The silence between them was heavy with tension, yet questions swirled in her mind, relentless and consuming.
“I am not afraid,” she repeated.
Raph smirked. “You’re bold tonight, Camelia. Be careful, you are not ready for another lesson.”
He took a step towards her until the air between them burned with tension. His cold blue eyes dropped to her lips.
The warning made her shiver with longing. She clutched her necklace and played with the beads, so her hands wouldn’t reach for him.
“Is that another promise?”
He’s so close I can feel his body heat.
“Yes, it is.”
“Why did you come here?”
“It’s my manor; I can come and go as I please.”
“It almost feels like you came to check on me. Or maybe you just can’t stay away?”
“I came to see what trouble you’re brewing, Duchess, before I head out. You’ve got a habit of… upending my plans. Get used to me checking in on you regularly.” He walked past her.
His arm brushed against hers, making her skin tingle.
“What happened in the kitchen was just one lesson, Camelia. There’s more to learn, and more to teach you.”
“What more could you possibly do?”
“There’s a lot more, little flower.”
She shivered.
“Oh, and Camelia?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t think you’ve gained the upper hand because of one confession,” he warned, pouring himself a glass of brandy and draining it in one gulp.
Camelia’s voice trembled with desire. “Why do you callthata lesson? I felt you, Raph. I felt your hands, and I saw your… desire.”
The memory of Raph’s arousal straining against his trousers sent a shiver of heat through her.
“It’s called a lesson because that’s my way of teaching you how to be a good duchess.” His words set her ablaze. “Tell me, little flower, did you enjoy it?”
“Enjoy wh-what exactly?” she stammered.
“Feeling my hands on you,seeingmy desire for you. Tell me, did it make you burn as it did me?”
Camelia refused to answer his questions, but she felt her body heat up under his scrutiny.
Raph chuckled darkly.
“How dare you?”
He made his way to the door and paused. “Maybe you’re not as in control as you think you are.”
Camelia held her tongue, but anger flared in her chest.
