Page 1 of The Duke’s Hellion (Duke Dare #3)

S ometimes you get exactly what you want out of life and love. Sometimes the most perfect plan, the most daring dream, and the most impossible fantasy…they all come true.

Not often.

But sometimes.

And if that most perfect plan, most daring dream, most impossible fantasy were to come true for Artemisia, she wasn’t even sure how she would pinpoint it.

There were so many options to choose from.

First, and often foremost, there was the rescue of a highwayman.

She would have been traveling to visit her aunt.

No, her sister. Or maybe her friend—never mind, that part didn’t matter.

She was in a carriage. An enclosed space.

At the mercy of her driver and anyone reckless enough to lay siege. And someone always did in this fantasy.

The shout would come, Stand and deliver.

The door would be kicked in. She would scream.

Not helplessly of course, that wasn’t her style.

She would yell something fierce, like, You picked the wrong carriage.

Or something equally bold, such as, This isn’t going to end well for you.

Wait, better, And you thought this was going to be your lucky day?

Think again. Yes, something outstanding like that.

The highwayman would drag her out of the carriage, gruffly (but not too disrespectfully) and he would hold her back to his chest. She would feel his whole body against hers (even though she had no idea what that really felt like), but simply imagining it was enough to make her body shudder with desire.

He would smell faintly like whiskey, but of course he wasn’t a drunk.

That would be too slovenly for her tastes.

And his clothes would be rough against her untouched skin.

The highwayman cared nothing for his fellow man.

He shot for the kill. He lived for pleasure.

He existed for himself. But he would see something in her.

She was different. She was the one he had been waiting for but didn’t even know he hadn’t been intaking oxygen until he met her.

So even though he handled her roughly, he did it with intent.

Then he would whisper in her ear. Don’t think I won’t take everything from you.

Everything. As in, her body, in case that wasn’t clear.

But it was always clear because at that point her nipples would be cutting slits in her dress begging to be released, and she would reply with, You can take it if you want.

Yes, that was a good contender for the ultimate fantasy.

But if not the highwayman, likely it would be the pirate.

The rogue of a man with long dark hair blowing in the wind, standing aboard his ship, eyeing her.

And only her. He would tilt his head, acknowledging her, inviting her to come aboard.

No. That was all wrong. He would spot her across the room of a crowded tavern and haul her out on his shoulder in front of everyone.

She would struggle. All for show of course.

And then he would probably swat her bottom, but that wouldn’t stop her from kicking him.

And she would scream and kick all the way aboard his ship and into his captain’s cabin where he would fling the door open and kick it shut with his foot.

Then he would pin her against the wall and with smoldering eyes he would lean in with his plush lips and hard body, and—

“Mimi, isn’t this the store you wanted to visit?” her sister Zenobia asked, placing a gentle hand on her arm, stopping them in front of a red door facing the street.

Drat. Another fantasy cut short due to the beckoning of reality. If only she could be left uninterrupted for a few hours. A day. A week might do.

“Yes, thank you. This is it, Nobi.” It was a distracted reply. She was still woolgathering about the bulge in the pirate’s breeches that was being pressed up against her—

“Was it the knight this time?”

“Huh? Nighttime?”

Nobi nudged her with her elbow. “Knight or pirate?” she asked with a wink.

“Mmm. Yes. Pirate,” Mimi wiggled her eyebrows. “You know me too well.”

“That I do.” Nobi sighed, “Plus, you’ve been more distracted lately. Ever since Joan got engaged. The duke dare has been on your mind, hasn’t it?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

“Doesn’t mean it hasn’t been on your mind,” Nobi prodded.

“True. But all the same, I don’t feel like talking about it right now.”

“You do remember that you were the one who initiated it, right?”

“Was I though?”

“Yes.”

Mimi dismissed the argument with a wave of her hands. “I still don’t want to talk about it.”

“Because you’re next?”

Mimi pursed her lips.

“And because you’re upset with me?”

