Page 68 of Heart of Iron
“Lena, the Nighthawks are huntin’ Mercury!It won’t be long before they find him and anyone connected to him.Today I had to promise Sir Jasper Lynch that I’d keep an eye out for any signs of him.Even as I said the words I knew I were lyin’, for I knew you were involved.”With a disgusted look, he raked his hands through his hair.“What am I goin’ to do with you?”
The question brought to mind a number of answers.But she didn’t think he’d approve of any of them.
“Well?Are you goin’ to tell me what’s goin’ on?”
The answer to that was simple enough.Panic flashed through her.“No.”
“That’s the wrong answer, luv.”
“That’s the only one you’re getting.”
“I could make you tell me.”He leaned closer, looming over her.
Lena scooted back up the bed until her back hit the headboard.“I hardly think you’d dare.Since you don’t want to be found in my chambers any more than I want you found.I’ll scream.”
The look on his face made her breath shudder.
“You’ll try,” he said.One large hand latched around her ankle, the obscene heat of his skin branding her.His eyes had gone completely wolfish as he drew her toward him.
Her nightgown slid over the silken sheets, sliding up around her hips.The robe was tumbling from her shoulders.There was a moment where she could have saved it.A moment where sanity intruded.A moment where she remembered the look in his eyes… Was it real?Or had she just imagined it?Did he want her?
Heavenhelpme, she prayed silently.Then she gave a little shrug and the robe slipped from her shoulders, pooling around her waist.
She had to know.
Will’s gaze sharpened.Heat.Hunger.An intensity that scalded her from within.She’d beenright.It was not disinterest that tightened his expression and tensed the muscles in his forearms.
The realization was heady.She could barely breathe as he reached out and captured her chin in one hand.Yes, oh God, yes.
He turned her face to the side, his hot gaze running down her throat.Then to the other side.Lena frowned, capturing his wrist.What was he doing?
Ignoring the delicate scalloped lace neckline of her gown, he caught her wrist and turned it up.
No.Her breath caught and she wrenched her arm to her chest in shock.She knew exactly what he was looking for now.
“Lena.”His hand fisted in the bottom of her nightgown.
The amber gleam frightened her.There was no lucidity to it, no sign of Will.Only the predator, his face tight with anger.Clutching his hand, she slid it higher, over the inside of her thigh and the raised scar there.
The ugly reminder of what Colchester had taken from her that day in the alley.
“Is this what you’re looking for?”She pushed him away and scrambled for the side of the bed.The hurt was a sharp, stabbing pain in her chest.For a moment, just a moment, she’d thought he was going to kiss her again.
Sliding her robe up over her shoulders, Lena yanked the sash tight and tied it.“How did you know?”
There was no answer.
Lena turned and found him kneeling in the middle of her bed, his head bowed and his hands clenched in her sheets.A tremble ran through his shoulders and his hand jerked.Slowly his head lifted.A shiver ran down her spine as their eyes met.
“Colchester told me.”His voice was hoarse.“Told me he’d had you.”
A line of heat sprang across her cheeks.Damnit, not now.Tilting her head discreetly to the side, she wiped her eyes with her sleeve.“You saw him?Where?I told you not to do anything rash.”
“I were at the jewelers.He walked in.”A shifting of sheets and then his booted feet came into view.Will knelt in front of her.This close, she could make out the split in his lip and the faint bruise on his cheekbone.Someone had hit him.Colchester, she was sure of it.
“Lena?”The back of his fingers stroked her damp cheek.“What happened?”
His gentleness nearly undid her.She pushed past in a flurry of silk, panic catching her breath in her chest.“I don’t want to talk about it.”
