At the Duke's Service Read Free Page A

grimaced as he shook his head. “Why do you persist in calling me ‘Xander’…?”
    Why? Because it was how Angelina was quickly coming to regard him. Not the elderly and debauched Duke of Stourbridge she had always imagined as her protector. But a young and very handsome man, a vigorous man, with whom she would enjoy every sensual delight. A man whom she might love…
    She eyed him teasingly. “Does it displease you…?”
    â€œNo.” His frown was now quizzical. “It is only—It sounds a little odd, when no one has ever before shortened my name in that peculiar fashion.”
    Angelina laughed softly. “But I am not ‘no one.’And when we are alone together like this you must always be ‘Xander.’”
    Alexander found himself captivated by the warmth in the deep blue of Angelina’s eyes. No woman had ever spoken to him so warmly, and with such unaffected frankness. It would be so easy, he realized, to accept all that she offered so freely. So easy to lose himself in her loveliness, to become deeply enamored—
    He stepped away abruptly. “I will leave you now—”
    â€œMust you really go…?”
    Alexander felt his heart contract in his chest, his gut clench and his breeches tighten as he once again found himself aroused and aching at the invitation writ so blatantly in Angelina’s innocently guileless gaze.
    He should not have kissed her earlier. Should not have allowed himself to be drawn in by her burgeoning sensuality. “I most definitely must,” he stated coldly.
    Angelina felt a terrible sense of loss as Alexander turned to leave. It had been so long, too long, since she’d had anyone whom she might love and be close to. “Will you not kiss me good-night first?” she prompted wistfully.
    He drew in a sharp breath. “I do not think that wise—”
    â€œI do not care for wisdom!” Angel gave a dismissive snap of her finger and thumb before running lightly across the room to throw herself intoAlexander’s arms. “I should so like you to stay with me tonight, Xander.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his firmly chiseled lips. Small, lightly biting kisses. “You are so very handsome. So strong and virile. Will you not stay with me, Xander? Hold me? Make love with me?”
    Alexander put his hands on Angelina’s arms, with every intention of holding her away from him, but instead he found himself once more unable to resist the pull of her sensuality as he drew her close, before lowering his head once again and capturing her mouth with his.
    Not a soft or gentle kiss, either, but that of a man who deeply desired the woman whose body was pressed so intimately against his own, the throbbing of Alexander’s body increasing to an almost painful degree as Angelina rubbed herself sensuously against the hardened length of his erection.
    If he wasn’t careful, this young woman was going to drive him out of his wits!
    Alexander wrenched his mouth from hers, his eyes dark and stormy as he pushed her away once more. “You must get to bed now. Alone!” he added quickly when he saw her face light up expectantly. “We will talk again in the morning.” He marched forcefully from the bedroom to close the door firmly behind him.
    Angelina was not at all perturbed by Alexander’s abrupt departure. No, she was not perturbed at all.Alexander St. Claire was everything and more that she could ever have wished for in the man who was to be her protector.
    So much so that Angelina believed her heart may already have forgotten Miss Bristow’s warning as to the wisdom of falling in love with one’s protector…
    Â 

Chapter Four
    â€œIs it not a glorious day, Xander!” Angelina prompted brightly the following morning as she breezed into his bedchamber shortly after nine o’clock.
    There was a stirring beneath the bedcovers. “What