Mimi shrugged. Her sister knew her far too well. It was distressing how well Nobi could read her. There was no hiding anything.

“I know you’re not ready to take your turn, Nobi.” Mimi exhaled roughly, empathizing with the turmoil her sister was feeling. “I just wish you were.”

“Me too”—Nobi shook her head and a few dark tresses slid out of her coiffure to frame her face—“I wish I was ready, too.”

The ache in Nobi’s voice and the tremor in her shoulders rocked through Mimi.

She may be harsh at times, but she wasn’t completely calloused, so she wrapped her arm around her older sister.

“I understand. You have to do it in your time. And we’re all here for you.

” And then to add some levity, she said, “Well, at least I am. Bodi and Joan may be a bit busy now, what with their new husbands and betrotheds and all. So you have me. For better or worse. And one day soon we shall both be saying those words to the loves of our lives.”

“I hope so.” The weariness in Nobi’s voice was not lost on Mimi.

“I know so. Trust me.” She pulled Nobi’s hand and opened the red door. “Now, let’s shop.”

It was an archery store, and the second Mimi entered it, she felt as though she had stepped into one of her very own fantasies.

Bows of all kinds and sizes lined the walls.

Arrows with varying arrowheads. Quivers of all colors and materials.

This was a dream come true. Since the pirate was not here, at least this , she would take.

It took Mimi a moment to find her bearings. It was almost too much to take in at once. But as her eyes adjusted to the marvels before her, she slowly turned around.

And then her pupils surely dilated. All her dreams were coming true. Never in her life had she seen anything so perfect. Dark tan in color. Tall in length. Strong. Sturdy. Solid and thick enough to carry a full load. Could carry her load. That’s the one.

The golden quiver.

“Nobi,” Mimi spoke softly so as not to disturb the magical item.

“Yes?”

“Shh!”

“Why are we whispering?”

“Look.” Mimi pointed. That should satisfy Nobi’s question.

“What am I looking at?”

Apparently it did not satisfy her.

“The golden quiver,” Mimi said in reverence. “It’s the most incredible, singular piece of equipment I’ve ever seen.”

Nobi raised her brows in response and gestured toward the quiver. “That?”

Mimi struck her sister’s hand down. “Don’t point at it.”

“What are talk—”

“Shh. Don’t talk. Just let me be alone with it.”

“Oh my God, Mimi. You are so dramatic sometimes.”

Mimi didn’t respond. She couldn’t because it was one hundred percent true. But also, she had no inclination to respond because all she wanted was silence with the beauty before her.

“I’ll be browsing the book section, Mimi. Take your time. I know you’ve been looking forward to this.” With a pat on her arm, Nobi took off, leaving Mimi to stare.

Her eyes rested on the magnificent specimen of equipment. She could imagine herself wearing it already. And in her mind she was glorious. Lightweight. Accessible. Everything she could ask for.

And just as she reached out her hand to encircle the quiver of her dreams, a thicker, manlier, somewhat hairier hand beat her to it.

“Excuse me,” the voice reverberated.

And she looked up into a golden face framed with golden hair. The likes of which matched the golden quiver.

His hand brushed hers as he clasped the quiver and took it under his arm.

And Mimi, of all the women to have this happen to, was speechless. Perhaps for the first time in her life.

What was happening right now? Her dreams were crashing, colliding, intermingling. When still she said nothing, the man spoke, “I’ve been looking for this one. If you don’t mind.”

And her eyes followed him to the counter where he paid for the quiver. Her quiver. The quiver that made her liver quiver.

She cleared her throat. “Excuse me, I was about to buy that.”

The man furrowed his brow, “I don’t think so. You’re a wom—”

“I’m an archer,” she finished for him before he could insult her.

“Well, I suppose you’ll get the next one then.” He had hardly taken the time to take a brief glimpse of her.

“Your Grace,” the clerk started, “shall I wrap this up for you?”

