Page 4 of The Duke’s Hellion (Duke Dare #3)

W hat a sore loser. Couldn’t the man just fake a smile and congratulate her?

Ladies of society were basically walking in masked smiles all day every day, surely he could produce one for a second.

Then again, she knew the win wasn’t really worth it.

Something was definitely off with Sam. He was not the grumbling type.

Competitive. Fierce in his own way. Sure. But not angry or bitter.

She should have let him win. Bah! That was a terrible idea. It was not in her nature to diminish herself. Not for anyone.

Some men wanted a woman that would play small.

A woman who wouldn’t let herself shine. Mimi was not such a woman.

For her to settle down, she needed to find a man who could celebrate her.

And her wins. Just like Boudicca had found a man who appreciated her strengths, and just as Joan had found a man who called out her true self, so Mimi needed a man who was… man enough…for her.

A quick glance over at Sam’s tense shoulders and clenched jaw sent a ribbon of…

something through her. Pity? Empathy? Curiosity?

She couldn’t define it. He was vexing, if nothing else.

Older than her by a decade, he was mature in ways she couldn’t even imagine.

It didn’t stop her from trying…but she had no sense of the experiences he had.

And if she were being honest with herself, she meant experiences with women.

Not that she wanted to know his precise, personal experiences with women…

but he was so much older than her, she couldn’t help wondering what he could teach her in the bedroom.

Again…not him, specifically, but a man his age. Someone like him, but not him.

He was too arrogant by half, and she knew how he felt about her.

She continued her study and noticed that he was in a huff. He roughly dropped the arrows on a nearby barrel and he was about to take off.

Hmm…that didn’t sit right with her. She didn’t want him to leave.

At least, not in the mood that he was in.

She didn’t like him. Him and his arrogant, condescending demeanor, but she also didn’t wish evil upon him.

Even if he had basically called her a child.

Well, that was a reason to let the man storm off. But…

It wasn’t reason enough.

And as always, words that should have been filtered poured effortlessly out of her mouth.

“Arm wrestle me,” she blurted out.

“What?” Of course that was what he said. Really, there was no other response—appropriate or otherwise—to a woman demanding an arm wrestle from a man.

“Mimi,” Nobi rebuked sharply but mostly in disbelief. Why, an arm wrestle of all things, caused such disbelief, Mimi couldn’t pinpoint. She had done countless incredulous activities over the years. Apparently this was one of them.

“Nobi,” Mimi sighed. “Do you really think those chastisements are effective?”

A blush crept up her sister’s neck. In another situation, Mimi might have checked in with her sister about her comment, but in this moment, she was more concerned about Sam. For some odd reason.

Repositioning herself to catch his eye, she repeated her suggestion, “The next activity should be an arm wrestle.”

“That’s ridiculous.” He turned his profile to her giving Chris and Nobi a look as if to call for some kind of support.

Both parties shrugged in reply.

“Why is it ridiculous?” she prodded.

And then he spoke in a way she had never heard before. He growled at her, “Because I’m a grown man and you’re a child. It’s not a competition.”

“I’m not a child. I’m a mature woman. I can hold my own.” Her hands were on her hips and steam was pouring out her nostrils. Or something like it.

She shouldn’t have to say those words aloud.

It was obvious that she was a woman. He should be able to see it.

The man just needed to take a look at her ample bosom to recognize her womanly status, but he had never done that.

Not that she wanted him to see that or look at her that way, but really, she had been of age for a while.

Had debuted years ago. To some, she was close to being on the shelf.

But apparently, in his eyes, she was just the youngest sister.

He took a step closer to her and she could see the potency of the dare in his eyes. Little did he know that she never backed down from a dare, verbalized or implied.

“I’ll annihilate you,” he said with aplomb.

She faked a laugh. “So be it.” They stood toe to toe in the most unprecedented stance. She a ball of fire, him a ball of fury. Her hands on her hips. His across his chest. Both blowing out large, loud puffs of air from their nostrils.

“And don’t you dare let me win,” she announced after realizing how long the beat of silence lasted.

“I. Would. Never.”

When she turned on her heel, she purposely let her elbow knock into his crossed arms. He probably didn’t even flinch, but she was a woman possessed. Nothing was going to stop her. From doing what? She wasn’t sure yet. But she was on a mission.

“Nobi!”

“Chris!”

One shouted after the other, beckoning their respective parties to join them.

“We need witnesses,” she justified.

“I couldn’t agree more.” How he was speaking with his teeth clenched together so tightly was beyond impressive.

Reluctantly, Chris stood to the side of the barrel while Nobi cleared its surface of the arrows. Mimi dug her elbow into the wood at the same time as Sam.

“I don’t understand what we’re doing,” Chris mumbled.

“It’s obvious there is nothing we can do to stop them,” Nobi murmured back. “At this point I think we’re just here to ensure they don’t kill each other.”

“I can hear you, Nobi.” Mimi blew the hair off her forehead. “No one’s going to kill anyone.” She was speaking to Nobi, but her eyes were catapulting rocks at Sam. When he said nothing, she raised her eyebrows in a silent question.

“Agreed. No murder. Today.”

“Good. Let’s proceed.” She wiggled her fingers, anticipating his grasp. His fingers folded around hers.

What she hadn’t anticipated was the warmth she would feel from his palm, firmly pressed into hers.

A perfect fit. His fingers wrapped around her, unrelenting.

He would not let go until he won. And she knew he would win.

