Excerpt of What The Duke Desires by Jenna Petersen

“There are at least a dozen beautiful women here, Simon.”
She flushed as she realized her slip. It seemed her private
use of his given name had instilled bad habits in
her. “Your Grace.”

But a light of triumph had already brightened his eyes. Her
use of his name was only encouragement to him.

She hastened to add something else, to counteract her
inappropriate statement with a fact that would crush his
interest.

“Those other women are far more appropriate than I am, as
well,” she finally whispered. “If you are on this path to
court me, I would bring nothing to you, Your Grace. No
money, no alliance with a powerful family, in fact my
connections would bring you down in the estimation of some.
I did not come here to pursue that kind of connection to
you, I have no illusions that I shall marry, perhaps at
all.”

He smiled again, but this time there was a gentleness to
it. “All that you say may be true. However I find that I
don’t really care that much. I do find you interesting,
Lillian, whether you like it or not, whether you expected
it or not. And since I have the power and the access and
the time, I intend to pursue my interest.”

Lillian’s lips parted as he moved even closer. She felt his
body heat now, suffusing her fine linen gown, warming her
beneath in a way that suggested naked skin and writhing
bodies. With a start, she turned away, but he caught her
wrist and held her steady.

“You are a riddle I intend to solve,” he whispered, his
gaze holding hers.