Page 46 of A Little Bit Dangerous
Then she did something other than panic.
A chuckle escaped her lips.
He might have laughed, too, had Daventry not been about to open the door and catch him dabbing his cock with a silk square.
“You won’t be laughing if we’re caught,” he whispered.
“What can he do?”
“Relieve you of your position.”
She covered her mouth with the hand that had gripped his erection mere moments ago. The minx inhaled. “Who’d have thought the musky smell of a man could be so arousing. Everything about you stirs such a profound reaction in me.”
He tucked himself back into his trousers and quickly fastened the buttons. “We need to face facts, Isabella. These carnal cravings will consume us.” He still hungered for her. How would he sleep tonight knowing she was in bed upstairs? “You’d do well to distance yourself from me before I ruin you for good.”
“We’ve tried that. It doesn’t work.”
“Then we’ll be lovers before the week is out.”
She shrugged. “If I’m still in London.”
Her answer caught him off guard.
What the devil did she mean?
Christian straightened. “You plan to leave town?” His heart clenched, hard, almost cutting off the blood supply. “Where would you go?”
“As far away as money will allow.” Sensing his disappointment, she reached for his hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. “I cannot stay here, Christian. I’m powerless against my father and his wicked machinations.”
If Aaron had his way, Lawton would be buried in the family crypt before the week was out. “There’s nothing to fear. You’ll have my full protection. I’ll not let you out of my sight.”
Her watery smile said she doubted him. “A moment ago, you said we should place some distance between us.” She didn’t give him a chance to explain why. “You’re the only man I’ve ever desired. My only friend in the world. Let us enjoy each other’s company while we can. Let’s not think about tomorrow.”
Christian found himself at odds.
When a boy was ripped from his home in the dead of night and forced to survive on the streets, he craved security. How long could he cope floundering in a wild sea of uncertainty? How would he fare when Aaron came to tell him she’d gone?
His chest tightened. Loss was a recurring theme in his life. The loss of his mother, his father, his home, to some extent, his independence. The latter was the reason he’d accepted Daventry’s offer. A desperate attempt to find the boy he’d left behind.
“Isabella, if we mean to spend time together, you must promise me something.” Every insecurity rose to the surface, leaving him teetering on unstable ground. “Promise me you will always speak honestly. Promise me you’ll tell me before you disappear into the night.”
A knock on the window made them both jump.
Ignoring it, she cupped his cheek and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I promise you will always know what I’m thinking. If I decide to leave, you’ll be the only person I tell.”
“Trust is everything to me.”
“I’ll never give you a reason to doubt me.”
He reached for her, kissed her, tried not to make it feel like goodbye. Yet he knew one day soon he would be waving her away at the docks.
“Miss Lawton?” Daventry’s impatient voice broke through the internal chaos. “Time is of the essence.”
After a quick assessment, and agreeing they both looked presentable, she opened the carriage door. “Forgive the delay, sir. I needed a private word with Mr Chance and some things cannot be left unsaid.”
Daventry assisted her descent, his assessing gaze shifting to Christian. “I trust all is well.”
“Indeed.” He’d just experienced the most powerful climax of his life, only to have his heart ripped from his chest moments later. One thing was certain. He’d need to take the brandy decanter to bed with him tonight.
