Page 57 of The Danger of Desire
That seemed to register with Aunt Agatha, thankfully. “Very well,” Aunt Agatha said. “But don’t linger. You and I must go to London right away to consult with our solicitors and arrange the settlement, not to mention procure a license.”
A license! “A few moments, Aunt,” Delia said, as panic rose in her chest. “Please. Before you bind us for life.”
With a terse nod, Aunt Agatha withdrew, taking all the others with her.
And Delia was left alone with Warren.
Fourteen
While waiting for her to speak, Warren tried to catch his bearings. This situation was beyond his realm of expertise. He’d never ruined an eligible female before. He hardly knew how to proceed.
Especially when he wasn’t sure how far he’d gone. As usual, the dream had caught hold of him like a swamp, dragging him down into its muddy depths. What had he said? How much had he revealed? Not too much, he hoped. Because right now, with a marriage looming, he didn’t want to dredge all that up.
Not when she looked so vulnerable, her cheeks a pale pink and her eyes haunted. Was she that afraid to marry him? Good God, what had he done or said to her in the throes of his nightmare?
He didn’t think he’d hurt her, but he’d lashed out against people physically in his dreams before. That was why he’d started sleeping during the day, when he tended not to have the nightmares.
She dragged in a shaky breath. “I want you to know I had no idea you would pull me onto your lap and—”
“I realize that. But you didn’t fight to leave, did you?” God, if she’d fought him, and he’d hurt her, he’d never forgive himself.
For some reason, the question made her bristle. “Not hard enough, apparently. I realize I should have, but—”
“Forgive me, you misunderstand me.” No surprise, since he’d put it very badly. “I’m not blaming you for my actions. Merely making sure that I did not... force my attentions on you.”
Relief flooded her winsome features. “No. Not really. You held me rather tightly, but I’m sure I could have roused you from your sleep if I had been more... forceful.”
It was his turn to feel relieved. “But you chose not to.”
She blushed. “Yes.”
“Because you were afraid to jar me awake? Or because you enjoyed... whatever I was doing?”
A faint smile touched her lips. “You really don’t remember, do you?”
Mortification flooded him, but he made sure not to show it. At least she was still fully dressed. That was something. Because in the dream, he’d undressed her. “I remember holding you. Kissing you and... other things.” Pulling her astride him. Plunging deep inside her wet, soft— “I just don’t know how much was the dream, and how much was real.”
“Your panic at the beginning, before I touched you, was certainly real. You seemed so desperate and sad that I couldn’t bear to leave you. I don’t know what you were dreaming to make you so frantic, but—”
“I had a nightmare, that’s all. Then you entered it and changed it into something more... bearable.” He winced. “And I showed my appreciation by ruining you.”
She shrugged. “You didn’t know what you were doing. Given how I responded to your far more intimate caresses a few nights ago, I’m surprised that you didn’t go further.”
Those had been “far more intimate”? Then he couldn’t have done too much to her, no matter what he’d done in the dream. “I might have gone further if not for your aunt.” He forced a smile. “I do find you... hard to resist.”
Thankfully, she flashed him a shy smile. At last, he’d found the right thing to say. “You’re not alone in that, my lord.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, don’t start ‘my lord’ing me now, when we’re about to be man and wife.”
She swallowed. “No matter what my aunt says, you mustn’t feel compelled to marry me.”
“It’s a bit late for that. We were caught in a compromising position by your aunt, a fact rapidly made apparent when other people joined us. If we don’t wed, you’ll be ruined, and—”
“I don’t care if I’m ruined, I told you.”
“I care. Because it means I’ll gain a reputation as a scoundrel who debauches innocents and doesn’t take responsibility for it.” When she winced, he softened his tone. “And surely you care if your sister-in-law and nephew are tainted by the scandal.”
A hint of desperation crossed her features. “Perhaps we can quash the rumors. Clarissa is my friend, and Lord Blakeborough is yours. Surely they wouldn’t say anything. We can explain about the nightmare to my aunt—”
