The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 318

KATHERINE

"Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!" I pulled out the handkerchief from the inner pocket of my dress and leaned forward slightly, bracing one hand between his spread legs.

I started blotting the stains on his shirt, my fingers working their way down the buttons, trailing lower along his abdomen.

"I think you should change. Damn it, I’m so clumsy…"

"It’s fine, Rossella, it doesn’t matter…"

"No, no, at least let me dry it," I insisted, continuing downward. The wine had trickled lower.

I was flustered, too distracted to realize my mistake—until my hand brushed against something hard.

My eyes widened as I became fully aware that I had nearly polished the Duke’s crotch, where a growing erection was forming.

"I…" I looked up.

We were so close, practically on top of each other. His breathing was deep, heavy—as if he were scenting me.

His eyes, those wild and breathtakingly beautiful eyes, locked onto mine with a predatory intensity.

I swallowed hard, my gaze drifting to his lips—so masculine, so kissable.

Just a little closer, and I could taste the Duke’s mouth. He must taste like wine and fruit, delicious…

But suddenly, his expression shifted. It hardened, storm clouds swirling in those gorgeous irises.

"I told you I’m fine. Sit back down," he muttered, gripping my shoulders and forcing me back into my seat.

Both of us were left uncomfortable. The Duke cleared his throat and pulled his dark tunic closed, covering the evidence of his arousal, ignoring the stains from the drink.

He didn’t get aroused when he saw me naked… but touching him with a handkerchief had done the trick?

This man was becoming more of a mystery with each passing moment.

"Now tell me—what exactly did you discover to make you scream like a lunatic?" he finally asked, snapping me back to reality, reminding me of my earlier excitement.

"Those people are hiding something. They’re stealing from you, I’m sure of it. I just checked the wrong pen. The hiding spot must be in the floor of the other donkey pen," I explained.

"Go on," he urged, intrigued.

"I went into both pens. In the first one, where the donkey supposedly lived, there was barely any manure, and what was there was fresh. In the other, there was a huge pile of manure stacked in the corner, but it wasn’t as old as they claimed—if it were, it would have dried out by now."

"Well, well… Seems you know a lot about animal waste," he scoffed.

"Mock me all you want, but that’s the key. If the other donkey died weeks ago, where did all that manure come from? And another thing—when the worker tried to lead the remaining donkey into the other pen, the animal instinctively tried to go back to the one we inspected. Why do you think that is?"

The Duke stared at me, deep in thought.

His expression grew more serious—he only needed a few seconds to piece it together.

"That donkey used to stay in the pen we inspected, which is why there was more manure piled up there, and why it naturally tried to go back in," he concluded. Smart man.

"Exactly!" I exclaimed, pointing a finger at him.

"Duke, someone tipped off that worker that you were coming for a surprise inspection. They moved the animal to the pen where they’re hiding the stolen grain and left the other one open and suspicious. Who would ever think that under the donkey is a hidden underground stash?"

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