A man as handsome as he had no other reason for being in her life except to witness her most clumsiest of behavior.
“There must be flowers in season,” she shot out in the worst attempt of deflecting from the mortifying moment.
“Whoareyou?”he replied, oddly emphasizing are, as if he already knew something about her that she wasn’t privy to.
But despite her analysis of his question, she answered pragmatically, “Prudence Hawthorne.And you are?”
“Soren.”
To indicate her expectation of further details, she canted her head.
“Trevelyan.Duke of Penmore.”He added that part begrudgingly.
It all almost made her forget where she was and what was happening only a few feet away.Her entire body trembled at the reminder.It was like a series of events leading her to one possible outcome.The look.The book.The first and second tryst.All leading up to…a kiss.
Only a moment ago, her body had been begging to touch his, despite her head keeping a few rational thoughts around.And then the sneeze.It had shattered the moment.
“I’m sure they’ll be done soon,” Soren reassured her.“In the meantime, would you prefer conversation or silence?”
Good gracious.Conversation at a time like this?She almost shook her head no, but then another long moan echoed through the branches reaching deep into her body to places she didn’t know existed.
“We should talk.Yes.Let’s converse.”Shared whispers to drown out the sounds of pleasure had to be an improvement upon the silence.
“What do you like to read?”he asked.Oh.The audacity.A gentleman would not have brought attention back to her earlier faux pas in the library with the pink book.
But she would not take the bait.“I like to read whatever I can get my hands on.”
That…somehow sounded like it carried an unintended innuendo, so she hurried on.“I’ve read some classics.I enjoy literature written by women.”Drat.Another gaffe referring back to the pink leatherbound book.Everyone who had readThe One With the Wanton Womanknew it was written by a woman, though no one knew who.Heavens above, could she not say anything right?“Jane Austen.”There.That was safe.Sort of.“The Memoirs of Emma—Well, and other books.What about you?”Really.Could she only think of provocative titles around him?Him with his bulging muscles and piercing eyes.
“Those are all good reads.”
“Wait.Really?You’ve read those?”
“Yes.Though I just finished Milton’s Paradise Lost and fell in love with it for a second time.”
“You…read Paradise Lost?Twice?”
“Often one’s first time is not the best time.”His eyes danced in amusement.
“Uh huh.”
She was lost.It didn’t quite seem like her feet were planted on solid ground anymore.It wasn’t quite quicksand, but perhaps it was more boggish.
A man who liked to read, actually read those books for pleasure, and openly engaged in discussion on them?And he was handsome?
She furrowed her brows just as he asked, “What are you looking at?”
She wasn’t sure, but the shadows almost made it look like a unicorn horn could be protruding from his forehead.
Chapter 7
Soren
“Idon’tknow.”Shefurther scrunched her eyebrows together and reached up to touch him.But not where he expected.He had been anticipating a stroke of the jaw.A finger to the lips.Even a palm on his neck, just under his ear.Those would have been the usual places a woman might choose to first touch him in an attempt to show affection.
But, no.
Pru reached up and dragged her finger along his forehead.And not necessarily to sweep his forelock back, but just to…well, he really had no idea.
