Page 4 of My Beastly Duke
Tilting his head to the side when the sliver of light moved away from his face, the duke laughed. “Obviously, I did not miss much if you are now standing before me in the gown I wish to purchase.”
Sucking in a sharp breath, Marina decided to leave, lifting the hem of her dress from the carpet.
“Would you leave without gaining the satisfaction that you so passionately demanded?” His voice made her pause, mid-flight, just as she reached his side.
The tone of his voice made her slightly exasperated as she wished she could see his face. “I refuse to demean myself by accepting your offer. Your brother may have made a fool out of me, but that is where it ends. I bid you farewell, Your Grace.” Her fighting spirit returned as she lifted her head and fixed her eyes on the door. There were many things she would do to save her family’s honor, but compromising her virtue was not one of them. Even if she was intrigued by the duke and the danger that he oozed.
“If the money is not to your liking, then perhaps you would be happier as my bride?”
His words caught her off guard, making her gasp as she froze, her fingers clutching the cool copper of the handle.
“You must be joking…”
Aaron noted the shock in her eyes when she turned to look at him. She had not even seen his face, and she had already been repulsed by the idea. “I can assure you that I would not make such an offer out of jest. I can make you a duchess and provide an end to all of your family’s problems.”
Marina swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling with every breath. “Why would a man like you want a woman who was rejected by his brother?”
The look of exasperation in her eyes piqued his interest as he wondered why Adam had jilted her at the altar. She certainly was not lacking in beauty. “I am in need of a bride, and you are desperate to find a solution to your family’s shame. The situation seems to be mutually advantageous…” His eyes moved over her body, resting on her perfectly shaped breasts before moving to her waist which boasted an hourglass figure.
He was surprised to see a glint of something entirely unexpected in her eyes when his gaze traveled back up her body.
Desire?
He could not help but wonder what she was thinking as she looked at him, and how long it would last when she saw his scars.
“You are a duke. Surely, the women of the ton are falling at your feet. You could have your pick of brides.” The proud tilt of her chin ignited a spark of curiosity in his chest.
“The women of the ton certainly fall at my feet, but not for the reasons that you would think.” The pit of his stomach turned with anxiety when he noted the look of confusion in her eyes. Taking a step forward, he allowed the sliver of light to fall across his face, illuminating the thick map of scars that extended from the side of his nose, all the way to his right ear.
Her lips parted in a silent gasp as she sucked in a sharp breath, making him regret the decision entirely as he stepped back into the shadows.
“Forgive me, Your Grace. I did not realize…”
“You did not realize that I am a beast?” He cut her short, clenching his fists at his sides until his knuckles cracked.
Realization dawned on her face as she looked around the room. “What happened?” her voice was low and breathy, barely audible above a whisper, yet she did not seem to waver or even glance at the door.
“War happened.” He ran his tongue over his lips, trying to read her thoughts as she remained rooted to the spot. Many women had fainted at the sight of his scars, yet the pity in her eyes somehow seemed worse.
“I am sorry, Your Grace. I can only imagine how difficult things have been for you.” Her breaths continued to push her breasts up and down, yet she did not seem to fear him any more than she did from the start.
“Don’t you dare pity me.” He snapped and closed the distance between them, gripping her wrist as he pinned it to the door beside her head.
Marina’s breaths turned to panting as she searched his face, lingering on his scar before meeting his eyes. The warmth of herbody seeped into his, making him shift his thigh against hers as she lifted her leg ever so slightly.
“Will you allow me to undress you and pay for the gown, or will you be accepting my proposal?” He tore his eyes away from her chest and gazed into her piercing blue eyes, searching for the disgust that should have been lingering in their depths.
Her tongue flicked over her lips, moistening the fullness of her perfectly shaped mouth. “If I may leave, Your Grace, I will find another way to satisfy my need for justice.”
He leaned in closer for a second, wanting to sample the taste of her. “Go then.” He breathed beside her ear, letting go of her wrist as he took a step back.
Why didn’t she flinch?
His mind felt muddled with thoughts of confusion as her lack of disgust bore into his soul. She had been shocked by his scar, but not repulsed. If she had been, she had done a great job of hiding it from him.
Pushing herself up, Marina straightened her dress where the fabric had moved up an inch to reveal her stocking-covered ankle. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment. “I bid you a good day, Your Grace. I doubt that our paths shall ever cross again.” She reached behind her back and turned the handle. Her eyes never left his face for a second until she had stepped into the hall and shut the door in his face.
Aaron took a moment to compose his thoughts as he stared at the door. Who was this lady who did not seem to shy away from his scars? She had been shocked, yet not disgusted. Something within his chest stirred as the scent of her lavender perfume lingered in the air.