Page 32 of The Secret Life of a Lady
He couldn’t stop the rumble of laughter. ‘Depths?’
‘Lengths, then. I don’t know. I would control how far we travel down this path.’ She was back to looking over his shoulder.
‘So, you suggest we continue our… flirtations, shall we say, in private. But you decide how fast and how far we go?’
She glanced at him and gave a curt nod. ‘Exactly so.’
‘Because while you don’t plan on marrying, you do feel… desires.’ Even saying the word made his cock harden further.
Enough light spilled out from the open door for him to see her blush. She turned away and stomped her foot in a display of frustration that had him biting his cheek to stop from smiling. ‘Yes. I have desires. And I won’t feel shame for that. As I said before, women are not so dissimilar to men, even if the rules placed upon us are vastly different. We have passions that run just as hot, yet we are given no freedom to express these feelings.’
Killian had never engaged in such an illuminating discussion. She was absolutely right. ‘I owe you an apology, Hannah.’
She frowned at him. ‘For what?’
‘Earlier, I implied you were a lightskirt. You are not. Please forgive me.’
He loved surprising her. There was a unique sense of pride in knowing he momentarily derailed her wickedly sharp thoughts.
She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. ‘Fine. You are forgiven.’ Squaring her shoulders, Hannah tipped down her chin. ‘I take this to mean you are disinclined to accept my amendment to our agreement. Please forget I broached the subject.’ She stepped towards the door.
Killian caught her arm and pulled her back to him. He took her gloved hand and tugged at each finger before slowly dragging the silk over her skin, revealing her one inch at a time. When her hand was completely bare, he brought it to his mouth, turned it palm up, and pressed a kiss to her wrist.
Her pulse beat wildly against his lips. Her scent was stronger here. He inhaled her into his lungs. Pressing a second kiss to her palm, he revelled in her gasp as her fingers curled over his cheek. Killian trapped her hand against his face. ‘I only mean that if we do this, I will not consider you with any less respect than I do now.You have questions that deserve answers. How can I stand in the way of education? I would be honoured to embark on this journey with you.’ He brought her wrist to his mouth again, this time scraping his teeth over her delicate skin.
Hannah’s sharp intake of air had Killian groaning.
She pulled her hand back. ‘At my pace.’ Her voice was rough.
Killian tucked her glove in his pocket. ‘Of course.’ He now had her dagger and her glove. It was becoming quite the collection.
‘And only as far as I’m willing to go. You stopped earlier when I asked. I expect you will continue to do so.’ Hannah’s pink cheeks darkened further to a beguiling rose.
‘I shall endeavour to keep myself on the tightest of leashes.’
She nodded. ‘Excellent. We have an accord. Well. Good night then, Lord Killian.’
‘Just one thing.’ He backed up a step.
Hannah lifted a single brow. A goddess deigning to grant him a boon.
‘While marriage isn’t either of our desires, if our explorations ever breach your boundary of innocence, I will make you my wife, Hannah. I may be damned, but I have not fallen so far as to become a libertine.’ He had no wish to cage someone as wild and magnificent as Miss Simmons within an unwanted marriage, but enough of his father was left in him to recoil from ruining a woman, no matter the cost. ‘I will not take advantage of a lady such as you without ensuring your honour remains intact.’
‘I’m no lady, Your Grace. And my honour is not yours to worry about,’ she said so softly, he almost missed it. Turning from him, Miss Simmons walked into the house, shutting the door behind her.
‘Liar.’ He spoke into the empty night.
He was in serious trouble.
8
Killian shifted in his saddle. He and Drake had been riding for hours. They would soon reach Berkshire. The weather turned on them when they passed Reading, and a summer storm made Killian wish for the comforts of his carriage. The country roads were turning into rutted lanes bogged with mud. Even on horseback, it was a dangerous slog through increasingly slippery terrain.
‘Brilliant plan to ride to Everly Manor.’ Drake glared at Killian from the back of his impressive stallion.
‘We’re almost there.’ Killian hunched his shoulders as water dripped down his neck and into his collar. His trousers were covered in mud, and it would take all the hot water in Berkshire to thaw his bones.
‘Can we revisit our conversation about Miss Simmons? You’ve seen her three times since the ball, and still you haven’t gotten any information about Sarah Bright. One might assume your motivations are becoming rather separate from your mission.’
