Free The Demon Duke and I by Marian Tee Page B

baldly, “I’m not dreaming, am I?”
              “I’m afraid not,” Ilie answered politely even as he warily watched for any telltale signs of self-abuse. If all heartkeepers were this strange, he would probably be better off without a soul for all eternity.
              “And I’m not drugged?”
              “No, you are not.”
              Silence fell between them.
    Her nerves badly frayed, George wanted desperately to crack a joke but managed to stop herself in time.
              A werewolf is not to be messed with, George. It has fangs and claws and you have what – previously braced teeth and unpolished nails?
              Ilie coughed, wondering if now was the right time to tell the duke’s supposed heartkeeper that she was muttering her thoughts out loud.
              Her gaze darted at him suspiciously at his coughing, and Ilie schooled his expression to one of polite interest. “I am just surprised that you are taking this rather well.”
              She took several moments to answer. “The circumstances last night, if they really did happen---”
              “You know they did.”
              George answered flatly, “No, actually, I can’t be sure that they did.”
              She refuses to believe that everything that happened last night was real, Your Grace.
              She is stubborn, my girl.
              Ilie almost rolled his eyes at the proud note in the duke’s tone. Silviu Draghici was besotted with this human girl for some reason. That alone made it necessary for him to make his move now.
              “What’s your name, milady?”
              She started to give him a smartass comeback but closed her mouth, reminding herself once again that he was a werewolf. George, George, be careful! With this man, when he’s going to bite your head off – he could do so literally.
              “I would respectfully rather not say.” She nearly choked on the word ‘respectfully’.
              This time, Ilie almost smiled genuinely at her response. “It’s just a name, milady,” he cooed. He took a step forward, noticing that she mirrored his actions and took a step back. Interesting, Ilie thought and this time, he also meant it. Most women would have stood their ground, not because they were not afraid but because they wanted to be close to him.
              But this one---
              Surely some part of her knew that amongst all of them, Silviu Draghici was the most dangerous? So why was it that she appeared more terrified of them than the Duke of Brimstone?
              It intrigued Ilie, as none had intrigued him for centuries. He experienced the tiniest amount of regret that this divinely interesting human girl was one of the few he dared not poach and only because she belonged to the man he considered his brother, friend, and liege.
              “Don’t look at me like that.”
              Ilie started, a guilty flush staining his cheeks even as he asked sharply, “What do you mean?”
              George’s fingers curled into defensive fists, her body stiffening in preparation to do violence if necessary. She was no black belter, but surely werewolves would also experience pain if they were kneed on the groin?
              Wait – werewolves also had dicks…right?
              This time, Ilie could not let it pass. “Yes, we have dicks.”
              George’s face flushed even as she made a futile attempt at sounding innocent as she said, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
              He looked at her.
              She looked back at him.
              Her stubbornness should irritate him, even anger him, for he was not used to being treated with such a lack of respect. But instead, it only served to intrigue him more and that was not a