“Quite well. Pamela spoke to me about her passions.”
“Oh? And what was that like?”
“She likes horse riding. Could you imagine that?”
“Ha! Little Pamela never fails to surprise me. She gets that from you, you know?”
Raph nodded proudly, but his eyes were drawn to where Lord Ashton was reaching out to touch his wife’s bare arm.
“Damn it!” he hissed.
He set his drink down, glaring at the back of Lord Ashton’s head. “If you’ll excuse me, David. I’m going to get what’s mine.”
Camelia felt a hand close firmly around her arm and gently pull her away from Lord Ashton.
“Raph?”
There was no need to ask; she knew his touch, and her body reacted before her mind did.
The ballroom’s golden glow faded as he steered her towards a quieter alcove. His eyes were dark with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.
“Why did you drag me away from the most intriguing and funny conversation I’ve had in a while?”
“You believe him to be intriguing?”he snapped.
“Raph, what’s wrong? You’re acting like I’ve committed a crime by laughing at a young man’s jokes.”
“Nothing’s wrong, Camelia. You were… monopolizing Lord Haverford’s guests. I thought it was time to move on.”
“What are you talking about?” Camelia tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she studied her brooding husband. Untilrealization hit her.“Good heavens, the great Duke of Brentmere is jealous?”
A thrill surged through her, and her lips curled into a teasing smile.
“Have I been monopolizing the guests? Or are you just jealous, Your Grace?”
“Jealous of that fool? Never!”
“You don’t like seeing me enjoy another man’s company?”
The thought of him burning for her was intoxicating.
Raph clenched his jaw. “Don’t be absurd, Duchess. I’m merely ensuring you don’t exhaust yourself with idle chatter.”
Camelia stepped closer to him. “Oh, Raph, you’re practically glowering. Admit it, you don’t like seeing me laugh with someone else?”
He exhaled sharply, his eyes locking onto hers with a coldness that made her smile fade.
“Camelia, this…feelingis unsettling, and you’re the cause of many unsettling feelings.”
“What would you have me do, Raph? Lock myself in a tower, available only to you? Shall I wear a veil to keep the ton at bay?” she huffed.
“Don’t tempt me, Duchess. A tower might suit you; I’d have you completely bound to me, where no one else can have you.” There was no trace of humor in his eyes as he looked down at her.
His possessiveness enveloped her, a thrilling current that sent her pulse racing, and her body responded with a forbidden ache. Her nipples pebbled against the confines of her corset, and heat pooled between her legs, urging her to press closer and have him claim her right there in the shadowed alcove.
“You have wanted to tame me from the very beginning, but you fail to remember that I’m not so easily tamed.” Her sultry voice echoed in the small space between them.
Raph’s eyes blazed with hunger. “I’ll just have to discipline you harder until you’re tame enough.”
