Innocence Lost (Secrets & Scandals Book 1)
Page 22
He had to admit, this growing attraction for Silver was starting to scare the hell out of him. With a gusty sigh, he glanced around the room, trying hard to think of something else. Anything other than—.
The door opened, and Silver walked into the room. Her chalky face and alarmed doe eyes made him frown. What frightened her so? She noticed him and jerked to a halt. “Oh, forgive me. I-I thought you had already retired.”
Daniel shot to his feet. This was not the bold, sharp-tongued young miss who dared to verbal spar with a duke. He wanted to know what was going on, what made her so scared.
She started to back out of the room when he stopped her. “Don’t go.”
Startled, she froze, her eyes widening.
Daniel groped for something to say. Something that would make her stay. He had no idea what. His mind worked furiously, and he cursed the three glasses of port he’d just gulped down. Think, damn it, think! “Your brothers don’t look anything like you.” Oh, that was ruddy brilliant!
She glanced down. “We had different mothers,” she said so softly, he had to strain to hear her.
Daniel shuffled closer. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. He wanted to kiss her until this madness within him ceased. Until he had had his fill and didn’t want anymore. “Silver?” He reached out and grazed her cheek. Warm silk.
She closed her eyes. “Please, Your Grace—”
“Daniel,” he insisted, lifting her chin with the tips of his fingers. “You must call me Daniel.”
“What is it you want from me?”
How could he answer that? He couldn’t tell her he wanted to tear her clothes away and ravish her until dawn. No, that would not do. But he wanted that. God help him. He did. And in that instant, Daniel knew if he bent down and kissed her, he wouldn’t stop there. With supreme effort, he took a step back. “My apologies, Miss MacLaren.” He gave a curt nod. “I shall delay you no longer.”
Her breath caught. She spun around and fled the room.
Daniel curled his hands into fists and cursed himself for being the King of Fools. With a sigh, he turned back into the room and scooped up his wine glass. The sooner he returned to England, the better.
Tomorrow, if he could manage it.