Page 68 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“I could have lost you,” he whispered as if surprised to hear the thought himself.

“If I were a cat one might say I only have seven lives left. Well…” She shook her head. “Probably more like five. There were two other situations when I was younger.”

“It’s not funny,” he said, not liking the cavalier way she was handling the fact that she might have plummeted to her death that afternoon. And yes, surviving her jump overboard was another close call, but he hadn’t known her then. He hadn’t cared the way he did now. With his entire being. “Good God,” he said out loud without meaning to. But he was just so shocked to realize how very much he cared for her.

“You have that look you get before you avoid me for the entire day.”

“I do not have a look,” he argued, but she was probably right. He didn’t know what to do with his feelings so he’d felt it was best to stay clear so he’d not risk telling her everything.

“Oh, but you do, my lord. I believe it’s the look of surprise to realize you like me more than you planned to allow.”

“Are ye a witch?” It was if she’d called the thoughts right from his head.

“No. Just observant.” She frowned. “Are you going to avoid me again?”

She looked saddened by this possibility and he realized how much he had hurt her by abandoning her. Perhaps as much as he’d hurt himself. But rather than say that, he took a page from her book and made a jest.

“I can’t really leave you alone, can I? Who knows what might happen to you if left to your own devices.”

She smiled, seeming satisfied with his answer.

“We are together now,” she said with a teasing smile. She tilted her head as she reached for the sash of her dressing gown. But he put his hands out to still hers. Of course, he wanted her. He thought if he lived to be a hundred and three he would want her nearly every day, but tonight he wanted something different.

“Not tonight,” he said. When she blinked, he thought his voice might have been too harsh. “I’m not refusing you. I would like to hold you, if you’re agreeable. You gave me quite a scare today and I just want to feel you in my arms, warm and breathing.”

She swallowed and he saw her eyes turn glassy. It seemed she was not oblivious to the danger she’d been in, but had preferred to brush it aside rather than allow it to fester.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bring up things you don’t wish to think about—”

She cut off his words by reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him close. He heard a few sniffles and felt the way her body shook with quiet sobs.

He held her tight and gave her as long as she needed to deal with her emotions. In fact, he would be quite happy to never have to let her go.