Page 25 of Obsession: The Unspoken Sin
“You need to get going too, Miss Killoran,” Addien snapped testily. “You’re going to earn the earl’s wrath.”
From the corner of her eye, she noted the way Laurence’s body arched forward, as if he’d had a visceral reaction to the ideaof Alice answering to anyone, even her own employer,especiallyher own employer. Addien took a step towards him.
Anticipating that this was headed nowhere good, Alice hastily stepped in between Addien and a charged Laurence.
“Thank you so much. I’ll be along.”
Addien, defiant as the day was long, stood in wait, clearly intending to wait Alice out.
Fortunately, Laurel saved the day for Alice. Laurel gave several tugs on Addien’s hand, and with that and not another word or look back, Addien squired the child abovestairs. Her friend also very intentionally left the doors open.
Alice and Laurence rushed to speak and did so at the same time.
“She is—”
“She is—”
They stopped and shared a smile.
“You first,” Alice demurred.
“I was going to say she seems friendly.”
“She is protective of those she cares about.” Alice paused. “And I can identify only three who earn that devotion.”
Laurence inclined his head. “I take it two of those people being you and Laurel?”
Alice nodded.
“And the third?” he asked curiously.
Alice shook her head. She’d never betray the other woman’s confidence, even if it hadn’t been a spoken one and only one Alice herself had deduced. Laurence glided over, and with every languid step that brought him closer, her heart tripled its beat until it threatened to pound from her chest. Then he stopped before her. He brought his hand up and, with a whispery soft touch, he caressed the backs of his knuckles along her cheek.
“I would never begrudge or resent anyone who has looked after you, Alice,” he murmured melodically. “I am grateful to her.”
His eyes flashed dangerously.
“Hell, I’m even grateful to Dynevor,” he said between gritted teeth that rattled, indicating what that admission had cost him.
The knuckles he lightly stroked over her face stilled, and she wanted to plead with him to continue that tenderest of caresses.
“It should have been your brother,” he said with a voice of steel.
Alice swiftly opened her mouth to dismiss mention of Winchester. Her brother wasn’t to blame for anything. He’d allowed her freedom, even as it had cost him so much to do so. He’d cried when she left, and that had been the hardest thing of all.
Laurence stopped her. “But more, Alice,” his eyes took on a fiery passionate glimmer, “more than anything, I wish it was me,” he said.
Alice went absolutely still more than half thinking and fearing. She merely imagined and dreamed the words he now spoke. And then he said it.
“I want it to be me, Alice,” he said thickly. “Let it be me.”
Before her mind could process whether that vow was in fact real, and that beautiful, glorious dream in her heart had in fact been uttered into existence, Laurence lowered his mouth to hers.
Chapter 11
Lord help him, Denbigh was going to hell. And as he made love to Alice’s mouth and ran his hands over her supple frame, learning the feel of her, he couldn’t sort out which was the greatest of his sins. The woman whom he’d fallen in love with being the sister of his best friend. Or the fact that he’d come here on a lie to this woman, whom he’d yearned for, and yes, loved, far longer than he should have.
Denbigh slid his fingers through her short gold-blonde curls, teasing the strands, remembering the feel of her, and luxuriating in the feel of them. “God, you are so beautiful, Alice. I have missed you,” he rasped against her mouth.
