belonging she’d never anticipated.
Darius pulled away, the hand tangled in her hair holding her in place. Hunger danced in his eyes, and she recognized it even if she’d never seen such aimed at her before. It was as if she’d cast aside childhood and become woman enough to see all the things hidden from the eyes of the innocent.
“Go to bed, now, before I forget myself further.”
He made a sound that struck her as disgusted before releasing her. She glared at his wide shoulders before dragging breath into her lungs.
“Well, if that happened, it would be because I decided I would, and not due to you strong-arming me.”
He turned in a flash, displaying some of the raw strength she’d noticed he possessed.
“Don’t challenge me. I’m having enough trouble resisting you.” His tone was hard with warning.
She should have remained silent. It would have been the wise thing to do, but instead, she propped her hands on her hips and faced off with him.
“Don’t threaten me, Darius Lawley. I’ve had quite enough of that today, thank you very much.”
Surprise covered his face, but not for long. Savage enjoyment flared up in his eyes, and it sent a spear of anticipation through her. He lifted a hand and curled a single finger in her direction.
“If you have the courage, come here.” His voice was almost hypnotic.
She shouldn’t.
That bit of wisdom didn’t stick; it slipped out of her mind as her feet began moving. Her confidence increased as she closed the gap and noticed the way his attention was focused so intently on her. She touched him, flattening her hands on top of his chest, and shivered because she was so aware of him, of their reaction to each other. Something was brewing between them, like a storm that threatened to either destroy them or take them on the journey of a lifetime.
“I am not afraid of you, Darius. But I believe you are of me.”
He cupped the sides of her face, instantly taking control of their embrace. “Only because I know what happens when passion is spent.”
He kissed her again, but this time it was hard, demanding, and rough. A tiny wave of fear rippled through her, but it didn’t keep her from kissing him back. Hot need licked at her insides while his mouth demanded a response she was eager to provide. The kiss burned away every shred of thought, leaving her to enjoy the experience. But he lifted his head before she might sink further into the sensations, and it felt like they were being ripped apart.
“Consider why you trembled just then, Janette. The ride will be intense, but it will have to end eventually. Reality will be waiting, I assure you. The sun will rise, and consequences will be illuminated.”
His words echoed in her mind long after he left the room.
She sat down on the bed, feeling too full of mental dilemmas to sleep, but her body was at its limit, and she slumped over onto the pillows.
***
Darius poured himself a half glass of whiskey and tossed it back in one motion. The liquor burned a path down his throat, but it failed to chase the taste of Janette’s kiss away.
Damn it. He was a monster. So why hadn’t that frightened her?
He poured another measure but only stared at the amber fluid. He growled and turned his back on it. He wasn’t ready for fate to toy with him again. Not when it came to women. He liked the way the last few years had been, filled with duty and dedication.
Janette was a huge distraction—in fact, she was a catastrophic one. It had proved almost impossible to keep from calling on her after their garden walk, and the arrival of her friend had been too welcome for the severity of the circumstances.
Only a beast would find delight in hearing she had been taken into one of society’s clinics. But he had to admit he’d been excited by the prospect of rescuing Janette. The places were horror houses where sanity often slipped away as medical treatment drove the unfortunate victims mad.
Still, the rescue had been
Darius pulled away, the hand tangled in her hair holding her in place. Hunger danced in his eyes, and she recognized it even if she’d never seen such aimed at her before. It was as if she’d cast aside childhood and become woman enough to see all the things hidden from the eyes of the innocent.
“Go to bed, now, before I forget myself further.”
He made a sound that struck her as disgusted before releasing her. She glared at his wide shoulders before dragging breath into her lungs.
“Well, if that happened, it would be because I decided I would, and not due to you strong-arming me.”
He turned in a flash, displaying some of the raw strength she’d noticed he possessed.
“Don’t challenge me. I’m having enough trouble resisting you.” His tone was hard with warning.
She should have remained silent. It would have been the wise thing to do, but instead, she propped her hands on her hips and faced off with him.
“Don’t threaten me, Darius Lawley. I’ve had quite enough of that today, thank you very much.”
Surprise covered his face, but not for long. Savage enjoyment flared up in his eyes, and it sent a spear of anticipation through her. He lifted a hand and curled a single finger in her direction.
“If you have the courage, come here.” His voice was almost hypnotic.
She shouldn’t.
That bit of wisdom didn’t stick; it slipped out of her mind as her feet began moving. Her confidence increased as she closed the gap and noticed the way his attention was focused so intently on her. She touched him, flattening her hands on top of his chest, and shivered because she was so aware of him, of their reaction to each other. Something was brewing between them, like a storm that threatened to either destroy them or take them on the journey of a lifetime.
“I am not afraid of you, Darius. But I believe you are of me.”
He cupped the sides of her face, instantly taking control of their embrace. “Only because I know what happens when passion is spent.”
He kissed her again, but this time it was hard, demanding, and rough. A tiny wave of fear rippled through her, but it didn’t keep her from kissing him back. Hot need licked at her insides while his mouth demanded a response she was eager to provide. The kiss burned away every shred of thought, leaving her to enjoy the experience. But he lifted his head before she might sink further into the sensations, and it felt like they were being ripped apart.
“Consider why you trembled just then, Janette. The ride will be intense, but it will have to end eventually. Reality will be waiting, I assure you. The sun will rise, and consequences will be illuminated.”
His words echoed in her mind long after he left the room.
She sat down on the bed, feeling too full of mental dilemmas to sleep, but her body was at its limit, and she slumped over onto the pillows.
***
Darius poured himself a half glass of whiskey and tossed it back in one motion. The liquor burned a path down his throat, but it failed to chase the taste of Janette’s kiss away.
Damn it. He was a monster. So why hadn’t that frightened her?
He poured another measure but only stared at the amber fluid. He growled and turned his back on it. He wasn’t ready for fate to toy with him again. Not when it came to women. He liked the way the last few years had been, filled with duty and dedication.
Janette was a huge distraction—in fact, she was a catastrophic one. It had proved almost impossible to keep from calling on her after their garden walk, and the arrival of her friend had been too welcome for the severity of the circumstances.
Only a beast would find delight in hearing she had been taken into one of society’s clinics. But he had to admit he’d been excited by the prospect of rescuing Janette. The places were horror houses where sanity often slipped away as medical treatment drove the unfortunate victims mad.
Still, the rescue had been
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