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Scrumptious.
“So it appears we’re not talking this morning and you’ve made the decision I’m moving to your suite,” I remarked.
He grinned.
Then he reached to grasp me around my ribs and hauled me toward him.
My body collided with his, and I had no choice but to hold on to his shoulders as I dangled in his grip. And then I had to do it because his mouth came down on mine.
I had no thoughts of morning-breath kisses when his tongue swept inside, and I became aware that he’d been holding out on me the night before.
This kiss was hungry, no…greedy, demanding and commanding, and I was powerless to do anything but wrap my arms around his neck and give all he required.
And he required everything.
He lifted his head, and it took a couple of seconds, but eventually my eyes fluttered open.
“Good morning,” he murmured, those throaty two words rasping in a delightful way over my skin.
“Morning,” I replied.
He sat me in bed, sitting there with me, my hip to his, pressed tight, our arms still wound around each other.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked.
“Better,” I didn’t lie.
His gaze lifted to my temple. “Your head?”
“It’s okay.”
“They’re here mostly so you have your things to get ready and not have to go back to the Rose Room,” he explained. “And now, fast, give me five reasons that will convince me I should allow you to stay at Duncroft.”
As good as his kiss was, it wore off quickly on the word “allow.”
“Allow?”
“I said fast, Daphne. If you don’t convince me, I’m bundling you in my car in your pajamas and driving you to London myself. Jack or Sam can drive your car down.”
I studied him and realized he was dead serious.
Okay, last night had freaked me, but it seemed it had freaked Ian more.
“Reason one for you to stay,” I began. “You need to talk to your dad.”
It wasn’t my place to say, but that didn’t negate the fact it was plainly past time for those two to have a sit-down and iron things out.
I wasn’t going to get into the whole Lou thing. I hadn’t had time to think on it, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever tell him, and that sucked. I didn’t want to keep anything from him. It felt like a lie, holding that secret.
But the truth was, I didn’t want to do it, mostly because I didn’t want him to think badly of Lou. Though, I had to admit, I also didn’t want him to have more fodder to think badly of his father.
That said, he might already know. He told me he kept an eye on his dad and brother. It wasn’t something he was going to pipe up about either.
“I know you don’t get along,” I continued. “But you’re both adults, something big is about to happen, and you need to hammer out the details so he knows his place in this house is secure. I suspect it’ll help both your parents to be less on edge.”
That and the fact Lou was gone, but again, I wasn’t going to get into that now (or ever?).
“That’s one,” Ian rumbled.
