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6
King’s laughter seemed to follow him, mocking him and the old dreams that had surfaced the moment he’d seen her eyes. Dreams that were even more ridiculous to harbor now than they had been when he was a boy. Dreams of holding her in his arms, of kissing those soft, pink lips and seeing love and laughter in those beautiful blue eyes rather than pity, like he had back then. Or fear, like he’d seen today.
Back in his quarters, Mrs. Morris told him she’d had a bath drawn for him as well and that the young miss had woken and was gobbling down her meal.
Good. He wore a small smile as he bathed, thinking of her eating and resting. He might not have solved all of her problems, but at least he’d been able to give her food and shelter. And at least he knew she was safe.
His mind flashed back to the way her eyes had gone wide with panic at the feel of his erection and he gripped the edges of the bathtub as a ripple of fury made his vision grow red and hazy.
She was safe now, but he was too late. He’d failed her.
It was this thought that had him seeking her out again as soon as he’d finished dressing. Mrs. Morris and the other servants were nowhere to be seen and he knocked softly when he reached her door.
“Come in,” she called.
He hesitated with one hand on the doorknob. He’d beg her forgiveness, first. And then he’d find out what she wanted and he’d give it to her. He’d give her the life she’d been denied if it killed him.
He opened the door, the apology on his mind and his lips parted to speak and then—
Bloody hell.
He froze at the sight before him.
Her hair was still wet and loose around her face, and all she wore was a shift of some sort and a night rail that was nearly see through in the glow of the fire.
His mouth went dry and his cock hardened so quickly he couldn’t breathe. His every muscle was tensed as his body screamed ‘mine.’ The beast inside him begged him to go to her, to take her, to claim her as his own and never let her go.
Her eyes widened at whatever she saw on his face and he clenched his jaw tight to keep his desire in check.
“I came to see if you were all right,” he said. “Do you have everything you need?”
Her smile was small and nervous. “Yes. Thank you.”
He took a step toward her and paused, half expecting her to retreat as he grew near. After all, he was large and fearsome. Even grown men quaked when he drew near.
But her smile grew a bit and she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold. His gaze dropped and he cursed himself for the slip in control, because now he knew that her nipples were hard and he could even see a hint of the darkened areola beneath the slip of fabric.
Fuck, his balls were so tight he thought he might explode.
“I’m glad you came,” she said. She dipped her head and the hint of shyness was more than he could bear.
“I don’t know what you must think of me.”
He groaned as he moved closer. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.” When he was close enough to reach out and touch her, he stopped. “Look at me, Lillian.”
She tipped her head back and her eyes gleamed with emotion. Her luscious lips were full and wet.
God, he was in hell.
She was an angel and he was destined to gaze up at her from where he dwelled in hell.
“I will kill him for what he’s done to you, Lillian.”
Her eyes widened and her lips opened further. An image of those soft lips moving over his shaft had him stifling another groan.
He shouldn’t have come here, not when she was alone and half-dressed. This was cruel torture.
“I didn’t come here so you would avenge me,” she said. Fear or something like it had her voice higher, tighter than he’d ever heard it.
