Page 35 of Wicked Designs
Ashton spoke with such venom that Godric’s fists dropped. Ashton finished him off with an uppercut.Godric toppled backwards, landing on the mat with a loud groan. Ashton lowered his hands to wipe his bloody knuckles on his trousers.
“Well, I think my point has been made.” He took a few deep breaths, approached Godric and held out a hand.
He took it and Ashton pulled Godric onto his feet. “Point taken, friend. I’ve done her a great harm and needed to be reminded of my vow.”
Ashton clamped a hand down on his shoulder in approval. “Sorry, Godric, but I knew there was no other way to get through to you.”
“Just answer me one question. Was I off my game or have you always gone easy on me in the ring?”
“You will never find that out, I’m afraid.” He turned on his heel and retrieved his clothes from Lucien. Once they’d cooled off and were fully dressed, Ashton turned back to Godric.
“Now that this matter is behind us, I believe you owe a large stack of books and an apology to a certain lady.”
“She told you about…”
Ashton smiled. “She told me everything. She’s so traumatized by your cruelty that she’s convinced she was a wretched kisser. You know that is the worst thing men like us can do to a woman. We’re rakes, not bastards. We seek to love women, not spurn them.”
“What on earth did you do to that sweet kitten?” Cedric demanded.
When Godric didn’t reply, Ashton sighed. “Godric demanded a kiss, and when she did he dared to chastiseher for kissing like a child. You’ll be lucky if she ever forgives you.”
Shame heated Godric’s face, but he reminded himself that he’d walked away for her sake and his. He couldn’t allow Emily to fall in love with him, but that was exactly what her kiss threatened.
As if reading this thoughts, Ashton put a hand on Godric’s shoulder. “I think she has feelings for you, Godric.”
The men left the boxing room and moved into the main hall. Simkins passed by and froze at the sight of his bruised and bloody master. “Your Grace?”
“Don’t worry, Simkins, just having a bit of fun.”
“Very good. I’ll send a maid to clean up, Your Grace.” Simkins looked over Godric into the boxing room. “Perhaps two are in order? And one of the larger buckets?” He bowed and departed.
Godric decided Ashton was right. For that one kiss Emily had earned a stack of books.
Emily was curledup on the window seat when someone knocked on her bedroom door.
“Come in.” Her eyes were focused on the gardens below. The faint ghost of her face reflected in the thick pane of glass. Emily put her hand on the glass and let the sun’s warmth heat her cool palm. For a moment she lost herself in the sensation, letting everything else drift away, before the world demanded she face it again.
“Emily?” Godric’s voice played like a forbiddensymphony. She turned her head just enough to present him with her profile but didn’t look at him. She couldn’t bear it. She wanted to go back to despising him for his pig-headed nonsense.
Loving him would be the greatest mistake of my life. He’d break my heart. I’d be left with nothing.
“Emily, I’ve brought you something.” A rustle sounded from behind her, and items fell on her bed. The door settled in its frameas Godric shut it.
“Please, just go,”she said. But her heart ached to beg him to stay, to take back his cruel words.
“If that is what you want—”
She nodded.
“But I have something to say first.Will you please look at me?” Footsteps came closer, that scent so uniquely his, so close behind her.
Emily turned. Her lips parted in horror at his bruised and bleeding face.
“Godric, you’ve been hurt!” She reached up to his face but did not touch, afraid to harm him further. He patted her hands and she winced at his bruised knuckles. For a long second neither of them spoke. Something between them had changed. She was forced to admit she cared about him and he was revealing a tenderness she hadn’t thought he was capable of. His eyes met hers, a spark shared between them and a blush heated her cheeks.
“What happened?”
“Ashton and I had a discussion. A rather thorough one.”
