I will not be just another conquest.
The thought was sharp and clear as a warning bell in her head.
As he moved to catch her mouth with his, she turned her face. Her palms pushed against his chest, holding him back—if not with actual strength, then with obvious meaning.
He stepped back, frowning. Some of the steely frostiness returned to his eyes.
“Selina?” He spoke her name softly, confused.
My name…
He had not tried to torment her with ‘my love’ or ‘My Lady,’ speaking just her name. Dropping the honorifics. She had never thought her name beautiful, but from his lips, in that moment, italmostmade her turn back to him to receive the kiss she knew he meant to offer.
Almost.
Skirting around him, Selina stooped to pick up her book and dust off the leatherbound cover. Hopefully, there was no harm done to the pages within.
With her hand on the door handle, she shot him a dark look. “I hope you have no other rules, Your Grace, for I don’t plan on obeying any.”
Now that he had stepped away, there was enough space for her to pull the door wide enough to escape.
Not waiting to hear his response, she slipped through the gap and hurried off, her heart in her throat as she listened for the sound of a pursuit that graciously did not come.
