Caroline jumped and covered her mouth at the sudden interruption. A growl of annoyance rumbled from Damien’s chest as his arousal-filled gaze shifted immediately to one of fury. He took a step away from her, and as if that broke the spell she was under, Caroline felt her feet unglue from the floor, and she took several steps toward his bookshelf—willing her heart and her breath to calm.
“What is it?” Damien barked, moving to the door.
He wrenched it open just as Caroline turned back around, and to her surprise, she found Mr. Stones to be grinning widely despite his master’s angry tone.
“It is your brother, Your Grace,” Mr. Stones announced happily. “He has just returned from his Grand Tour.”
Chapter 17
“Good God, is my brother actually smiling? Quick! Call for the physician!”
Jeremy and Caroline both laughed at his teasing. Even Damien chuckled, despite howfrustratedhe still was at Jeremy showing up at the worst possible time. Something was about to happen between him and Caroline.
The way she looked at him, the way she drew her bottom lip between her teeth as if she were picturing something wicked between them. The way she touched him... Oh, she wanted him. Maybe not as much as he wanted her, but even so, that smidgen of proof filled him with a wicked satisfaction.
Then they were interrupted, and after Damien had finished greeting his brother and settling him into his rooms, he went to Caroline’s freshly reconstructed door and found it locked. Their moment had passed, and at least for that night, he had not been able to get it back.
The following morning, Jeremy demanded that they spend some time together so he would get to know his new sister-in-law.Damien watched as his brother took both of Caroline’s hands in his and declared her absolutely wonderful before Damien had even introduced them properly. He had forgotten, in Jeremy’s absence, how easily his brother put people at ease.
He was nothing like Damien in that regard. Nor in appearance. Where Damien was broad and imposing, Jeremy was lean and elegant, with an almost artistic quality to the way he carried himself. His dark hair was longer than fashion strictly dictated, and his cravat was tied with considerably more flair than was necessary.
“Oh, do admit that you missed me terribly, Damien dearest.”
“Even I am not so heartless to deny that I missed you, little brother,” Damien replied. “Though I thought your last letter implied you would not be returning for another month? And surely the letter I sent you did not get to you so quickly.”
Jeremy gave a casual shrug as he lounged in his chair, one long leg crossed over the other, as the three of them sat at the patio table.
“It did not,” Jeremy answered. “Though I am sorry I missed it. And yes, we were about to set sail for Crete when we got word that an illness had taken over the island. I decided not to risk it and came home instead,” Jeremy replied.
Affection bloomed in Damien’s chest as he watched his little brother smile sheepishly, making him look so much like the young boy he once was. A thought passed through his mind, dark and awful, of what would have happened if he had not discovered what their father was doing to him, and suddenly, any lingering frustration over his impulsive return vanished.
“I hope my sudden appearance has not ruined any of your plans, Damien dearest,” Jeremy said, his tone hesitant.
Damien shook his head and reached out to pat his brother’s knee.
“Not at all. Happy to have you home,” he replied.
Then he let out a heavy sigh.
“Even if you have terrible timing,” he muttered under his breath.
“Oh, I am so happy to be back home,” Jeremy replied earnestly, obviously not hearing the last thing Damien said. Caroline did, though, and it earned him a furtive glance and a small kick to his shin under the table. Damien only smirked as he shot her a wink, and that was when Jeremy cast a teasing look toward Caroline. “I have spent all morning telling you of all my adventures on the Continent, but it seems I have missed much in my absence. Do inform me of everything that I have missed, would you?”
Damien let out a chuckle as Caroline let out another beautiful laugh; the sound burrowed deep into his heart. Her natural beauty seemed to only amplify when she was amused or happy.
“I meant to write you earlier, but sadly, I have been caught up with other duties,” Damien explained. “Caroline and I have been married for nearly two weeks now. She has been an immeasurable help with my new ward.”
Caroline’s brows lifted, as if surprised at his praise.
“You have,” he acknowledged, then winked at her again. “You have come quite close to helping with some other things as well, haven’t you?”
Pleasure snaked through Damien’s veins as a blush stole over Caroline’s cheeks. This time, he was prepared for her little kick, and his hand wrapped around her ankle like a vice. He gave a look that challenged her to make a scene and reminded her of his words,‘I will keep my hands off of you. Unless you first put your hands on me’,and he was rewarded with a furtive glower as she tried to tug out of his grasp.
Instead of letting her go, Damien smoothly slid his hand up her silk stocking to her calf and began massaging the muscle. A dreamy, very soft sigh escaped Caroline’s lips as she felt his touch, and his pleasure increased as she not only stopped resisting him but sank deeper into her chair, allowing him to continue massaging that small area. Although his fingers itched to travel upward, he kept them exclusively on her calf, content in that moment to bring her pleasure in that small form.
“Ward?” Jeremy asked, both brows flying up in surprise. “What ward?”
Damien tore his gaze away from the content look on Caroline’s face and faced his brother. He had almost forgotten he was there.
