School For Heiresses 2- Only a Duke Will Do by Sabrina Jeffries Read Free Book Online Page A

his sanity.
    And she dared to call that kiss an “experiment”? The devil she would!
    He had half a mind to go after her and ravage her mouth until she admitted she hadn’t outgrown him. But he had his pride, too. He was not about to let her see how far he was from outgrowing her. He did not want her to know that he craved another taste of her…and another and another—
    Deuce take her! Kissing her should have blunted his craving, not sharpened it. And why should he care if Louisa had put him behind her? Or had spent the past years learning seductive tricks designed to inflame a man’s desires? Or had let some insolent puppy at court plunder that lush, supple mouth? He did not care. Must not care. In the palace, men occasionally stole kisses from ladies-in-waiting, who occasionally let them. Allowing some foolish jealousy to eat at him would only increase his passion for her, and that was unwise. Especially if he meant to take her in hand. He could not have his wife leading him about by his cock.
    Wife?
    He curled his hands into fists. Yes, wife. He could no longer deny the advantages to accepting the king’s bargain. Aside from what the king could offer him, the MPs would be eager to show their gratitude if Simon tamed Joan of Arc.
    Though that could prove no small feat. Her father was right—she was as willful as ever. She had merely learned to hide it behind that princesslike smile.
    A groan left his lips. How could he actually consider this mad scheme, after what that bloody female had put him through? If she ever found out about it, she would have him burned at the stake. So he would simply make sure she never found out. After all, he would only be doing what was best for her. From the information he had gleaned, she was headed straight for trouble. If he did not marry her, the king would find some other way to control her, and that could not be good. Besides, no matter what she claimed, she still desired him. Otherwise she would not have leapt to his kiss with the sweet fervor of a temple dancer, her body arching against his, her lavish breasts pressed—
    God help him, he desired her even more than before. He ached to strip away her aloof manner, shake the pins from her sophisticated coiffure, and send that ocean of glossy black waves cascading down to her shoulders and breasts and hips. Then he would plunder that seductive mouth as much as he wanted, whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. He would have it caress his throat, his belly…his aching cock
    …
    A vile oath left his lips as molten fire heated his blood. Damn it, after everything he had endured because of his unwanted attraction to her, he deserved to have her. The best way to deal with this foolish obsession was to marry her and slake his thirst. Then his craving would ease. Fighting it for seven years had not worked, so he must conquer Louisa to conquer his passions. Which would give him everything else he wanted, too.
    “You’re right—my daughter has indeed lost interest in you,” said a voice beside him. Simon tensed. How long had the king been standing there? “I see you still have your talent for spying. And she has not lost interest in me, I assure you.”
    “It certainly sounded like she has. Granted, I only heard the end of your argument, but she seemed rather sure—”
    “Do you want me to marry her or not?” he snapped, relieved that the king had not witnessed their kiss. George sucked in a breath. “You said you needed time to think about it.”
    “I have had all the time I need.”
    The king paused. “The offer still stands, yes.”
    Simon faced him. “Then we should discuss my terms.”
    “Terms?” George glowered at him. “I already told you I’d make you prime minister. What more do you expect?”
    “The truth. That your daughter is interfering with your politics.” Affecting a casual air, Simon leaned against the oak. “That she is making a nuisance of herself publicly. And that any man who marries her will be