Page 36 of Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)

Chapter Twenty-Three

CHANCE

I hesitated outside Duke’s office, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. The hallway felt too narrow suddenly, the air too thick. I lifted my hand to knock, then dropped it again, rehearsing what I’d say one more time before knocking.

“Come in,” his deep voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open and stepped into his office. Duke sat behind his desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork. His gray eyes narrowed when he saw me, his expression shifting from mild annoyance over being interrupted to concern.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, setting down his pen.

My shoulders slumped as I stood next to him, the weight of disappointment pressing down on me. “I have bad news.”

Duke’s chair creaked as he leaned back. “About the filming? ”

I shook my head. “No, that’s going fine. I just got off the phone with my bandmates.” The conversation had left a sour taste in my mouth. “None of them can make it for Red’s benefit concert. They said it’s too short notice, and they’re all busy with their own things.”

Duke’s expression softened. “Come here,” he said, pushing his chair back from the desk and patting his thigh.

I hesitated for only a second before moving around the desk. Duke guided me to straddle his lap, and I sank down gratefully, seeking the comfort of his solid presence.

“I wanted to help do my part, and now I feel like I’ve failed him and you,” I admitted, burying my face against Duke’s neck. The familiar scent of his woodsy cologne wrapped around me like a security blanket.

His arms encircled me, strong and secure. “There are other options. You could duet with Iason or your dad. You could also sing solo.”

A thought sparked to life. “Or I could perform with you. Based on your vinyl collection, I bet you know all the Devil’s Chance songs by heart. Plus, you said you play guitar.”

Duke shook his head. “Regardless, it’s not a good idea. I don’t do spotlight for a reason.”

“Not even for Red?” I challenged, watching his scowl deepen as I hit a nerve.

My fingers trailed along Duke’s jaw as I leaned closer, feeling the slight scratch of stubble against my fingertips.

“Not even for me?” I asked, my voice dropping lower.

“Think about how incredible it’ll feel to hear our voices blending together.

Your deeper tone harmonizing with mine would sound amazing. ”

Duke’s hands tightened on my hips. “I doubt you’d want an audience for what would happen if we sang together.”

I perked up at that, heat flooding me. “We can privately celebrate how sexy it would be afterward,” I murmured, shifting in his lap as my cock hardened.

“It’d be so hot having you play guitar while singing with me.

I’d be thinking about your fingers the whole time, remembering what they can do to me. ”

When Duke still looked unconvinced, I switched tactics. “I won’t have my band to support me, and I know you like to take care of people. Will you please take care of me?”

His hands slid up my back, one coming to rest at the nape of my neck. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Princess.”

“Is it working?” I asked, unable to keep the hopeful note from my voice.

“Maybe.” His thumb traced small circles on my neck. “What songs did you have in mind?”

“We could do ‘Chase the Light,’ if you’re interested. It’s one of our most popular, and the guitar part is killer. You’d nail it.”

His expression darkened, his gray eyes flashing with something dangerous that made my pulse quicken. “Do you believe you can play me so easily into agreeing?”

I shifted on his lap, enjoying the friction between us. “No, but I’m willing to do anything to change your mind.”

“Anything?” Duke’s voice dropped an octave, the single word loaded with meaning.

Heat pooled in my stomach as I pressed closer to him, rubbing my growing arousal against him. “Absolutely anything,” I purred, making no effort to hide the thick innuendo in my voice.

Duke’s thumbs pressed into the sensitive spots that made my breath catch. Tension crackled as he let the moment drag out, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Leave,” he finally said, his expression unreadable.

I blinked, certain I’d misheard him. “You want me to leave?”

“Yes. Prove to me how much you want it by denying yourself what you want right now.” Duke’s large hand cupped my erection through my pants to illustrate his point. The pressure of his palm against me was exquisite torture.

I rocked against him, unable to stop myself.

“Why would you punish us both when I’m willing to suck your dick to get what I want?

” The blunt offer slipped out before I could stop it.

“I’ll make it so good for you, Duke. I promise my mouth is good for a lot more than singing and getting into trouble. ”

He remained maddeningly controlled. “Brats need to prove they’re willing to work for what they want.”

“By doing nothing?”

Duke’s smug smile made me want to kiss it off his face. “Exactly.”

I pouted as I squirmed. “You play dirty.”

“That’s what you get for thinking you’re the one in control here. But you’ll learn.”

His gravelly voice triggered a shocking urge to spread my legs for him. “Wouldn’t you rather punish me in sexier ways?”

“No, this will do fine.”

I moved against him with more urgency in a bid for reconsideration. “But doing me is way more satisfying than doing paperwork.”

He chuckled at my wordplay. “Regardless, those are my terms. Take it or leave it, Princess.”

I warred with myself. On one hand, I was achingly hard and desperately wanted to get off. On the other, I wanted to sing with him too badly to risk ruining my chances. With a sigh of resignation, I conceded.

“Fine, I’ll leave.” I tried to find a bright side. “At least I get the satisfaction that I’m leaving you hard and wanting, too. But we better perform together.”

Duke scowled. “Don’t make me regret it. ”

I couldn’t resist one last attempt. I surged forward, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss, pouring every ounce of desire I felt into it.

For a moment, I thought I had him as his hands gripped my hips harder, pulling me closer.

Then he nipped at my bottom lip, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make me gasp.

“Does jerking off while you watch count as doing nothing?” I asked, squirming on his lap with discomfort at the need to come.

He barked out a laugh. “Feel free to do it if you want me to tell you no.”

“I’ll suffer now so I can enjoy singing with you at the concert.” I reluctantly climbed off his lap, adjusting myself in my jeans with a wince. “This is cruel and unusual punishment, you know.”

“You’ll survive,” Duke said dryly, though his eyes tracked my movements with undisguised hunger.

“Barely. But I guess it’s for the best since I have to get back to filming, anyway. Tennyson will have a meltdown if I’m late.”

Duke’s answering grunt might have been agreement or acknowledgment. Either way, I took it as my cue to leave before I lost my resolve and climbed back into his lap in search of sexual gratification.

I paused at the door, giving him one last heated look. “This isn’t over.”

“It hasn’t even started,” Duke replied with infuriating confidence .

With a frustrated groan, I left his office, already counting the hours until I could see him again, preferably naked or with a guitar in his hands.

I headed to the bathroom to take care of my erection because he never said I couldn’t get myself off when I was alone.

It wasn’t as satisfying as him pleasuring me, but it’d be worth the edging if he agreed to sing with me.