Read Online Taken by the Duke by Jess Michaels - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jess Michaels
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exchange for me?”
He stared at his folded hands on the desk before him. Getting to Windbury, choking the life out of him—it would be nearly impossible. Not to mention it would likely get him thrown in Newgate, duke or not.
But this…this revenge was deeper and so much sweeter. If he only ruined Ava in name alone, at least Windbury would know she had remained untouched. But now…
“No more revenge on your brother,” he said. “This will pay his debt, at least on this matter. He can live with knowing that your innocence was traded thanks to his cowardice.”
She shuddered ever so slightly. “Then I will do as you request. I turn my body over to you for your pleasure.”
Chapter Seven
Now that she had said the words, struck the bargain, Ava was overcome by emotion. Terror, for she had no idea if this man would sexually mistreat her or ask her to do things so depraved she could not even imagine them. But there was also a tiny thrill in her, a thrill that he would touch her again as he had in the parlor last night.
But the most overwhelming feeling of all was relief. Finally, she would not have to fear for Liam’s safety. She could do some good on behalf of her brother. And that was worth any price.
“For how long?” Christian asked, pulling her from her reverie.
Ava turned toward him, surprised. So they were still bargaining.
“How long?” she repeated.
“A month,” he offered. “You will be in my bed for a month.”
Her eyes widened. That was an eternity!
“Two weeks,” she countered.
The tiniest of smiles lifted the corners of his lips. She had not seen him smile before, even a little bit, and it made him very handsome, even in this devilish moment.
“Three weeks, Ava. And that is my final offer.”
She sighed. “Very well, three weeks. But I want to send a message to my brother so he will not fear for me.”
Christian’s smile vanished, and his expression grew hard and cold again. “No. I want him to fear. That is the point of this exercise.”
Ava froze. He looked so cold when he spoke of her brother. So filled with anger and pain. She would have to proceed carefully.
Slowly, she shook her head. “I will not allow him to believe for nearly a month that I am dead, Your Grace.”
He was silent for a long moment, staring at her with an expression that was impossible to read.
“Christian,” he corrected her.
She blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“Christian is my given name.”
Was he asking her to call him by that name? It was an intimacy she had never imagined he might desire.
“If you agree to call me Christian, you may send him a message in one week,” he continued.
“A week?” she repeated as thoughts of what she would call her lover faded. Great God, if Liam were missing for a week she would run mad with terror.
“It is a proper compromise, my dear,” he said. “I must have something for my side.”
She folded her arms. This man was such a riddle. He could show her kindness but then be so cold. He hated, but there was something more lurking beneath the surface where she couldn’t quite see.
However, one thing she could tell for certain, he was stubborn. He refused to allow her a letter for a week, and it was evident he would not fold on that point.
“Fine,” she managed through clenched teeth. “A week. That will certainly ensure he suffers, so you will have your prize.”
Of course she did not add that Liam was so wrapped up in his own pain and torment that he might not even notice she was gone. But her servants would. Her friends would.
Someone would pay for her brother’s sins. Even if it was not him.
“Very good. Are all our terms set, Ava?” he drawled, a cat in the cream, a man who knew he had won.
She shrugged. “I suppose so.”
“Then shake my hand and seal the bargain.”
He got to his feet and eased around the desk toward her. He held out the hand that was not resting on his cane. She stared at it, stared at him. What would those hands do in
He stared at his folded hands on the desk before him. Getting to Windbury, choking the life out of him—it would be nearly impossible. Not to mention it would likely get him thrown in Newgate, duke or not.
But this…this revenge was deeper and so much sweeter. If he only ruined Ava in name alone, at least Windbury would know she had remained untouched. But now…
“No more revenge on your brother,” he said. “This will pay his debt, at least on this matter. He can live with knowing that your innocence was traded thanks to his cowardice.”
She shuddered ever so slightly. “Then I will do as you request. I turn my body over to you for your pleasure.”
Chapter Seven
Now that she had said the words, struck the bargain, Ava was overcome by emotion. Terror, for she had no idea if this man would sexually mistreat her or ask her to do things so depraved she could not even imagine them. But there was also a tiny thrill in her, a thrill that he would touch her again as he had in the parlor last night.
But the most overwhelming feeling of all was relief. Finally, she would not have to fear for Liam’s safety. She could do some good on behalf of her brother. And that was worth any price.
“For how long?” Christian asked, pulling her from her reverie.
Ava turned toward him, surprised. So they were still bargaining.
“How long?” she repeated.
“A month,” he offered. “You will be in my bed for a month.”
Her eyes widened. That was an eternity!
“Two weeks,” she countered.
The tiniest of smiles lifted the corners of his lips. She had not seen him smile before, even a little bit, and it made him very handsome, even in this devilish moment.
“Three weeks, Ava. And that is my final offer.”
She sighed. “Very well, three weeks. But I want to send a message to my brother so he will not fear for me.”
Christian’s smile vanished, and his expression grew hard and cold again. “No. I want him to fear. That is the point of this exercise.”
Ava froze. He looked so cold when he spoke of her brother. So filled with anger and pain. She would have to proceed carefully.
Slowly, she shook her head. “I will not allow him to believe for nearly a month that I am dead, Your Grace.”
He was silent for a long moment, staring at her with an expression that was impossible to read.
“Christian,” he corrected her.
She blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“Christian is my given name.”
Was he asking her to call him by that name? It was an intimacy she had never imagined he might desire.
“If you agree to call me Christian, you may send him a message in one week,” he continued.
“A week?” she repeated as thoughts of what she would call her lover faded. Great God, if Liam were missing for a week she would run mad with terror.
“It is a proper compromise, my dear,” he said. “I must have something for my side.”
She folded her arms. This man was such a riddle. He could show her kindness but then be so cold. He hated, but there was something more lurking beneath the surface where she couldn’t quite see.
However, one thing she could tell for certain, he was stubborn. He refused to allow her a letter for a week, and it was evident he would not fold on that point.
“Fine,” she managed through clenched teeth. “A week. That will certainly ensure he suffers, so you will have your prize.”
Of course she did not add that Liam was so wrapped up in his own pain and torment that he might not even notice she was gone. But her servants would. Her friends would.
Someone would pay for her brother’s sins. Even if it was not him.
“Very good. Are all our terms set, Ava?” he drawled, a cat in the cream, a man who knew he had won.
She shrugged. “I suppose so.”
“Then shake my hand and seal the bargain.”
He got to his feet and eased around the desk toward her. He held out the hand that was not resting on his cane. She stared at it, stared at him. What would those hands do in
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