My Lord Deceived by Rebecca King

time.
    The soft scuff
of footfall snapped them both out of the haze of desire that hung
over them and they slowly eased apart. There was nobody around, so
Jonathan could only assume that the movement had come from
Brian.
    He hoped that
the boy had gotten a good look and understood that Kat wasn’t a
single, helpless female. By the time he had paid the boy a quick
visit, the threat to Kat and her family would have moved far away.
If not, then Jonathan would make a swift return and ensure that all
of the boys knew he would protect what he considered to be his.
    “Let’s get you
home before we both drown,” he whispered. He drew her closer to his
side and he escorted her up the hill. He hated the fact that she
was so quiet. Did she not want to talk to him? To ask him what his
intentions were? Was she so angry that she couldn’t find words to
tell him off for the liberty he had taken? He took a quick glance
at her face but could detect nothing on her face that was alarming.
Instead, she seemed to be busy scouring the area around them as
they walked, clearly on the lookout for Brian and his friends. It
irked him a little that she was so unfazed by their kiss. He was
shaken to the core. She had seemingly forgotten it had ever
happened.
    “I won’t let
them hurt you, you know,” Jonathan growled and cast a dark glance
at the alleyway as he passed. He almost wished the boy would make
an appearance but then immediately dismissed the idea. One thing he
had learned from his work with the Star Elite was that it was
sometimes better to bide your time and strike an opponent when they
least expected it.
    “I don’t know
why they have suddenly decided to target me,” Kat whispered. She
hated the feelings that coursed through her. Wild hope surged with
crushing disappointment as her emotions battled with logic. She
knew that Jonathan was not likely to stay in the area, but couldn’t
understand why he had decided to pay her so much attention. It was
as disconcerting as it was trilling. What did he want? Was he
expecting her to be his local dalliance? Did he want someone to
warm his bed when he happened to drop by Bentney on Sea in the
future?
    Her thoughts
turned toward the smuggling and his questions. Did he expect to
befriend her in the hope that she would tell him what he wanted to
know? That prospect seemed considerably more likely, and she
struggled to control the bitter disappointment that began to well
at the thought that he could be so coldly calculating. Still, she
owed it to herself to not allow him to kiss her again. If only his
kiss hadn’t stirred the strange warmth deep inside her, she would
have had a better chance at keeping him at arm’s length. Right now,
if she didn’t get him out of her front room and on his way home,
she would most probably allow him to kiss her again.
    “I wouldn’t
worry about it Kat. They are not going to cause you any trouble. I
have alerted my friend, Harper, as to their behaviour and he has
men at the ready in case they approach you again. I intend to have
a word with them first thing in the morning.”
    He had followed
her into the front room and now stood, seemingly oblivious to the
rain that dripped steadily off him onto the wooden floor.
    “Would you like
a drink or something?”
    She found
herself hoping that he was going to kiss her again, yet wasn’t sure
whether to be relieved or disappointed when he remained by the door
instead.
    “No, I had
better go before I catch influenza,” he replied wryly, and glanced
down at his sodden clothing with wry amusement.
    “Thank you,”
she offered when he had stepped outside the door and turned to
glance back at her.
    “Will you be
coming to read to uncle tomorrow?”
    “If he is
feeling up to it,” Kat offered. “I enjoy it.”
    “So does he.”
Jonathan smiled. He placed a hand on the door and stepped forward
to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Lock the door behind me,
Kat.” He stroked one blunt finger down her smooth