Page 79 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
“My lord—”
He tipped her back over his arm, taking her mouth in another deliciously passionate kiss that all but blasted her resistance into the next county. Helpless to do anything but clutch at his broad shoulders, Victoria held on and kissed him back with dazed enthusiasm.
But when one of his hands went to her knee and started inching up her skirts, she froze, her brain seeming to knock about in her skull. Then she hurtled into a memory, one that flashed vivid and horrible. Thomas Fletcher was holding her down as his sweaty hands tried to pull up her gown.
Panic squeezed her chest and rocketed through her veins. She reacted instinctively, jerking away and swatting at the brawny body that encircled her.
“Stop, stop,” she gasped, struggling to get away. Blind fear ruled her body, making it clumsy and stiff.
Instantly, Arnprior retreated. “All right, love, all right. But stop struggling or you’ll hurt yourself.”
She was in the grip of something stronger than reason. Her intellect knew she was safe with him, but her body rebelled. “I . . . I . . . can’t . . .” she stuttered.
A moment later, she found herself deposited back on the stool.
“Just breathe, Victoria,” he said, gently stroking her hair. “You’re safe with me. I won’t hurt you.”
She nodded, feeling utterly miserable and more stupid by the second. But Arnprior just continued to stroke her hair, murmuring comforting words in a low, soothing voice.
Soon, she felt herself again, but also embarrassed. She knew Arnprior would never hurt her. She’d even wanted that kiss as much as he had, and yet she’d been unable to control the fear that had swept through her like a raging storm off the loch.
“Do you want to talk about what just happened?” the earl asked.
She shook her head. She hated talking about Fletcher. Dominic had also made it abundantly clear that no one, not even Arnprior, should know that her attacker had died at her hand.
Besides, if she told the earl, he would probably view her with disapproval or even disgust. And the notion that he might then send her away was more distressing than she could ever have imagined.
“I’d rather not,” she whispered.
Arnprior looked puzzled, but then slumped back in his chair. “God, what an idiot I am. I forgot that you’d been subjected to this sort of behavior in your previous position. I beg you to forgive me for acting in so disgusting a manner, Miss Knight. I can’t imagine what you must think of me.”
He closed his eyes, looking disheartened. He’d certainly never meant to hurt her, and she couldn’t bear to let him feel worse than he already did.
Victoria smoothed her skirts, composing herself. Then she rested a hand on his knee. His eyes lifted and his gaze fastened on her face.
“I think you are the most honorable man I’ve ever met,” she said gently.
“Yes, as my behavior tonight has so clearly indicated.” He shook his head. “You should go, my dear. I’ll be fine.”
She knew with total conviction that he would not be fine if she left him.
In fact, she never wanted to leave him again.
Victoria packed that astounding revelation away in the back of her mind, to be examined later when she was calm enough to be rational about it.
She slipped off the stool and onto her knees in front of him. “I’m not leaving you, sir.” Cautiously, she rested a hand on his chest, right over his heart. It thumped hard and fast under her palm.
“What are you doing?” he asked gruffly.
She shrugged. “Honestly, I haven’t a clue.”
That startled a laugh out of him. “I suppose I don’t have a clue, either. But I do know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to hold you,” he said, gently stroking her cheek. “Just that and nothing more. Would that be all right?”
“I think I’d like that.”
