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She’d straightened, and now he was at a loss.

What was expected of him now? Alistair glanced at Hiro, but the coward had abandoned him, leaving him alone with this notebook-wielding reporter.

Why was she here?

“Your Grace,” she began, stepping closer to the desk. “I…apologize for calling on you without warning, but…”

Her tongue darted across her lips, and Alistair’s eyes widened.

Between one heartbeat and the next, his cockstand had gone from “considering” to “absolutely positive”. When was the last time he’d reacted this way to a woman?

Considering ye always refused to allow Kip and Fawkes to drag you out to a brothel…quite a while. Possibly never.

He might not have ever lain with a woman, but Christ—her mouth… Her mouth made a man want wicked things. Things he shouldn’t want, not when said man’s mother frequently harped on about marriage.

He didn’t want to marry. No, that wasn’t true; he had no objection to the institution, he just didn’t want the bother of finding a bride.

What if the bride came to you?

She was staring at him, waiting for a sign.

Ye willnae marry someone of yer station. What about someone below ye? Over whom ye have power? She cannae hurt ye…

He shook himself, then nodded toward one of the chairs his sisters had so recently vacated.

And she smiled.

She smiled.

He felt it reach down through his chest and wrap around the base of his cock and squeeze. All breathing stopped.

By the time he’d recovered, she was leaning forward, expression serious once more. “I have something important to discuss with you, Your Grace.”

And while he guessed her next words would be I know all about your midnight secret, he found himself almost desperate to hear her say I’ve come to give myself to you.

She wouldn’t.

Of course she wouldn’t. A woman would have to be truly daring to do such a thing.

Since she was watching him so intently, Alistair decided she must not know of his infirmity. He forced himself to focus.

Olivia Wilson’s presence in his life should not engender quite so much longing.

He nodded, to let her know he was listening.

“Forgive my daring, but…” She did the thing with her tongue again, and he reminded his cock that was no reason to ignore the rules of propriety. “But I was desperate.”

Desperate.

Perfect.

Chapter 3

The Duke was staring at her with an uncomfortable sort of intensity.

Oliva swallowed and shifted in her seat, his gaze making her feel…strangely warm. And unnerved. Why hadn’t he spoken? Why was he staring at her as if he expected something from her?

“Forgive my daring, but…but I was desperate.” Something leaped in his eyes, and she was even more nonplussed. “I…I had to see you, to speak with you, directly.”