“So,” she said, forcing a change of subject, “how long have you and Lord Gaverton been friends?”
“Gaverton and I are not friends, Genevieve,” Wilhelm replied, his voice low but firm. “We are business partners, and our relationship is purely professional.”
Genevieve raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her expression. “Business partners?” she echoed, her tone light but intrigued. “I would have guessed that the two of you were longtime close acquaintances if not friends.”
Wilhelm nodded thoughtfully. “Most people do,” he admitted. “I can say that we have discovered a lot of mutual interests over the years, but Gaverton and I have always kept our interactions strictly professional.”
Genevieve nodded thoughtfully, her curiosity piqued.
“Interesting,” she murmured as she studied his face.
For a long moment, neither of them moved, their gazes locked in an unspoken battle that neither seemed willing to lose.
“Why do you not address me as Wilhelm?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
She blinked at him. “I thought you preferred to be feared and respected. Would that not suggest that I am doing neither?” she purred.
Wilhelm chuckled. “I do not want my wife to fear me.”
“I am not afraid of you,” Genevieve replied as she bit her lip.
“That is quite a good thing,” he said agreeably. “Then call me Wilhelm, from now on.”
She paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on his full lips as he spoke. It was hard to believe that this man was the same cold, intimidating Duke who had struck fear into the hearts of the Ton. In truth, he was surprisingly pleasant to be around.
Yet, she could understand how his past had shaped the guarded and formidable image he presented to the world.
“What was your father like?” she asked.
A shadow passed over Wilhelm’s face. He closed his eyes briefly, reopening them with a hardened expression.
“I… shall owe you a favor,” he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Genevieve felt like she should have expected that response, given their tumultuous relationship. He was already quite cagey, but she still wanted to know what had transpired to shape him into the man he was today.
But today was not the day that he would willingly offer that information.
She nodded in acceptance of his forfeit.
As the evening drew to a close, their dessert lay half-eaten on the table as a tribute to the evening’s captivating conversation.
Genevieve rose from her chair, with a newfound lightness in her step.
“Thank you for such a pleasant dinner, Wilhelm,” she said, her voice sincere.
Wilhelm’s lips curled into a genuine smile at the sound of his name, and a warmth radiated from his eyes that woke up the sleeping butterflies in her chest.
He leaned closer, and his breath fanned her face as he spoke. “Do not thank me.” His lips hovered near her ear as he whispered, “You have not yet experienced real pleasure with me, Genevieve.”
His sensual words caused a primal wellspring of need to erupt within her. Her mouth quickly went dry, and she swallowed nervously as she tried to remain unruffled by his sensual whispers.
“Is that so?” she asked coyly.
“I meant exactly what I just said,” he murmured, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. “What you have experienced so far…” He paused, letting the tension rise. “It is nothing compared to what is yet to come. I can promise you that.”
Genevieve felt her legs tremble as the warmth increased between them and her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening as a forceful need blossomed within her. His words, so certain, so commanding, had rendered her speechless.
She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself. “How can you be so sure of that?” she managed to say in a tremulous voice.
