This had to be the most insane, impulsive thing I’d ever done. But I couldn’t say no. My head thought it, but my body screamed and shouted yes before I could process that the Duke of Marquis offered me a one-night stand.

And it wasn’t any kind of one-night stand. It was a one-night stand masked in secrecy and games. We were pretending to be people we weren’t.

I was supposed to be covering this event in an entirely different way. I should be interviewing him. Asking him questions. Grilling him on his business in Sangreaux. The king had narrowly had his irrigation agenda passed by the royal council. There were pressing issues I could extract and turn into a news story, despite what Jacques said. I had a chance to shove this entire thing in Luis’s face. I had a chance to rebuild my name in the newsroom.

But I was a walking live wire, dying for this dark stranger to touch me. And the promises of his kisses covering my body wasn’t an invitation I could turn down. Maybe a saner, more rationale woman would be able to build stone around her hormones and keep them from spilling out when he spoke, but I wasn’t that kind of woman. This was a fantasy I didn’t know I could indulge. How could I deny myself a night like this?

I was in a romantic town, being seduced by a duke. I didn’t know how to tell my body to say no to that. And I didn’t want to have to tell him no. I wanted this. I wanted him. I wanted to look in his eyes and feel his lips on me.

We began to take the staircase, when he stopped. “Change of plans. Let’s go to your room instead.”

“Mine, but why?” I didn’t understand.

He motioned to the man following us. I knew they were part of the royal guard. We both knew, but we were going to pretend until the sun came up that Brion wasn’t royal.

“It’s a lot easier to play the game when the reminders aren’t in the way,” he explained. I thought I saw his eyes cloud with something sad, possibly dark.

With only one night together, I doubted I had time to analyze his motives, or learn about his past. I didn’t have time to try to dissect why one of the richest men in Galona cared so much about evading his security. In the few minutes I’d spent with him, I learned he was a risk-taker. A thrill seeker. And now I was going to find out how far that went behind closed doors.

“All right. We can go to my room.” I turned the corner at the top of the stairs. “It’s the next one.” I pointed ahead.

I fumbled with the heavy key the front desk had given me. The hotel was one of Sangreaux’s oldest buildings. It was steeped in romantic charm, all the way down to the ornate keys. I wondered how many couples pushed the limits of decency inside these walls. How far was the duke willing to take things?

He didn’t make me wait long for an answer. As soon as the door closed behind us, his hands cupped my cheeks, drawing me in for the most tantalizing kiss I’d ever experienced.

I tried to push the deadbolt in place, but my palm plastered against the wall, trying to find support.

His lips brushed over mine with sexy hunger before devouring me in a single breath. I gulped as his tongue twisted along mine. I wanted to savor and remember every touch.

His hand slid along my thigh, dragging my skirt to my ass.

Shit. This wasn’t going slow. It was fast. As fast as he drove through the streets. But I wanted it. I loved the speed. The force of his acceleration.

I moaned into his lips as he pushed my panties to my thighs. His hands roamed freely between my legs as his fingers curled between my slick folds. Holy shit, I was soaking wet.

“Perfect,” he growled, working his fingers back and forth. I jutted my hips forward into his strokes. “You’re so wet.”

The lace stretched around my legs, keeping me from spreading my legs wider. It was torture. I wanted him to touch so much more. I needed him deep. I could fuck his fingers if he’d just move the damn panties.

I whimpered with greedy need. I’d never felt like this.

“You need something, cher?” he teased.

“Y-yes,” I mewed. I tried to wiggle them off my legs, but he yanked my wrists over my head, pushing me into the wall with primal control.

“No,” he whispered. “I love seeing your pussy glisten just like that. Getting wetter and wetter for me because you can’t have what you want. You’re dripping for me, aren’t you?”

I moaned, nodding in agreement.

“And if I slide them down another inch, what can you do? Show me how badly your pussy wants me.”

He pushed the lace slightly, rubbing the backs of my thighs and I let out a long hiss. My legs spread open more and he rewarded me with generous touches, flicking my clit. I knew I coated his fingers with my wetness.

“Oh shit.” My head rolled back into the wall.

“Baby, you’re even wetter.”

What was he doing to me? I was drowning in this foreplay. Losing my mind and I was still dressed.

“More,” I begged.

“More what?” he taunted.

“Another inch, please?” I looked in his eyes. He was as hungry for this as I was. When I looked into the coal-colored gaze I saw lust and longing.

“Turn around.”

I did as he asked, moving so my back was against his chest. “Good girl.”

His hand ran over my breasts, stopping to toy with my nipples through my shirt before sliding over my belly and between my thighs.

I held my breath as he ran a finger through my folds, creating a trail to my panties, which he pushed another inch away from my heat.

“Oh shit.” I leaned into him, rocking my hips forward with slightly more range of motion. He had given me a little more.

His fingers pushed to my entrance and sank inside me, stretching me with rapid warmth. His voice vibrated against my ear.

“Fuck my fingers, like this. Fuck me, baby.”

I was wild and out of control as I obeyed everything he said. But his words stirred something inside me. Something I wanted to listen to. A steady control. A dark summons my body craved.

I squeezed against him as he began to pump in and out of me faster.

“Fuck,” he groaned. “I think you might be the dirty girl I was looking for.”

He spun me around, shoving me to the wall. The world was spinning. He dropped to his knees, taking the panties to the floor. His fingers gripped my velvety folds, spreading them wide as his tongue plunged inside me.

I screamed out as I rocked into his mouth. His tongue darted and flicked as I convulsed around him. The orgasm hit me out of nowhere, but there was no way to hold it in any longer. He sucked around my clit as he feasted on my pussy.

I grabbed his head, riding him without shame. The tension floated away as the orgasm coated my limbs with soothing waves.

“Ohh.” I tried to steady myself and my heartbeat. Both were useless attempts.

Brion reached for the zipper on the back of my skirt, shimmying it over my hips. His fingers worked my buttons and unhooked my bra in record time. I stood before the Duke of Marquis naked and ripe with the most delicious orgasm.

He lifted me to his chest, carrying me to the couch. I had no idea what he had in store for me next, only that his game was thrilling and intoxicating. I was suddenly insatiable for more. And I realized I shouldn’t have been so afraid to play games with the duke. There was no way I was going to lose tonight.