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He stepped even closer until his lips was close to hers. She closed her eyes and he blew a breath over her lips, she clutched his waistcoat with a whimper that fanned the flames of his arousal.

He stepped back immediately before he embarrassed himself

"I think you deceive yourself, wife. I guess I would see you soon."

With that he walked away calmly.

When the door closed behind him, Victoria crumbled to the floor, her knees unable to hold her up any longer.

Had the Duke not left she was sure she might have climbed the man like a pole anything to ease the desire that burned through her blood.

The man was definitely potent, just the sight of him turned her into a wanton needy female.

The fact that he aimed to torture her with her body, was both exciting and scary because she doubted that she could hold out for long.

Going by her reaction to the man just few moments ago, the man just had to touch her and she would throw her pride to the wind.

She did not know what had made her challenge the duke when the man could play her body flawlessly like an instrument and could make her beg without much effort.

Well, one thing she was sure of was that she was not alone in the attraction. With enough knowledge, she was sure she could make him beg as well.

Now that she thought about it, she did not understand why he felt the need to punish her for trapping him. Just the night before he had been the one reassuring her.

What had changed between the night before and this moment? She wondered.

When her sisters had come upstairs to tell her that the duke was here to see Father, she had rushed down just belting her robe over a nightgown. She had hoped he was in Father's study so she had hoped to eavesdrop

Instead she met him walking out with anger radiating off of him in waves. She wondered what Father had said to him to provoke such anger.

She knew that she was supposed to be scared in the face of such anger instead she became filled with wanton desire. Calm Anthony was devastatingly attractive in a dark way but an angry Anthony was just sinfully irresistible.

She just hoped a part of her remained after she married the duke because the man seemed fit to devour her and she had a feeling she would absolutely enjoy it.

ChapterTen

Victoria stepped into the drawing room, grateful her family was occupied with other tasks so she could have a moment of peace to organize her thoughts.

While it was clear she was attracted to the duke, she couldn't help but feel guilty for using such low means as she had to trap him.

His anger was justified. She could admit that now that she had had a moment to think. And then again, she had boasted that she had be able to help restore his reputation. She had to start formulating a plan before he asked and then she had been speechless and caused him to be even angrier at her.

She could imagine he already saw her as nothing more than a conniving woman who could do the lowest things to get what she wanted. She didn't want him to think her also a fraud.

But what could she do?

She sighed and turned. It all seemed so easy when she had been proclaiming it. Now that she had to prove it, her mind was blank. Or rather, clouded with thoughts of the man she was to marry.

There was a lot she didn't know about him and now she would be tied to him, she wondered if she would find joy in her marital home.

"Victoria!" She heard a frantic voice yell from where she lay, reclined against the drawing room chair to recover from the day's stress.

What now? She groaned internally sitting up.

Theodore burst into the drawing room, startling her.

"Theodore what are you doing here?" she asked worried. "Has something happened? Is Henrietta well?"

She hoped nothing had happened to his wife. He always said she was unwell whenever she asked the reason for her absence at societal events. The poor woman had not looked so sickly when she had first arrived.