Page 35 of Dark Christmas
The stone walls are cold, but the bed is fit for a queen—high posts, velvet curtains wrapping around a luxurious cloud-like mattress covered in embroidered pillows and handmade quilts. A fire crackles in the hearth. I suppose it’s all by design, to make me feel better about being locked away here.
I march over to the window, pulling back the heavy drapes. Of course, I’m in the highest tower. The view is stunning—rolling hills, the forest stretching as far as the eye can see, a river running right through the middle of it all.
Despite its beauty, it’s nothing more than a reminder of how far away I am from freedom.
I glance down at the dress they’ve squeezed me into—a ridiculous, over-the-top gown that’s more gold thread than actual fabric—beautiful proof that I’m just a shiny piece in someone’s game.
I know why I’m here. My family got me tangled up in their political web, trying to curry favor with the duke. I’ve never even met the man, yet here I am, stuck in his tower like some prized fairy-tale princess.
I grip the edge of the windowsill, staring out at the horizon. What I wouldn’t give to be able to run out there, to feel the wind in my hair, the earth under my feet.
To be free.
Just as I’m about to start planning my great escape, the door creaks open behind me.
I whip around, gasping at the sight of who it is.
The duke is tall and broad-shouldered, both refined and dangerous at the same time. His salt-and-pepper hair iscropped short, and his neatly trimmed beard gives him a sexy vibe—like a brilliant professor who’s secretly plotting your downfall.
His clothes are perfectly tailored—a dark, high-collared coat with silver buttons that gleam in the firelight, slacks that cling to his thick, muscular legs, and boots polished to a shine. Every inch of him screams power.
But it’s his eyes that give me the greatest pause. Dark and intense, sharp enough to cut through steel.
I’ve heard the stories; everyone has. The duke is ruthless, to say the least. His reputation on the battlefield is legendary—it’s been said he destroys his enemies without hesitation or mercy.
And then there are the whispers about his insatiable thirst for women.
He steps in, closing the door behind him, his gaze locking onto mine.
“Are you finding the accommodations to your liking, my lady?”
“They’re fine,” I say, keeping my voice steady though my heart is racing. “But I want to leave.”
He laughs and takes a step closer, then another. He’s right in front of me now, close enough to feel the heat radiating off him. “You’re not going anywhere,” he says, voice low and dangerous. “Not until I get what I want.”
My breath catches. “And what is it you want?”
He’s mere inches away now, towering over me, his presence nearly suffocating. He smirks. “Isn’t it obvious?” His eyes scan me up and down, dark, and hungry. “I want you.”
I want to resist him; Ishouldresist him. But my body betrays me—I’m already soaking through my underthings, every part of me tingling.
His lips curl into a wicked grin. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you,” he says, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “And now, you’re all mine.”
I swallow hard, trying to hold onto some shred of defiance. “You’ll never have me,” I manage to say, my voice hesitant and weak.
He grins as he sweeps his hand around the lavish room.“Can’t you see? You’re already mine. Look around. I already have you.”
I shake my head, trying to ignore the pounding in my chest. “No. I’ll resist you every step of the way.”
“Resist me?” he chuckles, and I can feel his breath on my skin. “I can tell that’s not what you want.”
My cheeks flush hot, and I tilt my chin up, challenging him. “Prove it.”
His eyes darken, a flicker of raw hunger crossing his face. And then, without warning, he grabs me, pulling me hard against his chest, crashing his lips into mine. The kiss is rough, demanding, his grip growing firmer as he takes what he wants. My knees weaken, my resolve crumbling beneath his intensity.
I pull away, breathless, my mind a blur, my body on fire. I’m so aroused I can barely think straight.
“I can’t feel this way about you,” I stammer, my heart racing. “You’re a blackguard, a killer.”