That was the point in this stupid tirade.

Compete in something at which she knew he would win to allow him to feel better about himself.

But what wasn’t the point was to feel her insides turn gooey.

As in straight treacle. She straightened her legs and bent at the hip for a better angle.

Her breasts were on display, but she didn’t care.

Apparently he didn’t either. His eyes didn’t leave her face.

The force and intensity of his gaze combined with the stronghold he physically had on her body was all consuming.

Something sparked within her.

She wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

But she didn’t have time to analyze the moment as Chris placed his hand atop their entwined fingers.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes,” they both said together.

“I would just like to verbalize my dissent on this activity. Again,” Chris said with a sigh.

“Noted,” Sam replied.

“If you don’t want to do it, Nobi will step in.” Mimi said it without acknowledging her sister, since she knew she would do it. She was always there to support her, even in crazy antics such as this.

From her peripheral vision, Mimi saw Chris put his hand up, assumingly to stop Nobi from replacing him. “I’ve got this, Mimi.”

With a final shake of his head, he started the countdown. “Three. Two. One.”

When the last sound staggered off his tongue, Mimi pushed with all her might.

She was strong. She knew it because she and her sisters were very active.

They were always engaged in some physical activity.

Fencing, knife-throwing, archery, shooting, and more.

Nearly every day, they trained in their Practice Hall back at Bellator Manor.

It was a priority to each of them to remain healthy and strong.

Mimi had witnessed other women struggle to lift a bag or push a piece of furniture even a short distance.

She had always been able to do what they couldn’t.

So when she pushed—with all her might—against Sam’s hand, she expected something to happen. But all she did was push.

Against a wall.

No, a mountain.

A mountain made of pure diamond.

There was no budge. Of course, she knew he would be stronger than her.

She would be a fool to think she even had a chance.

But as she pushed against his hand of metal, she realized she was that fool.

There was the tiniest part of her that thought she had a chance.

Her eyes met his. There was a strain in them. A tension she couldn’t make out.

Was he exerting his full strength against her? She dug deeper within herself and pushed harder. His arm bent back.

Hope danced in her heart. Did she have a chance? Was he in some state of weakness that she could take advantage of? Did she want to take advantage of him? But was it taking advantage of him if he willingly entered the competition?

Deuced devil of a man. She would be her best. Nothing less.

Looking at her grasp, she pushed against his hand with all her might. Incidentally, a grunt escaped her throat at the same time. A bead of sweat dripped down between her breasts. But it was all worth it because his arm bent back further.

But then…he hummed. She peeked up into his eyes and was met by merriment.

God, blast—

“Well done,” was all he said as he slowly inched their hands back to center.

“Very well done,” was what he said as he gradually pushed their hands down to her side.

“I’m impressed,” was his final statement as he gently tapped her knuckles against the wood.

Her hand went limp in his, but still he held on.

It was his win. She knew it was going to be. It was predicted. Expected. Typical. There was still a twinge of some kind in her mind, and also her heart. Her thoughts were growing cluttered and emotions of all sorts were crowding her.

In a rare moment of self-control, she simply said, “You won.”

“Yes, I did.” Still holding her hand, he asked, “Did you think it would be otherwise?”

She gave him a half shrug. That was noncommittal enough of an answer. But she couldn’t leave it at that. “There. I beat you when you weren’t your best, and you beat me at something I’m not best at. We’re even.”

Eyes and hands locked, he said, “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

He huffed. “It is.”

“Fine. We’ll have to settle this over a different challenge at a later time.”

“What kind of challenge?” he eyed her warily.

And that question sparked some interest in her. There were a plethora of options for how they could compete.

“You have stars in your eyes,” he observed in a monotone voice.

And as monotone as his tone was, hers was inversely enthused. Excitement bubbled over at the possibilities for how the two of them could compete. “I do!”

“How would you be able to confirm that fact?”

“I can feel it.” And she could feel her eyes beaming.

“I’m concerned.”

“You needn’t be.” She wasn’t sure the reassuring statement held the assurance he was looking for, so she ensured to expand. “We’ll find a competition that we both agree upon. No one shall have the upper hand.” She continued despite his raised brows. “Perhaps it shall be a bet of some kind.”

“I’ll win,” he interjected.

“You can’t possibly know that.”

“I can. I don’t take bets I won’t win.” The way he was suppressing his emotions was irritating. Wasn’t he excited at the prospect of more competitions?

“That’s no fun. Where’s the risk in that? The uncertainty? The adventure? The thrill of the unknown?”

“I find that elsewhere,” he answered calmly.

“Well, we shall simply find a different activity. Horseback riding—”

“I’d beat you in that, too.”

“God, you’re insufferable. I don’t even want to ask how you can say that.”

“I choose the best horses.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Yet I supplied. I’m a very generous man.”

Ugh. This man. There was no winning with him. Well, not on this ridiculous topic. Her stomach growled. Of course…it was the perfect time. Perhaps her body was intervening where her mind wouldn’t let go of the silly competition about finding a competition for the two of them to compete in.

“Was that—”

She didn’t let him finish. He just would be the type to address something so personal and what some might consider embarrassing. Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of even trying to humiliate her. She would speak for herself.

“This matter is to be discussed at a later time. I’m hungry now.”

“Fine.”

“I need my hand back.”

With a small startled look, he released her hand with the same speed he had let go of the bow earlier when taking his shots.

It had been a morning full of releasing. Full of winnings and releases. Yet, something within her was wound very tightly.