Page 71 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
What about being loved?
But she held back and instead asked, “Just that?”
Magnus nodded once.
Without thinking, without considering the consequences, Lily raised her hand and rested it lightly on his chest.
It was a gentle touch, yet it was enough to make him freeze. It was enough to undo him.
He stared at her hand and then at her face, as though daring her to pull away. However, she did not.
Instead, she stepped closer until their breaths mingled, until the fire in the grate disappeared behind his frame.
“I don’t know if I will be satisfied with just that,” she whispered.
She was trying to be honest without fully saying what she wanted to.
And then, not wanting to give in to temptation, she stepped back.
However, the moment she did, he took her wrist and pulled her back to him. And crushed his lips against hers.
It was not as soft as her honesty. It was full of everything they had yet to say, everything he couldn’t promise at that moment yet she understood.
He kissed her like she was fire. Like he’d burn gladly just to keep her near. When they broke apart, he pressed his forehead against hers.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Lily was still trying to understand why he had just kissed her after declaring that he would never offer such things as a husband but she said nothing, not wanting the moment to end but it seemed the dukedidn’t share her sentiment because he pulled back. “It’s getting late, My Lady. You should go back to your chamber.”
CHAPTER 17
The first sign of trouble was the thunder of hooves.
Lily looked up from her writing desk, startled by the unmistakable sound of a carriage trundling furiously through the grounds. It was early, too early for callers and visitors. Especially those who come in a dramatic rush.
And there was only one person who dramatically entered her life in such a manner.
She quickly rose to her feet and crossed to the window just in time to see a blur of ivory and navy blue coming to a halt before the front door.
“Oh no,” she whispered, her eyes widening.
Before she could even think to warn anyone or her maid, the carriage door flew open. Almost immediately, a familiar voice rent the morning air.
“Magnus bloody Wyndham!”
Lily jumped at the sound, before bolting from her room and stepping out into the hallway. But she was too late; the damage had already been done.
Cecilia.
She was dressed in a traveling cloak that looked far too fine, seeing her disheveled appearance. With energetic feet, she marched across the foyer, her husband trailing behind her with a sheepish expression that indicated he had tried and failed to slow her down.
“You didn’t tell me in the letter it was Lily!” Cecilia cried the moment she laid eyes on her brother, waving a crumpled paper in the air. “I thought it was some terrible joke!”
Magnus, who had been reading a book in the front parlor, now stood stiffly by the fireplace, his book still clutched in his hand, while he raised the other one in a silent plea for his sister to calm down.
“Cecilia.”
“No. No, you don’t get to Cecilia me right now,” she snapped, turning on her heel, apparently looking for someone.
And when Lily stepped in the room, she perked up as though she had found the person.
