Alena was about to speak when the duke suddenly started unfastening his belt using his one hand while his eyes continued locking onto Alena's.

For a moment, Alena forgot what she was about to say as her gaze slowly traveled downwards until she found herself watching his fingers work the button fly of his trouser, almost as if she was suddenly hypnotized.

But a realization of her quickening pulse jolted her, and she gritted her teeth, defiantly meeting his gaze.

"How can you make me take responsibility when this situation is entirely your doing, Duke? If you had just let me go—"

“Let me rephrase then, Duchess.” The duke interjected. “It’s time for you to uphold your end of the bargain. I concealed you from the General, letting him call me a heartless scoundrel, under the condition that you would do anything I asked.”

She bit her lip, unable to retort now. Damn, why didn’t she think of a better bargain?

“Don’t tell me you’re all talk, Duchess… And here I thought you’re a woman of your words…” the Duke trailed off as Alena reached out and continued to unbutton his trousers with a fierce look in her eyes.

Her ego and her refusal to be bested by this man forced her to do it. She was infuriated that the Duke seemed to understand exactly how to push her buttons and she was also mad at herself that she couldn’t do anything despite knowing that! But she tried her best to fight for calm and told herself that she would definitely get back at him for all these, for everything… she would make sure that she’d return everything back to him ten folds. She just needs to hold on and be patient a little bit longer!

“Now free it out, duchess,” he commanded. His voice seemed to become even deeper as he extended his hand and tucked the strands of her hair to the back of her ear.

The way his fingers brushed against the tip of her ear nearly made her bite her lip but she fought it. She refused to act the way she did back in his bed again. Never!

Brave and still fierce, she kept her mouth shut and just obeyed his demand. But as she pulled down his trousers, and his manhood sprang free right before her very face, she could not stop her eyes from widening due to his daunting size! Alena just couldn't help it! Despite having seen it before, the reality of it up close was just… too much! How could he be so… impossibly big?

“Don’t look so frightened, Duchess…” The duke rubbed her lips gently with his thumb. “Unlike your mouth, my cock won’t bite.”

A blush involuntarily spread across Alena’s cheeks, but she countered with a smirk. “Scared? You really think a dead woman like me is still afraid of anything?” she shot back.

Gathering her courage, she reached out and wrapped her hand around his imposing girth. Internally, she was freaking out by the sheer inability of her hand to completely encircle him, but she masked her real reaction with a determined facade.

“Is this your first time, touching –”

“Of course not,” she cut him off, lying. She wanted to spite him by implying that he wasn’t the first man in her life because that would definitely be a blow specially on a man like him.

But the duke still didn’t react and just stared at her. His fingers were just fiddling with her hair, rolling a strand between his thumb.

She couldn’t read anything on his face at all but she couldn’t help but think that he might not be reacting because he actually did not believe her. Curse it… was he really seeing right through her? No… he might be doubtful but if she showed him what an innocent maiden couldn’t possibly know, he would surely believe her lie, right?

The thought made her even more determined now. She had read much erotic literatures already so she would be damned if she cannot draw upon all those knowledge!

Confidently, she shifted her gaze to the rock-hard flesh in her hand. Her shock and disbelief at his sheer size were slowly turning into curiosity as she allowed herself to really focus on the feel of him against her palm. It was… really hard… and… good lord… no, she cannot lose focus! She needs to act like this wasn’t the first penis she’d ever touched but the second, or maybe, better, the tenth!