Page 43 of A Duchess to Unravel

Alistair chuckled, then walked to the drink cart. He poured a goblet of red wine and a tumbler of scotch for himself.

“You expected such?” He asked.

“Well, arguing seems to be the one thing we can do together,” she replied, her tone wrought with dry humor.

“I seem to recall other things,” he murmured, handing her one of the goblets.

Theo’s cheeks flushed, but instead of responding to his quip, looked at the goblet and asked, “You remembered I liked red wine?”

“Details are important to success,” he said, maintaining eye contact.

Again, Theo did not respond. Instead, she brought the goblet to her lips and took a long sip.

“I am not blind,” Alistair went on. “I am aware of how much work this place needs. It is why I gave you the responsibility. It is far too large a project for me to take on while trying to sort the mess that is these accounts. You do not need to come to me for permission to do something I already asked you to.”

“But it is your money that will be spent,” she replied.

“And I have no doubt you will spend it well,” he chuckled, pointing the folded papers in her hand. “I shall settle any bills you accrue as they come in, but I do not have the time to approve every little item on your list.”

Theo’s lips settled into a straight line, and as she quickly stood up. She put down her wine and swept her hands down her skirts, clearly annoyed.

“I see,” she huffed. “Well, then. I apologize for taking up your precious time, Your Grace. I shall let you get back to your work.”

Alistair set his own glass down and reached for her, his fingers circling around her wrist. He almost laughed aloud when she nearly swept herself off her feet by his loose and but obviously strong hold. He, however, did not even sway as she pulled away from him. She turned her head and glared at him, and then he did laugh.

“That is not funny!” She exclaimed.

“Apologies,” Alistair chuckled, “I forgot how small you are compared to me.”

Theo swept her eyes down his body and raised a brow.

“How? You are a giant. Everyone is smaller than you.”

Alistair ignored the snark in her tone and caressed his thumb across her knuckles.

“I did not mean that I had no time for you, Theo,” he told her. “I just do not waste any of it on pointless matters.”

Theo softened, but only a little.

“Is there …” he paused, letting his eyes drop to the swell of her breasts, “Anything else you want to ask me?”

Alistair flicked his eyes back to hers, and pleasure surged through him as he saw her pupils dilate and her cheeks flush, her anger gone.

“Yes,” she breathed.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Ask.” Alistair commanded.

He brought her hand up to his mouth, kissed her knuckles, then let it go. He walked back to his desk chair and lounged into the deep seat, his eyes raking up and down her body again.

A moist heat blossomed between Theo’s thighs as Alistair’s commanding tone made her jump. Her already reddened cheeks turned scarlet and her mouth was suddenly dry. She licked her lips and swallowed as she stared into Alistair’s hardened gaze.

“I ...” she breathed.

“Oh, do not act bashful now, little kitten,” Alistair warned. “Ask. But do so politely.”

Anger flared through Theo’s growing arousal, but it got caught up in the strange satisfaction she felt from hearing Alistair’sdemanding tone. She hated being told what to do. Yet with him it awakened another emotion. One she could not identify--and she was not sure she wanted to.