The Duke was standing in the middle of the room, his hands in his pockets, his head tilted to one side. It was a relaxed, casual pose, and yet the way he looked at her was anything but casual. The deep midnight of his eyes burned and he radiated a subtle, sensual energy that made the air around him crackle. 

He looked like a man who’d never heard the word ‘no’ in all his life. Unluckily for him, ‘no’ was the only word she had.

“There's no reason why I should stay,” Anna clasped her shaking hands together in an effort to still them. “I’m not marrying you.”

His gaze flickered, his mouth curving slightly, and she had the disturbing thought that far from putting him off, her insistence was only inciting him further.
“But you haven’t heard my proposal yet,” he said mildly. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“I don’t need to hear it. I already know that my answer will be no.”

“Of course. But you can hardly tell your father that you heard me out when you haven’t, in fact, heard me out…. Anna.” 



A LADY FOR A DUKE

Cedric laughed as he scooped his hands under her bottom and swept her up from the bonnet. “Oh, yes, I can.” 


His eyes glittered wildly down at her, his smile devilishly sexy. “Tch tch. You're a lady, remember?” 


“I don't feel much like a lady at this moment.” Her frustration was at fever pitch, making her almost violent with need. 


“Tell me what you feel like,” he challenged her, “Tell me what you want me to do to you.” Her already heated face must have gone bright red. “You can say it,” he whispered wickedly in her ear. “I'm your husband so it's one of those things that are perfectly acceptable. There's no one here to hear you but me. And I want you to say it, just the way you're thinking it right now. Go on. Say it!” 


Anna remained silent. Suddenly she felt so self conscious. Exposed. She stepped away from him, and this time he didn't stop her. Just watched as she hurried out of the garage and into the house. 


31