“Thank you.” With that, his attention had already moved on from her.

Her heart was pounding against her ribcage while her feet were locked in place. Her hands were fisted at her sides, but light was cascading into the store illuminating the duke. And she suddenly knew what this was. She knew what was happening. It wasn’t just about the quiver. It was about a man.

Fate.

It made no sense, but it was fate. There were moments in life where fate boomed its voice and spoke clearly. When it shouted down from Heaven pointing the way of the future. This was such a time as that.

“Mimi?” For the second time that morning, Nobi nudged her sister with her elbow and whispered, “Are you all right? You’re staring.”

“Who is that?” There was only one other person in the store, the duke, so Mimi needn’t clarify the question she posed to her sister.

“The Duke of Vanic?” Nobi supplied the name she’d been waiting to hear. Eager to know the man, the duke, a fellow archer.

In hushed tones, Mimi repeated the name, “The Duke of Vanic. It’s fate, Nobi.”

“What’s fate?”

Standing awkwardly in the middle of the store staring, the two sisters would have appeared peculiar to anyone else, but not to the Duke of Vanic. Mostly because he didn’t bother with a second glance.

But Mimi paid that no mind.

“It’s fate to have met him here.” She heaved out a long sigh. “And now.” She unclenched her fists and pulled her hands up to her heart. “He’s my duke dare.”

Nobi blew a soft sound from her lips. “You don’t even know him, Mimi.”

“I know him enough. Sometimes it’s enough to trust fate. He walked into my life and took my dreams. But it’s all a sign. He is my dream. Not the quiver, but the man. It’s an analogy, no? He’s the quiver in which rests all my fantasies.”

“So you’re not upset about the actual quiver?” Nobi gestured toward the empty space where the quiver had once been on display.

“What quiver?”

“The golden one. The most incredible one—”

“Pfft. No. I mean, yes. It was—is—incredible. But I have a more important mission now.”

“What’s that?” Nobi picked up an arrowhead and was flipping it back and forth between her palms.

“He’s the one. The duke for me. I can feel it. Something is about to happen, and he is it.”

Nobi rubbed her shoulder gently. “He hardly looked at you, Mimi. I’m not certain he would recognize you if he saw you again.”

Undeterred, Mimi straightened her shoulders.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s up to me to secure his attention.

This was a dare after all. Now I have the challenge ahead of me.

I can see it so clearly.” She rubbed her hands together.

“This is what the duke dare was all about, Nobi. And you know it.” Mimi reached her hand, palm extended, out into the open air.

“The intention was to set your sights on what you wanted and to go after it.” She clenched her hand together forcefully, grasping the empty air.

“I’m about to show you how it’s done. You know how much I love a challenge. ”

“Really, Mimi. You should have gone into theater.”

“It’s not too late,” Mimi chuckled.

“It may not be too late, but it’s far too scandalous.” Nobi shook her head. “I should love for you to show your older sister how to play the game of love.”

“Don’t you worry. As sharp a shooter as you are, and as accurate an archer as I am, I shall take my aim and I shall not miss.”

Nobi just shrugged. Which, in and of itself should have been considered an innocent gesture, but to Mimi, no, it was not innocent. It was a challenge.

“You don’t think I can snag him?”

Nobi placed her hands on Mimi’s shoulders. “My dear, younger sister, you don’t even know him. How can you think you’re in love with him?”

And even though she hadn’t said the words, she realized that that was exactly what she had been conveying. Being instantly struck by cupid’s arrow. Smitten. Besotted. Yes, that sounded right. That’s how fate always worked, no?

“Cupid’s arrow doesn’t miss. Don’t you remember Joan and James?” It didn’t seem real that Mimi needed to remind her own sister of the role they had played in Joan and James finding love with each other.

“Of course, but that was completely different.”

“Not even one bit. Mark my words. Cupid’s arrow has struck. Love will abound. It’s fate. And fate has never led me astray before. Not even once.”