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He teased her nipple, gently at first and then harder until she was gasping for air, her eyes half closed and her lips parted.
So beautiful. So sweet. So perfect. And she was offering herself up to him as though he was worthy.
He groaned low in his throat at his own selfishness. If he were a better man he’d insist she stay away. He’d look out for her own interests when she was clearly alone and scared. She wasn’t thinking clearly. She lifted her head to meet his gaze with one filled with need. “Dane?” It was plaintive. Another plea.
She needed release, but she didn’t know how. She likely didn’t even know what she was racing toward.
His sweet little innocent needed him.
And he needed her.
“I’ve got you, love,” he said, his voice husky but she heard.
He needed her, and whether he liked it or not, he wasn’t a better man. He was barely a man at all. He was ruthless and driven, brutal and selfish. For her he’d try his best to be gentle, but he couldn’t be noble.
He ought to keep her away, to give her up—but he wouldn’t. She was here in his arms...and he wasn’t about to let her go.
He kissed her hard, as if he could brand her with a touch of his lips. She whimpered and writhed in his arms. Closer. She wanted to get closer.
So did he.
The hand that was pressing her to him glided down, over her lower back and to the dip at her waist. He didn’t stop until his big, meaty palm covered her bottom, and then he squeezed the soft flesh as he pulled her close.
His erection was painfully hard when she was pressed flush against him, and she...froze.
One moment she was hot and fiery in his arms, panting and moaning and desperate to get close. And the next she’d gone rigid, her muscles tensing as her breath turned to short bursts.
He pulled back to see her eyes wide and unseeing. Panic, plain and simple, had distorted her features and made her face a mask of horror.
Fuck.
He let her go. His hands still on her arms, he released her grip and held her lightly. “You’re all right, love,” he said.
She blinked, but her face had gone so white he feared she’d topple over. “Lillian, it’s me. You’re here with me and you’re safe.”
Bloody hell, he didn’t know how to help her. He wanted to pull her close and comfort her, but to do so would only terrify her further.
Rage swept through him at the sight of her pale trembling lips.
He would kill the earl.
He would calm his lady, he would make sure she was safe and comfortable…
And then he would kill the man who’d claimed to be his father.
