behind her. Bringing his other hand beneath her chin, he turned her head back toward him and pressed the flat of his thumb to the center of her lower lip.
He stared intently down at her, his breath even and deep while hers felt erratic and far too shallow.
Meeting her gaze with a hard, seeking stare, he murmured thickly, “A bit more fun than arguing all the time, isn’t it?” Then he gave a soft chuckle as his attention slid down her throat, past the fluttering pulse at the base of her neck, to the swift rise and fall of her breasts beneath the thin cotton of her gown. “Though, truth be told, I find a great deal of pleasure in imagining the thousands of little ways I’d like to antagonize and frustrate you.”
The rough promise in his voice had her wishing he’d go into more detail of what he’d like to do to her.
“Hmm.” Wickedness curled his lips. “The idea excites you. I can’t say I’m surprised. D’you think you could handle a man like me, duchess?”
The arrogant condescension in his tone seemed forced. As did the use of the nickname. Tipping her head back, she looked into his eyes—dark with desire and heavily shadowed. He spoke of lust with smug confidence while shielding his deeper thoughts and emotions from her gaze.
Was he toying with her?
The thought that he might not be feeling the same kind of intense draw and connection that she experienced whenever she was near to him—or worse, he was trying to deny it for some reason—triggered a cold rush of frustration.
He might have managed to prove a point after all. Though perhaps not the one he’d intended. Because he was right. She was ready to admit she did want something from him, but it might be far more than he was prepared to give her.
She lifted her chin as pride wrapped around her uncertainty, insulating the tender emotions he’d inspired. She cleared her throat to state in a soft but steady voice, “Why don’t we put it to the test.”
His expression revealed his momentary surprise before softening into a sensual grin. A flicker of anticipation lit his gaze. Her breath caught sharply when he slid his hand around her nape in a possessive, masterful grip as though to position her for his mouth.
She almost lost her nerve then as more heat swirled between them. Rich and deep and altering.
“Teach me to fight.” The words flew from her lips in a rush, effectively bringing a stop to whatever he’d intended to do next.
His entire body became still and tense while his smile tightened into a line. “You want me to train you?”
She decided not to think of how much the roughness in his voice pleased her. She intended to throw him off and she’d succeeded, but desire still roared through him.
“I know you’re teaching Frederick.”
He looked surprised. “You do?”
“Of course. I know everything that occurs in this house. I think it’s a wonderful idea and I’d also like to learn how to defend him—and myself—in case the need should arise.”
His tawny brows lowered in a scowl. “The need won’t arise. I’ll protect you.”
“It’s best to prepare for all contingencies.”
His hand tightened around the back of her neck, sending waves of awareness through her body. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation to feel herself at his mercy even in that small way.
Then the corner of his mouth twisted upward. “We’re back to arguing, then?”
“Did we ever truly stop?”
In an instant, his expression shifted back to sensual as he leaned close enough for her to feel the breath of his whispered words against her cheek. “Yes, we did.”
Straightening, he stepped back while releasing his hand from her nape. With his gaze holding hers, he grasped her hips in his hands and lifted her from the table to set her on her feet. Something unreadable glittered in his eyes as his lips tilted in a familiar smirk. “Tomorrow morning, then. Eleven o’clock.” His gaze swept over her again from head to toe. “Wear something you can move around in.”
Her legs shook as he turned away and strode across the room. The muscles in his back bunched and released with every step until he reached his shirt where he’d tossed it to the floor. Lifting the garment over his head, he shrugged it back on.
Smoothing her skirts over her legs, she turned away from the sight of him and left the ballroom with trembling knees and a tense jaw. Her body still