Page 71 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

“I let the first one slide because you arrived on time just as I requested, but if you call meYour Graceagain, I shall snatch that wine glass from your hand and ravage you right here on the floor.”

The deep rumble of his voice made heat throb between her legs, and she swallowed at his intense gaze.

“We were speaking about my encyclopedia if you must know,” she said peevishly.

“Ah yes, my brother will be the first person to read it,” Christian muttered irritably.

“I promised him many years ago.”

Christian took a small step forward while sipping his wine, his eyes never leaving hers. “And how long have you been working on it?”

“Almost a year to the day. And nothing has changed concerning our deal, I might add. I am still going to work on it for another year before we have a child.”

His lips quirked up at the corners. “I remember.”

“But you would go back on your word now? You are three days early.”

“Two and a half,” he corrected. “And it is hardly difficult to see why. I have watched you shamelessly flirting with my brother since he returned?—”

“I have done nothing of the sort!”

“—and I am not inclined to watch you laugh with other men and simper and forget about your husband. When you need a reminder of who you belong to, I will always oblige.”

Louise scoffed, before taking another sip of her wine, but she ended up draining it completely. Christian’s long fingers stretched toward her, hovering in the air expectantly as she handed him the empty glass. She felt strangely bereft when he took it, as though it had acted as a shield between them.

Christian put both glasses on the table beside the fireplace before very deliberately running his eyes over her.

“I believe I told you before how beautiful you are. I wish you would wear your hair down on every occasion. I much prefer it that way.”

“I shall do as I please,” she retorted.

Christian chuckled. “I do not doubt that, Duchess. I have never seen you doanythingyou did not wish to do.”

“Save for marrying you, you mean?” she snapped.

His expression instantly turned into a scowl as he marched forward and gripped her arms tightly in his hands.

“Are youtryingto vex me?” he growled.

“Always,” she shot back. “And you know very well that neither of us would have chosen the other as a spouse, so do not act as though this is?—”

But she was unable to finish her sentence.

He pulled her forward so forcefully that she was almost lifted off her feet, and suddenly his lips covered hers and his slick tongue plunged into her mouth, massaging hers as she let out a low moan.

Christian bit her lower lip so hard that she gasped and pressed her against him, before burying his hands in her hair. His fingers ran through the long strands as he groaned.

Pulling back, he lowered her to her feet once more. His eyes were smoldering in the half-light, all traces of humor gone. Louise panted slightly as she looked up at him.

“You are here, in my chambers,” he said tightly, “and you are my wife. That is not going to change. Whatever came before is over. You will submit to me. You willbelongto me, body and soul, from this moment on. Is that clear?”

Louise found herself nodding helplessly as he took another small step toward her, looming over her as she tilted her head back.

“I want to hear it, Duchess. I want to hear you tell me that you belong to me and that no other man will ever come near you again.”

She nodded again.

“Say it.”