Page 45 of The Duke of Fire
“You are here but not to your own accord. It was your grandmother’s idea to invite me,” she reminded him. “That is not enough.”
There was a pause as he lowered his arms to his sides. His eyes focused on the hearth behind her. The flamesburned like his heart.
“I did not claim it to be enough,” he said huskily.
“You expected me to anticipate and wait. It was part of your game. All of it,” she said in that monotone she sometimes disappeared into.
“I had expected—no, wanted—you to miss me,” he admitted, his voice dipping lower. “I like it when you do. I want you to think of me when I am not there.”
He did not tell her about the many times he had caught himself peering through the windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Hoping to hear her talking to his grandmother.
It was pathetic.
He was not meant to feel like this.
Sebastian reminded himself that it was probably the novelty of the situation. He had not bedded her yet, and had not been with any woman since he met her. It must be that. That could be remedied.
“I did miss you,” she whispered, meeting his gaze with her intense eyes. “More than I should.”
His hand moved to her cheek, his rough knuckles brushing her jaw.“I will send for you soon. I have missed you, too. More than I should.”
He did not kiss her this time. He should not, but somehow he felt the space between them crackling—becoming more open. Gaping wide.
Chapter 16
Aknock on the door had Amelia running to check who was visiting. The butler should be doing it, but she clearly remembered Sebastian saying, “I will send for you.”
There were no notes yet. It seemed like he enjoyed putting her in a constant state of anticipation. And yet, he had been sending her other things…
“Serenity!” Amelia exclaimed as soon as she saw who was at the door.“Come, let’s go to my room.”
They walked to her room quietly, as if both of them were afraid they would alert Octavia somehow. When they reached her chambers, they swiftly entered, and Amelia closed the door with a click.
“I have missed you dearly, and came as soon as I could,” Serenity breathed, looking flushed. Then, the excitement on her face stilled as her eyes scanned the room.
Flowers. So many flowers. There were also several wrapped boxes piled on top of each other.
They were all from him. From Sebastian. Yet, there were no letters telling her to get ready to see him.There were no notes either, just the seal of his grandmother, reassuring Finch and Octavia that the presents had been from her.
“Well, well, well,” Serenity said after catching her breath. Her eyes seemed to bulge from the sockets at the sight. “Are you being courted by some prince that I do not know of? Or has your Season been so successful that you have received so many flowers and presents? If only the dowager would sponsor me as well!”
“They are all from the Duke of Firaine,” she admitted, making sure to keep her voice low.“But nobody else knows. I told Octavia they were from the dowager. She was not too happy, as you can imagine.”
“All of them?” Serenity’s eyebrows rose so high that Amelia thought they would reach her scalp. “Amelia, what…” Serenity began, her fingers brushing against the silky wrapper of one present. “You do know what this looks like?”
She did. She was not a fool. She knew exactly what it alllookedlike—what it wouldmeanto others. Trinkets and flowers from a known rake meant only one thing.
And yet… that was not all it meant to her. She did not want Serenity or anyone to know that.
“I am certainly aware,” Amelia said with a tight nod, even though it sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as her friend.
And yet, she remembered the way his eyes lit up when he listened to her. How he looked at her when he thought she was not watching. The tension in his jaw when his friends teasedhim about her. That flicker of something—vulnerability—just beneath the cold, polished surface. How he had taken care of her like no one had before.
She told herself she knew better. That this was all part of some game. That men like the Duke of Firaine did notfeelthings the way women did. But now she could not stop wondering if he did. If hehad.
“You know what people say about him,” her friend said softly. There was something that looked almost like pity in her eyes. “Everyone in thetonknows what he is like.”
“Yes, I know that they say that he is a…” Amelia faltered. The word stuck in her throat.
