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.