reached the end of the corridor, I came to a set of double doors and my hand tingled as I grabbed the large brass handle in the shape of a dragon. On the doors were two carved dragons. My pulse raced as fast as my thoughts scrambled. This was his lair.
Sean’s private wing. And now that I’d thought about it, this was the direction the round room with the glass dome had to be as well.
“Cassie, don’t!” Bridget’s emphatic hiss came from behind me.
I could hear her frantic steps grow closer and I sucked in a disappointed breath. I’d hesitated too long and missed my chance to innocently explore beyond where the lower servants were permitted to go. Still, I couldn’t seem to release my hold on the dragon handle.
Suddenly, the door jerked inward, pulling me forward, and burying my face into the naked chest of man—a hairy naked chest that tickled my nose.
“Well, if it isn’t the rose on the prowl again.” Sean caught my arm in his firm grip, keeping me from falling to my knees.
I was so off balance that I had to brace my hand against his chest to right myself. The heat of his bare skin sent such an acute flash of fire up my nerves that I flexed my fingers, pressing them into the supple muscle and brushing the silkiness of his dark hair. Before I could even stop and think, I drew an unseemly deep breath, taking in the full effect of his exotic scent.
“Find what you’re looking for, lass?” he whispered. His hand slipped from my arm and brushed along the side of my breast before moving to my waist.
“My Lord!” I cried, rearing back, my heart thudding at the burning intimacy as everything feminine within me flared to life. He appeared as if he’d just rolled from bed. His broad naked chest tapered to slim hips that were hugged by scandalously half buttoned black pants. His dark hair was awry and his firm jaw was shadowed with stubble.
“Wrong man. That title belongs to my brother.” The fire in his green eyes turned to ice. He directed his gaze over the top of my head.
“Forgive us, Mr. Killdaren,” came Bridget’s breathless, almost terrified whisper. “The child is—”
“Right here,” Sean said. “Rebecca, come.” He held out his hand and a young girl walked tentatively forward with her hand stretched searchingly before her. She clutched a worn rag doll in her other arm. Her raven hair, as black as Sean’s, hung in wavy tresses all the way to her hips. Tears fell from emerald green eyes, streaking her face.
Kneeling down, I reached my arms out toward her. “Don’t be frightened, poppet. It’s all right. You’ve had a fright, but you’re safe now.”
Pulling her forward, Sean placed the child’s hand in mine. When he did, his fingers lingered against mine, making me look up. His green gaze bored intently, as if trying to see through a heavy fog. Then he shook his head. “This is Cassie, Becca. She’ll take you to your mother.”
He then narrowed his gaze so sharply that I felt the lash of it deep inside of me and I stood to face him on a more equal level.
He spoke before I could. “Tell the nurse I found Rebecca lost on the bell tower stairs. If the child wanders again, the woman will be looking for a new post.”
Frightened by his anger, Rebecca burrowed against my skirts and I tightened my hold on her hand.
Sean stepped back and snapped the door shut. I stood there blinking with the door just inches from my nose, wondering if I’d imagined everything that had happened. The child clinging to my skirts and Bridget grabbing my arm told me it had all been real.
Rebecca stared sightlessly, her hand clutching mine tightly. Only then did I remember that she was blind. She was also the spitting image of Sean, leaving me to wonder if he really was her father.
Bridget dug her fingers into my arm. “He knew who ya were,” she whispered. “It’s all true. He knows everything. He’s a blimey vamp-oh!” She clamped her hand over her mouth.
“Shh, don’t say such
Sean’s private wing. And now that I’d thought about it, this was the direction the round room with the glass dome had to be as well.
“Cassie, don’t!” Bridget’s emphatic hiss came from behind me.
I could hear her frantic steps grow closer and I sucked in a disappointed breath. I’d hesitated too long and missed my chance to innocently explore beyond where the lower servants were permitted to go. Still, I couldn’t seem to release my hold on the dragon handle.
Suddenly, the door jerked inward, pulling me forward, and burying my face into the naked chest of man—a hairy naked chest that tickled my nose.
“Well, if it isn’t the rose on the prowl again.” Sean caught my arm in his firm grip, keeping me from falling to my knees.
I was so off balance that I had to brace my hand against his chest to right myself. The heat of his bare skin sent such an acute flash of fire up my nerves that I flexed my fingers, pressing them into the supple muscle and brushing the silkiness of his dark hair. Before I could even stop and think, I drew an unseemly deep breath, taking in the full effect of his exotic scent.
“Find what you’re looking for, lass?” he whispered. His hand slipped from my arm and brushed along the side of my breast before moving to my waist.
“My Lord!” I cried, rearing back, my heart thudding at the burning intimacy as everything feminine within me flared to life. He appeared as if he’d just rolled from bed. His broad naked chest tapered to slim hips that were hugged by scandalously half buttoned black pants. His dark hair was awry and his firm jaw was shadowed with stubble.
“Wrong man. That title belongs to my brother.” The fire in his green eyes turned to ice. He directed his gaze over the top of my head.
“Forgive us, Mr. Killdaren,” came Bridget’s breathless, almost terrified whisper. “The child is—”
“Right here,” Sean said. “Rebecca, come.” He held out his hand and a young girl walked tentatively forward with her hand stretched searchingly before her. She clutched a worn rag doll in her other arm. Her raven hair, as black as Sean’s, hung in wavy tresses all the way to her hips. Tears fell from emerald green eyes, streaking her face.
Kneeling down, I reached my arms out toward her. “Don’t be frightened, poppet. It’s all right. You’ve had a fright, but you’re safe now.”
Pulling her forward, Sean placed the child’s hand in mine. When he did, his fingers lingered against mine, making me look up. His green gaze bored intently, as if trying to see through a heavy fog. Then he shook his head. “This is Cassie, Becca. She’ll take you to your mother.”
He then narrowed his gaze so sharply that I felt the lash of it deep inside of me and I stood to face him on a more equal level.
He spoke before I could. “Tell the nurse I found Rebecca lost on the bell tower stairs. If the child wanders again, the woman will be looking for a new post.”
Frightened by his anger, Rebecca burrowed against my skirts and I tightened my hold on her hand.
Sean stepped back and snapped the door shut. I stood there blinking with the door just inches from my nose, wondering if I’d imagined everything that had happened. The child clinging to my skirts and Bridget grabbing my arm told me it had all been real.
Rebecca stared sightlessly, her hand clutching mine tightly. Only then did I remember that she was blind. She was also the spitting image of Sean, leaving me to wonder if he really was her father.
Bridget dug her fingers into my arm. “He knew who ya were,” she whispered. “It’s all true. He knows everything. He’s a blimey vamp-oh!” She clamped her hand over her mouth.
“Shh, don’t say such
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