Page 52 of A Duchess to Unravel

“That is not what you said.”

“I meant anything useless like hiring the necessary people to help you accomplish your work,” he said with an exasperated sigh.

Theo stared at him for a long moment, her mind clearly working over his words as she began to fidget, then she shook her head.

“No, I do not believe it.” She stated. “If that were true you would not have embarrassed me so at dinner tonight.”

Alistair raised a brow, taking another step toward her as he raised a finger to her chest.

“Ye did that yourself, Theo,” he clarified. “As I said earlier, I warned ye of what would happen if you crossed the line into disrespect.”

Her cheeks flushed even darker, and she bowed her head.

“I thought you were avoiding me,” she murmured.

Alistair’s hand dropped, his eyes widening with surprise.

“Why?”

“Because you do not ever visit me. It is always me that must come to you, and it makes me feel like some simpering dog begging for a bone.”

Alistair groaned, suddenly feeling weary, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“I have two and a half months left before I return to Scotland,” he stated, feeling his annoyance grow. “I need every moment I can spare to clean up this mess. It is why I called for Dominic and Everett, as I told you at dinner. The original plan was to simply give them controlling seats to operate the accounts in my absence but that will never work unless we get this all sorted.”

“Then why give me any time at all?” Theo asked.

“Because it is part of our deal,” he growled. He took a step back to battle his growing agitation. It was not just that his original plans had gone awry. It was more than that. He had brought this new burden on himself though, and he was going to handle it.

“I see,” Theo said, hurt shining in her eyes.

She took a step back.

“I am nothing but a distraction to you then. Very well. I thank you for keeping your end of our bargain, Alistair, but it is no longer necessary.”

She moved to turn around, but Alistair grabbed her shoulder and spun her back to face him. Even just that small touch had fire seeping into his palm and searing through his bloodstream.

“You will tell me what is truly bothering you, and you will tell me now, Theo.” He demanded.

When she did not meet his eyes, he crooked his finger under her chin and lifted.

“Out with it,” he snarled.

Not rage, but embarrassment, flooded her blue eyes, and to his surprise, he saw them grow watery. It softened him, and he moved his crooked finger up to caress her cheek. Theo’s lashes fluttered at the gentle touch, and she sighed.

“I thought it was enough to know I could come to you for pleasure,” she finally confessed. “But it is not. I want … I want to know that I am wanted too. That this is not just another item to check off your already long list.”

Alistair’s widened with surprise, and he framed Theo’s face with both his hands, silently urging her to open her eyes.

“You think I do not want you?” he rasped.

Theo’s eyes slowly opened them, and it was then he saw her blatant longing.

“It is so … one-sided.” She told him. “I thought perhaps that would be satisfying in a way, but it is not. Not for me.”

Alistair shook his head, slipping a hand from her cheek down to her waist, pulling her to him.

“Why do you think I am so frustrated at present?” he asked. “Business does not fluster me, Theo, but the memory of you splayed atop my lap? It tortures me. It steals away my ability to focus on my work, taking me longer to accomplish what I wish.”