Page 70 of Heart of Iron
“Please,” she whispered.“Just for a moment.Just to warm my sheets.”If she shivered a little more than was strictly necessary… Well, he would never need to know that.
The moment of indecision stretched out, playing over his face.“Tell me more,” he finally said, tugging at his waistcoat.“Tell me what you’re involved in.”
Lena rolled onto her side, watching him.The light from the gas lamp backlit his broad shoulders.His face was little more than shadow and the burning gleam of those eyes.
Heat coiled through her, warming her from within.Her nipples tightened, the silk of her nightgown abrading them lightly as he reached over his head and dragged his shirt off.She felt like a mess, her face and nose all wet and splotched, but she could no sooner turn her eyes away than submit to a blue blood.
Light gleamed over the wet slickness of his skin, highlighting the play of muscle in his chest and the ripple of his abdomen.He shucked his boots and looked up, his damp hair falling almost to his shoulders.
Far too long and unruly to be fashionable.But, sweet Lord, how she wanted to run her fingers through it.To touch him.
Nervous anticipation ran over her skin.She’d never seen a man half-naked.Gooseflesh sprang up over her body, and she squirmed against the unfamiliar wet heat between her thighs.The bed dipped beneath his weight.
“How did you meet them?”
“Meet them?”She looked up, wondering for a moment who he was talking about.“The humanists?”
Will lay on his back, his head pillowed on his arms as he turned to look at her.“Aye.”
Lena slid closer.The first hint of his body heat on the sheets sent a delicious shiver down her spine.She hadn’t realized how cold she was.“I already knew one, although I never realized what he was involved in until later.Until I needed it.”
“Who?”
“You don’t need to know that.”She snuggled closer, reaching out with a hesitant hand to stroke his chest.
Will stiffened.But he didn’t pull away.Taking it as permission, she tucked herself against his side, laying her head gently on his shoulder.The heat was delicious.
“Lena, I can’t protect you unless you tell me everythin’.”
The sound of his voice rumbled through his chest.“He saved my life, Will.He was the one who scared Colchester off.Then he brought me in out of the alley and let me sob all over his shoulder.”She shook her head.“I won’t betray him.I owe him more than you’ll ever know.”
Will rolled, turning to face her.Her head slipped into the crook of his arm and the position put distance between them.His breath curled over her face.“Mandeville.”
“Why would you—”
“I already suspected.”
“Please,” she whispered.“Don’t do anything.I don’t want to see him hurt.He gave me a job, Will.He kept me off the streets and looked after me like I was his own.”
Something in his eyes darkened.“And where was your bloody sister in all of this?”
“I never told her.”As he shifted in protest, she put a finger to his lips.“You don’t know what it was like.I couldn’t.We were both working our fingers to the bone merely to provide food and shelter, and Charlie was sick with the first signs of the craving.I didn’t want to be a burden.”Fresh tears sprang forth in her eyes.“And we’d been arguing so much that I didn’t feel as if Icouldtell her.”
Tears scalded her cheeks.She didn’t think she’d had any left, but then this was an old grief, one much covered over and patched.Honoria had made peace with her about the constant arguments they’d had, but she’d never known what had caused the burning resentment.Lena had been so alone, so angry and scared.
Will dragged her close, crushing her against his body.Lena clung to him, burying her face against his neck.“I’m such a mess,” she tried to say, but the tears wouldn’t stop and the words were distorted.“I’m sorry.”
“Ain’t you as should be sorry.”His voice was dark.“Your bloody sister needs her neck wrung.And as for Colchester—”
She looked up in alarm.“You promised you wouldn’t go near him.”
“That was before I knew what he done.”A nasty little smile curved over his lips.“If it’s any consolation, he ain’t as pretty as he were.”
“Oh, Will, what did you do?”
“Dragged him face-first through a few glass cases.”
The thought sent a vindictive thrill through her.Then she shook her head.“You shouldn’t have.He’ll never forget it.He’ll come after you.”
