His Highness the Duke Read Online Free PDF Page B

Morrigan. Nadja whispered something and began to laugh.
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    Michelle M. Pillow
    ―Yes,‖ Aeron whispered, answering the question that wasn‘t meant for her. ―I‘m
    very nervous. I wish I was home where it‘s safe and predictable.‖
    A glance at her laughing sister showed Riona was not having the same lonesome
    time. It figured. Riona always made fast friends no matter where she was.
    ―They‘re very big, aren‘t they?‖ Nadja said to Morrigan.
    ―Yes, the men are very large,‖ Aeron whispered again, still talking to herself as
    she thought of the bridegroom with the bowed head. A servant lifted a brow as he
    looked questioningly at her, but she waved him away. She listened for more of the
    conversation, but her eavesdropping proved fruitless and she finished her meal in
    silence.
    Music lifted over the campground, growing loud enough to be noticeable. Aeron
    took a quick drink of the berry liquor. The low rhythm produced an almost euphoric
    effect on the brides. Their voices lowered and disappeared. Eyes turned down the
    platform to where the handsome bachelors were gathering before them. Aeron watched
    as the first man stepped forward to claim his bride. The woman came around the table,
    slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her away.
    Not all of the men who had been in line were in the tent. Perhaps they hadn‘t
    connected with anyone and decided not to marry this year. Another man came forward,
    then another. Riona had a smirk on her face as she watched, clearly finding much
    amusement in the process. Aeron swallowed, nervously waiting for it to be over so she
    could make inquiries as to who was in charge to deliver her information before the
    Galaxy Brides ship took off.
    When much of the room had cleared, a single man remained at the tables. He‘d
    caught her attention when he first entered the area—the man with the bowed head.
    Now his gaze was trained fully on the women, as if studying them. His crystal necklace
    glowed brilliantly. A jolt of electricity ran through her and she forced her eyes away
    from the loinclothed specimen. Heat filled her cheeks even as she averted her gaze. He
    was so big and strong and handsome and scantily clothed.
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    His Highness The Duke
    Aeron clenched her hands in her lap, waiting for him to grab his woman and go.
    She didn‘t like what his half-naked presence did to her. It had been a long time since
    she‘d used transmitters to exchange pleasure essences with a man. She found that most
    males preferred the actual physical act of sex to a sensation exchange. However, ‗real
    sex‘ was something Aeron could not participate in. When she did meet someone, her
    way of doing things turned out to be more of a novelty experience for them rather than
    any deep connection they had to her. Since she had a hard time letting people get close,
    those opportunities didn‘t present themselves often.
    Her body heated as she detected the last groom to finally move. He stepped on
    the platform at the far end of the table and began to walk past the remaining brides. It
    was strange, considering the others had gone directly to their chosen mates. Had he
    forgotten who he‘d picked? The thought caused her to laugh softly to herself. Suddenly,
    heat forged its way through her body, coursing through her blood. The laughter died in
    her throat. She held very still, not daring to look up as the man moved passed. Only, he
    wasn‘t moving. He was standing before her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she
    heard Riona chuckling.
    When he didn‘t move, she glanced to the side. His naked waist was directly in
    front of her. The tight muscles were so close she could reach out and touch his oiled
    flesh. A finely carved navel drew her attention to the rippled plains leading up the
    center of his chest. She stared at his stomach, not moving, not speaking, and probably
    not breathing though she was too dumbstruck to actually check her vital functions at
    the moment.
    Move, her