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He shook his head. “You were meant for more, Lillian.” He reached out and touched her cheek, so gently she thought she might weep. “You were always meant for better.”
“No, Dane,” she said through a throat tight with unshed tears. “I was meant foryou.”
He watched her for a long moment, and she found herself holding her breath as those dark eyes raked over her. Here was her beast. In his eyes she saw a passion so primal it stole her breath.
She saw the change in him the moment he accepted her words, the second he knew she was in earnest.
The next second she was in his arms, his lips covering hers as he pulled her close and crushed her to him.
Mine, she could all but hear him growl. She kissed him back until her knees were weak with longing, and when he lifted his head to gaze down into her eyes, she smiled. “Let’s go home.”
He gave a grunt of satisfaction, his lips curving up at the corners.
Home.
He liked that. Her heart squeezed in her chest. She liked it too. For the first time in her life she truly felt as though she had a home to go to. One where she belonged, where she was respected and valued...and loved.
She lifted a hand to his cheek. “Home,” she whispered.
He bent down and scooped her into his arms, making her laugh as he changed course to take the now-deceased earl’s carriage. “Home,” he agreed.
Once they were settled in the carriage and heading back, she launched herself into his arms. He caught her with a grunt that she knew was amusement. He kissed her temples, her cheeks, all the way down the length of her neck as her pulse thudded against her skin at his hot touch.
“I cannot believe you’d think I would leave you,” she said when he buried his head in her neck. A light bite made her gasp and his hands roamed over her as if he was still assuring himself she was here.
“I wouldn’t have blamed you,” he said, his voice low and serious as he pulled back to study her. “I would have understood.”
She gave a little unladylike snort that was filled with equal parts amusement and exasperation. “Perhaps you would have, but I would have never forgiven myself for walking away after finding love.”
He stilled beneath her. His eyes grew guarded. Wary.
Hopeful.
Oh how her heart ached to see that wariness. A part of her was glad the old man was dead, but not even his death could erase all the harm he’d done.
“Love,” he repeated. His eyes held a question.
Did she mean it?
Her chest was so tight, it was difficult to breathe. She leaned down and brushed her lips over his. “I love you, Dane.” She pulled back to meet his gaze. “I always have. I always will.”
His eyes grew soft and tender as he drew in a deep breath. “You deserve better.”
She shook her head. When would he ever realize his own worth? She linked her hands behind his neck. “I deserve love. And no one has ever loved me as you have. No one has ever seen me so fully or understood me so well.” She kissed him again gently. “No one has ever expected so much of me or made me feel so cherished.”
His arms came around her waist and he held her tight. “I do love you, Lillian. I always have and I always will.”
Her lips curved up in a grin as she kissed him fiercely, with all the love that was in her heart. “I know,” she whispered.
He groaned as she deepened the kiss, tilting her head so she might tease his lips the way he’d done to her.
She felt the swell of his erection beneath her bottom, and this time the feel of it made her smile in triumph rather than cower in fear.
With Dane she would always be safe. Her baby too. She moved her lips to his ear and then his neck, trying to mimic the teasing licks and nips that he so excellently bestowed upon her.
Would it drive him just as wild as it did her?
His growl made her laugh. That was her answer...and the answer was a yes.
