Page 5 of The Runaway Heiress
“Or perhaps you think I’m spoiled. Sometimes people do. They see how much money Jean has and think I must be a pampered princess.”
This made him glance at her with a raised brow. Now that they weren’t on the main road the lights weren’t around to reveal him to her, his entire face was in shadow. A boon and a curse. It made her more rash, but she missed the nuance of his expression.
“I don’t think you’re spoiled,” he said and turned his attention back to the road.
Well, that was something. She sat back, willing herself to be content with that much.
“I think you’re kind…and beautiful.”
His voice was soft so as not to carry on the wind, but deep and true. Her cheeks burned with pleasure and she smiled.
He thought she was kind and beautiful.
They drove the remaining three blocks in silence before pulling to a stop in front of the imposing three-story brick and stone mansion. She tried not to notice the warmth of his hand this time as he helped her down, but he practically singed her through her gloves.
He walked slightly behind her as they ascended the front steps, his quiet strength making her heart pound. She loved how he towered over her.
Monsieur Brand met them on the porch. “You’re home early, Miss Buchanan.”
His brows drew together in puzzlement as he hurried to open the front door for them.
“I wasn’t feeling well. Monsieur Gray offered to drive me home since Mr. Sinclair was occupied.”
“Ah, well, I hope you feel better soon,” he said. To Gray, he added, “I’ll wait for you here.”
Sophie smiled to herself. Usually, Monsieur Sinclair followed her to her room to collect her jewels and return them to the safe. Monsieur Brand was his second in charge, so she had half expected him to accompany her upstairs.
She kept silent as she walked inside and then up the elegantly curved mahogany staircase. Gray followed. The muffled sound of his boots on the stairs reverberated through her. But it was the prickling of the skin along her back that told her how close he was. Something delicious and wicked flickered to life within her and settled low, just below her stomach.
She’d never felt excitement like it before and it made her hesitate a moment at her bedroom door. She should tell him to wait in the hallway, but as soon as she had the thought, she knew she wouldn’t. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to see Anne, her maid, jump up in surprise. Whether it was alarm at Sophie’s early arrival or consternation at the tall figure that followed her inside, she didn’t know.
“Thank you, Anne.” Sophie tugged off her gloves and placed them on the small table by the door. “I can manage tonight. Go to bed.” She heard the words coming from her mouth but had no idea why she was dismissing the only person who might help her keep a grip on the sanity she felt slipping away. Because she wanted to be alone with Gray, and that was something that should not happen.
Chapter Four
The maid hesitated awkwardly, her gaze going from Sophie to Gray and back again, before she gave a brief curtsy and left. Sophie opened her mouth to apologize for her maid and explain she was new but realized he would know that. Jean only allowed her to keep a maid for about six months before finding some reason to dismiss her or move her to other duties. Yet another way that he kept Sophie isolated.
Gray didn’t seem to notice, though, as he stepped into her room and stood looking around. The furniture was dainty with swirls in the wood and gilded etchings. It was silly, but it seemed so intimate to have this rugged man in her private sanctum. The only place that was hers. His very presence had her blushing.
When his gaze settled on the blue satin counterpane across the bed, she quickly moved to her dressing table across the room. Having him here made her heart pound too fast. He should go. She placed her sapphire earbobs on the polished surface and reached for the clasp of her necklace, but her fingers trembled too badly to get it open.
“Let me help.” Gray’s voice moved over her like rough velvet, causing her intimate muscles to tighten curiously.
Sophie’s wide-eyed gaze met his in the mirror as he came up behind her. A full head and neck taller than her petite frame, his deep stare held hers briefly before he looked down to the clasp. Sophie barely had time to recover from the intensity of that look before his fingertips touched the sensitive flesh of her nape. The contact sent thrills of excitement through her and made her clench her teeth to keep from visibly reacting.
The clasp opened and the long, heavy strand of sapphires and diamonds tugged across her neck and shoulder in a slow caress as it came away in his hands. It landed softly on the dresser and then his hand was on her shoulder. Her shocked gaze came up to find his in the mirror, but it wasn’t there. He was watching his hand move slowly down the smooth skin of her arm. She looked, too, and became immediately fascinated by the contrast of his large hand against her pale skin. She watched its leisurely progress until it covered her own hand, leaving her flesh tingling in its wake.
Sophie wasn’t sure who initiated the movement, but suddenly she found her back pressed lightly against the solid strength of his chest. His other arm crossed over in front of her and she realized she was in the loose cage of his embrace, where she wanted to be. She watched his graceful fingers as they efficiently divested her of her bracelet and placed it with the necklace on the dressing table.
His body tensed as if to move, and she realized how badly she wanted him to stay. Nothing could happen, but she didn’t want the moment to end.
“My hairpins, too. They’re made of diamonds.”
Her gaze flicked to his in the mirror and she saw something there, something hot and smoldering. She welcomed its implication. Gray inhaled deeply as his hands released her wristand moved to her hair. Sophie closed her eyes and savored his touch as one by one the pins dropped to the polished surface with a click. Her hair fell around her shoulders and he might have stroked it once. The movement was so butterfly soft she couldn’t be sure, but the sensation reverberated within her a hundred times over.
If only things were different.
The sixth and last pin dropped and Sophie reluctantly forced herself back to earth. But when she turned to thank him for his help, Gray’s hands rested heavily on the dressing table on either side of her and he didn’t step back. She looked up but her gaze never made it past his perfect bow lips. She wanted to kiss them. To just once feel them on hers.
