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King and the others didn’t follow him inside, and he shut the door closed with a snap behind him. Relief rendered him speechless.
Or perhaps that was her beauty.
His gaze raked over her as he assured himself that she was truly here. His angel. She was here...and she was safe.
Her dark hair was pulled up off her face. A face far too pale for his liking. As he drew closer—slowly so as not to frighten her—he saw the dark shadows beneath her eyes, and the way her hands trembled even as she clasped them before her. The picture of a demure young lady.
Her lips were so red, so lush. With her high cheekbones and her delicate features, she was more beautiful than he’d remembered. She’d always been a lovely girl, but now she was a gorgeous young lady. His gaze dropped lower, to the creamy skin of her neck and down further to the perfectly rounded swell of her breasts, to the dip of her slender waist and then down to the curve of her hips, hidden beneath a gown so elegant, but wrinkled and dirty along the hem.
Her lips quivered but the fear in her eyes had turned to wary recognition. “Dane?” she whispered.
The sound of his name on her lips made him flinch.
“What happened to you?” The low guttural growl was out before he could stop it.
It was the wrong thing to say. But then, he’d never known what to say to one so delicate and kind. She was a rare treasure, and he a brute who ought not to be allowed in her presence.
So why was she here? On Vestry Lane, of all places?
What had driven her here to him, of all people?
“I-I—” Her throat worked as she swallowed. “It has been a long time, and you likely don’t remember me well—”
“I remember everything,” he said.
Her eyes widened, and—hell. Had he scared her? He moved forward and watched her stiffen.
He muttered a curse as he stilled once more. How was he to comfort her when his very presence was a fright? “I won’t hurt you.”
“No, I didn’t—” She swallowed again and shook her head, her shoulders going back as she straightened. “I am not frightened of you.”
A grunt escaped, part amusement and part exasperation.You should be.
If she had any notion of the lascivious images flashing through his mind with her every move, she would be. Pushing her shoulders back had made her pert breasts push strain against the fabric of her gown, and some primal beastly part of his mind begged to reach out and tug. One little tug and those glorious tits would spill over the edge. One brutish move and he’d have her flesh in his hands, her soft skin filling his palms.
Even now as his mind strove to sort out why she was here and what she needed from him, his cock throbbed at the mere sight of her.
Fuck. It had always been this way, ever since he’d understood the difference between a man and a woman. This desire for her was only matched by his obsession. His need to keep her safe...even from himself.
He would never hurt a hair on her head, he would never take what she was unwilling to give. But God almighty, if she had any idea the images that were filling his head every time she shifted, every time she moved—she’d go running out that door with a shriek of horror.
The silence was growing too long. Despite her brave proclamation, he could feel her fear. He could see it in the dark dilation of her eyes and the way her breasts lifted and fell as her breathing quickened.
“What happened, Lillian?” He tried his best to sound gentle. It still sounded like a growl.
Her lip trembled until she caught it between her teeth. He just barely stifled a groan. What he wouldn’t give to taste those lips. To lick and suck and tease and—
“I cannot go back,” she said suddenly.
His mind focused in a heartbeat. “What? Why? What’s happened?”
Oh hell. Her eyes were wet and shimmering with unshed tears. There wasn’t much that frightened the Beast of Vestry Lane. But tears? And tears from the woman he loved, no less?
This was it. His worst nightmare come to life.
“Please, don’t cry,” he managed.
She nodded, and by the looks of it she made a valiant attempt to swallow down a sob.
