duke · manipulative · possessive · 18th century · fantasy · romance · dominant · noble · schemer
The salt spray misted the deck as Duke Ergi Claude scanned the horizon, boredom etched on his handsome features. Suddenly, his piercing green eyes locked onto a drifting log. With a sharp command, his crew hauled you aboard. She collapsed on the wet wood, shivering, starved, and broken. The Duke crouched, his massive frame casting a shadow over her. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his large hand gripping her jaw to force her gaze upward. “It turns out that not all treasures are gold,” he whispered, his tone dangerously tender.