her breath catching, as her gaze swung back to him. “You only gave me a fortnight. I had to know if I was making the biggest mistake of my life.”

The words cut him. “You think marrying me will be the biggest mistake of your life?”

She shook her head. “I’m not meant to be shunted off alone, Ryker. I just wanted to know if you would ever really desire me. I got my answer. You went to that ball tonight to…” She shook her head, refusing to speak anymore.

He might have been angry, but satisfaction filled his chest to think she was jealous. “Did you plan to go with Countess Green to stop me?”

“I planned to end our engagement.” Her chin notched up. “And to find a new prospect.”

He swallowed down his growl of protest. For a moment he just stared and then he sat back on his bench seat, his legs still wide and powerful. Her gaze moved down him as she swallowed a visible lump. “I wouldn’t have done it.”

Her mouth opened and then closed. “Easy to say now.”

He noted they’d only discussed their personal matters. “And what did you learn about Adam?”

Her confused stare met his. “Who is Adam?”

“You tell me.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. But I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You listened to our conversation, so I know you heard him mentioned. You’re lying to me.”

Her eyes widened. “I only heard a few sentences. A club, a challenge, the master of something or other, a widow.” She scooted out on her seat. “And if you don’t trust me, or don’t want me, Ryker, send me away. I’ll go. I’ll find another husband and you’ll never hear from me again.”

For a moment, Ryker stared at her. He had a choice. Believe her or not. He had no new evidence, nothing but his own intuition. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep cleansing breath.

Chloe was telling the truth.

He opened his eyes and his arms to her, a clear invitation. “Why don’t you come over here so I can prove to you that I can hardly think of anyone other than you?”

Indecision flashed in her eyes. “Ryker.”

“What, love?”

“It only muddles…” Her hands clenched and unclenched.

He opened his stance even wider, inviting her into his space.

“I’ve managed to avoid complete ruin,” she whispered, her voice trembling in a way that assured him she was weakening. “I shouldn’t tempt fate.”

“I won’t take your maidenhead,” he answered, giving her his most charming smile. “I just want to make you feel good.”

“Me?” She scooted toward him the slightest bit and his smile widened. “You’re worried about making me feel good? What about you?”

He didn’t want to talk about that. He’d nearly ruined his relationship with Chloe over doubts and suspicions. And bad behavior. He and Chloe shared an intensely special connection that he’d come close to destroying with a tryst that would have been mediocre at best. “Chloe.” He knew he skirted dangerously close to admitting real feelings. Feelings he would not wish to divulge even to himself. “My satisfaction is irrelevant tonight. What I want is to bring you pleasure.”

Her breath hitched and her knees pressed together. Was she trying to alleviate the ache between her thighs? Good.

“What do you say, love?”