Page 41 of A Duke Changes Everything
Mina took one tentative step back but couldn’t make herself retreat any farther. She couldn’t leave him balanced on the edge of a crumbling stretch of stones.
“Take my hand.” She bundled his overcoat under one arm and leaned forward, trying to find an extra inch of length in her arm. A vertigo swirl of dizziness pulled at her, but she kept her eyes fixed on the duke.
“Stubborn woman,” he grumbled. Taking one long stride, he placed his boot closer to hers. “This patch is solid beneath my feet. Now turn around and head back to the stairs.”
Mina looked down at the dark grooves between the stones where mortar should have been. She wasn’t at all certain the pathway wouldn’t crumble. “Just take my hand,” she insisted.
If he fell, at least she’d have a hold of him. She stretched again, lifting off her boot heel, and lost her balance. Her body responded like metal to a magnet’s pull and she tipped toward the ledge. A scream burst from her throat.
Her body went weightless, unbearably heavy, as her foot slid off the edge.
Then Nicholas Lyon was there, leaning over, his hand latched onto her arm in a vise grip. “Hold on to me. And drop the bloody coat.”
She let the overcoat fall and reached to grasp his shoulder. He immediately wrapped a hand around her waist and heaved her up.
They landed in an awkward, half sitting, half reclining pile far too close to the edge of the three-story drop. Mina didn’t want to let go of him. He was warm and solid, and it was far preferable than focusing on the way her heart thrashed painfully.
“I’ve got you,” he said, his breath coming fast. He settled his chin on the top of her head a moment, then cupped her cheek, tilting her face toward his. “Are you all right?”
His gaze settled on her mouth, and he slid his thumb gently against her cheek.
Mina watched as he studied her. For a man who seemed to know exactly what he wanted, he moved hesitantly, taking such care as he lowered his thumb to her mouth and traced the outline of her lips.
She felt delicate under his tender exploration. Desirable. And she recognized the look in his eyes. The hunger and need. She felt it too. And she desperately wanted to touch him, to trace his mouth as he had hers and then replace her fingers with her lips.
Mina’s pulse rushed in her ears as she held her breath, waiting, hoping. Yearning for what she couldn’t have.
Then he shocked her. Lowering his head, he pressed his mouth to hers. One too-brief taste and he pulled back, then kissed her forehead. “Let’s get inside,” he whispered against her skin.
He untangled himself and stood, keeping hold of her hand. “I’ll go first. You stay close behind.” A single long step and they both stood on a solid part of the walkway. “You go ahead of me, Miss Thorne, so I can make sure you don’t try to heave yourself over the edge again.”
“Mina.”
“What?”
“Call me Mina.” The man had just kissed her, saved her, and she knew he hated the formality of titles and honorifics.
He said nothing and released her. Mina feared she’d made an error in judgment. Or the duke had. Problem was, she’d enjoyed the feel of his lips against hers too much to count the experience as anything but pleasure.
She followed him toward the doorway that led to an interior set of stairs. He encouraged her to go down first, but after descending only two steps, she turned back.
“Never mind the name. Such familiarity would be improper.” Mercy, she was a ninny. She’d embarrassed him and herself. He was a duke. She was a steward. His steward. Perhaps throwing herself off the parapet walk would have been the better course.
Do try to be proper, Mina.Her father’s voice echoed in her mind.
“Sometimes propriety isn’t my first instinct,” she confessed.
A rich, infectious sound reverberated against the stone walls. “I’ve noticed that about you. I rather admire it.” He dipped his head so they were eye to eye. “In addition to your stubbornness, and, of course, your short temper.”
Did he truly like her for her failings? Her inability to behave as she ought, to be ladylike when she should. She still took umbrage at the bit about her temper.
But Mina found she liked hearing him laugh. And the smile that accompanied his amusement? Devastating. Somehow, his toothy grin, framed by deep dimples on both cheeks, managed to make him both more enticing and infinitely more dangerous.
“I fear we’d scandalize Scribb and Wilder if I call you Mina.” His forehead creased as if he was working out a thorny problem. “Of course, I’d insist you call me by my name too.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, as if daring her to say it.
Nicholas.Mina couldn’t bring herself to speak his name, but it echoed in her mind.
“Let’s get inside where it’s warm.”
