The two burly men stayed close to our heels as we walked to the entrance. I didn’t miss the look that the furious factotum exchanged with them, nor was I unaware of the avaricious glances of some of the seedier patrons who had noticed us pocketing our winnings. If we didn’t come to harm at the hands of the two men tailing us, there was a good chance we would be followed and robbed by others. A hundred pounds was a fortune to many people in this area, and we were plump targets to thieves.
As we exited to the street, I pointed up one of the roads. “There’s the carriage,” I lied loudly, and grabbed Tarik’s hand. I sucked air into my lungs as we hurried away, hopefully toward a thoroughfare where we could actually get a hackney. Seven Dials was a warren of streets one could get lost in, and obviously, I was not familiar with this part of London.
“That was brilliant!” he said, squeezing my palm. “Youwere brilliant! I thought we were done for! I wasn’t quite ready to give up any of my fingers.”
“They do that?” I asked in horror.
“So I’ve heard.”
I blanched. In hindsight, perhaps we should have forfeited the winnings and left. “Is anyone following us?” I asked.
Tarik glanced over his shoulder. “No, but I have no doubtsomeonewill.”
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before we heard footsteps on the cobblestones, ones that were much too fast to be anything but cutpurses in pursuit. Tarik tightened his grip on my hand, and we both upped our pace. My delicate dancing slippers with their leather soles would not last on these streets, but I didn’t have much choice.
Footsteps grew louder and closer.
“This way,” Tarik said urgently, yanking me down the mouth of another alley.
We darted through the narrow streets, though I was already hopelessly lost. My feet were aching, my heart was hammering, and my lungs were shrinking with each panted breath. And yet, we couldn’t seem to shake our trackers—their footsteps persevered, getting even closer!
“Here!” Tarik panted, shoving us into a recessed doorway that seemed to lead to an underground cellar. The sound of scampering and squeaking behind the door instantly grabbed my attention.Good heavens, are thoserats?A shudder rocked through me. Tarik’s tall body crowded mine. “Don’t move, and don’t make a sound.”
I could feel the thrum of my heartbeat in my ears as the darkness and silence enveloped us. I didn’t dare breathe as the sounds of approaching people grew louder.
“Oy, you see ’em?”
“Check over there!”
“I think they went this way, lads!”
It was difficult to pinpoint how close they were, but after what seemed like an eternity, their voices faded, until it was deathly quiet. I became acutely aware of Tarik plastered up against me, and even though my heart rate should have been calming, because the immediate danger had passed, it wasn’t. In fact, it sped up like a runaway horse. My palms were glued to his chest, and I could feel his own unsteady pulse.
I forgot about the possible rodents…about everything.
He smelled so good, that delicious chocolate-and-snow scent of him invading my nostrils. His cravat had disappeared, and I wanted to lift my chin and bury my nose in his neck, but of course, that would be unseemly. Though no one was here but us.
“I think they’ve gone,” he whispered, leaning down so his breath feathered against my temple. My entire body trembled at the barest contact of his lips, heat sparking through me in a shower of embers.
“Tarik…”
The groan that left him was pained. “I love when you say my name, Rosalin. May I call you Rosalin?”
“Yes.” I could barely speak as his nose trailed a heated path down my neck. It was untoward and wicked, and I wanted more.
He inhaled deeply. “How do you smell so good? Like roses and fresh rain.”
I gasped when his lips grazed the edge of my jaw. Instinctively, I tilted my head to the side to give him better access. Myfingers inched upward, dancing over his muscled biceps and strong rounded shoulders to wind in the soft curls at his nape. It was so wrong…and yet felt so incredibly right. If we were seen together, my reputation would be irreparably shattered.
But who would discover us here? Tangled in each other’s arms? Shrouded in the darkness as we were? We were nothing but shadows.
Tarik pulled away to study me. He scoured my face so intently butterflies exploded in my stomach. I licked my lips and felt his gaze settle on my mouth. The fact that I could barely make out his features added to the allure, to the thrill of this illicit interlude.
“What are you doing?” I asked him softly when he didn’t move.
“I want to kiss you so badly,” he whispered, and my breath hitched.
My eyes fluttered closed. “Then kiss me.”
