Part 17 (2/2)
”Ohhhhh . . .” So pretty, her bemused mind sighed. So very pretty.
His brows rose, and she noted again how they flared the tiniest bit at the corners, giving him an exotic look. ”Oh?” he repeated.
She tried to kick her fuzzy brain into action, but nothing happened, so she just nodded.
Amus.e.m.e.nt and curiosity showed in his eyes. ”And here I have ridden like a madman to see you. While I didn't expect a hug or a kiss, I did expect a 'h.e.l.lo, how nice to see you.' ”
A yawn that would not be repressed began to torment her. She covered her mouth and hoped he wouldn't notice.
The prince's gaze narrowed, his smile now gone as his eyes raked over her hair and took in the blanket. ”Ya ni panilah, have you been ill?”
”Yes. Earache.” She saw his lack of comprehension, so she patted her ear. ”I'm better now, but the medicine-whew!” She leaned her head against the door, hanging on to the k.n.o.b to keep her balance as she tried to make her eyes focus on him. ”So . . . what are you doing here? The dinner cannot be over yet.”
”I am visiting you.” He removed his gloves and stuffed them in his coat pocket before he placed a hand under her elbow, his fingers warm.
She really liked his hands. They were large, but always so gentle.
”Roza, forgive me, but you look as if at any moment you might fall.”
”No, no. I'm holding on to the k.n.o.b.” She nodded down at her hands, which were completely hidden by the blanket. ”See?”
He looked at the blanket. ”Da.” Then one of his arms slipped behind her while the other found her knees. With the smallest of efforts he straightened, and suddenly she was in his arms.
It was heavenly. So very, very heavenly. She dropped her head against his broad shoulder.
Alexsey kicked the front door closed behind him. ”Where do I take you, little one?”
She pointed a languid finger toward the sitting room. As he carried her there, she admired the strength of his arms and the width of his chest. If she wished to touch him, all she had to do was lift her hand.
It was so tempting.
So very, very tempting. And it was the last thing she should do.
Her heart thudded in an oddly happy way and she watched him through her lashes. ”You know what I think, oh great prince?”
He stopped by the settee and smiled into her eyes. ”No, but I know you will tell me.”
”Yes. You shouldn't be here.”
”I know.” He placed her on the settee, then set his hat on the small table beside it. ”Yet here I am, unable to stay away.”
She tried to sit up, only halfway managing it. ”I'm unchaperoned. That's not allowed. You must go.” She pointed toward the door.
”Do you wish me to go?”
She blinked. Of course she did. Or did she? Somehow her gaze found his mouth. Never had she met a man with such a sensual bottom lip. Just seeing it made her breath catch, her knees grow weak, her- ”Then I stay for a while.” Satisfaction curved his mouth, breaking the spell. He unb.u.t.toned his coat and shrugged out of it, displaying his elegant dinner coat and blue embroidered waistcoat. His simple cravat was held by a gold and emerald pin, the fire of which matched his gaze.
Though his cravat pin sparkled, she couldn't seem to look away from his eyes. They were so pretty. So very pretty.
Bronwyn knew she should insist he leave, but her fuzzy mind just hummed along happily.
He came to sit beside her on the settee, which suddenly seemed very small. ”You are a very big man.”
”And you are a very small woman. Like a bird.”
She considered this, pretending not to notice when his hand found hers. ”What kind of bird?”
He chuckled. ”A sparrow, perhaps.”
”How about a hawk? I would like to be a hawk.”
He kissed her fingers. ”With me, Roza, you may be anything you wish.”
With him. She liked that. A lot. Her common sense whispered an urgent warning, one she couldn't quite hear through her haze. ”The dinner cannot be over.” Surely she'd said that before, but he hadn't answered.
”No. It continues. I told them I had a headache; then I came here.” He continued kissing her fingers, looking at her as he did so. ”I couldn't stay away.”
He looked so delicious, every touch of his lips sending tremors of sensation through her. She wondered how much stronger they'd be if not for the medicine, and the answer almost frightened her. She pulled her hand free and crossed her arms. ”No. This is most improper.” The words stuck on her lips, as if disliking to be said. ”If we're caught-”
”I know: there would be a scandal.” He grinned. ”So we will not get caught.”
”How can you be so cer-” His gaze had dropped down to her chest and she looked down. In crossing her arms she'd unwittingly pressed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s upward, causing them to round softly above the neckline of her gown.
She hastily dropped her arms, her face afire as she rewrapped the blanket around herself, which was impossible to do as she was sitting on most of it. ”That's quite enough of that.” She tried to sound stern, but she ruined it with a giggle.
Goodness, what a situation. But perhaps it would serve her well. I'm to make him fall wildly, madly in love with me-or at least deeply in l.u.s.t, and now is the time to woo him, subdue him, make him desire me as no other- She caught sight of herself in the side mirror and gasped. ”My hair!”
He chuckled as she frantically tried to pat the unruly curls into place.
”It's not funny. I look like a-a-a-I don't know what, but it's not- This won't work at all!”
He tugged her to his chest, tucking her head under his chin. ”There. Now I cannot see your hair, just feel its softness.” He ran his fingers over her curls. ”I like your hair. It is silken.”
”You like it uncombed?” she asked dubiously.
”I like it however you wear it.”
She suddenly wondered who was trying to make who fall in l.u.s.t-and then she remembered they were both doing the exact same thing. Somehow, she hadn't seen it in that particular way before, and she laughed a little at her surprise.
”What is it?” he asked, his heartbeat warm against her cheek.
”I'm just laughing at us. At you. You are trying to seduce me.”
A dark smile flickered over his face. ”Trying? I do not try anything. I do.”
”I do, too. A lot.” Ha-take that.
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