The words sent a shock through Trent’s body, and his heart stuttered.Stupidly, he turned again, searching her out, but could only see the goddamned house.
“Damnit.”Allister sighed heavily.“Please don’t hurt her.She’s endured so much pain in her life already.”
Trent was still trying to process everything.Of course he wouldn’t hurt her.Not intentionally at least.But it had never occurred to him that she might care for him.Or perhaps he’d been so busy pushing down his own feelings, he couldn’t bring himself to see the truth of hers.“Does that mean you’re giving me your permission to court her?”
“Court her?”Allister scoffed.“She’s living with you, for God’s sake.”
“You can trust me with her.I didn’t mean for these feelings to happen.In fact, I’ve put forth a colossal effort to ignore them completely… until that kiss.I will do everything in my power to keep from hurting her.”
Allister nodded.He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.Hopefully, to calm himself.“She’s my sister, and this is something I hoped I’d never have to talk about, but it’s important.”
“I’m listening.”
“Samantha was trained to please men.”He gave Trent a pointed look.“I need you to promise me you won’t let her become that for you.Even a decent man could be pulled right into that inviting trap.”
“I won’t let that happen.”He made the vow to himself even more than to her brother.He would never do that to her.“I swear.”
“This is a sentence I never imagined I’d have to say, and I hate everything about it.If this goes where I think it probably will between you, make her teach you how to please her.”Allister closed his eyes again, as if trying to erase the conversation from his mind.
“I will.Of course I will, but I still think you’re putting the cart before the horse, Allister.She deserves so much better than me.”The barrage of thoughts swirling through Trent's mind were disorienting.“But in answer to your earlier question, despite my best efforts to prevent it, I believe I do love her.”
* * *
Samantha sat in the carriage waiting for Trent and her brother.Would she really come back to this place and do that again?Probably not.Although it had been extraordinarily cathartic, she wasn’t a violent person.But the idea that he could spend the rest of his days worrying that she might?That was a small triumph.
And then there was the kiss.
Trent had kissed her.And it wasn’t chaste or gentle.But she hadn’t been afraid.Despite his fervor, she’d felt safe.Protected by his presence, rather than threatened.She trusted him in ways she’d never known were possible.Trusted that no matter how vulnerable she was, he would never hurt her.
And now it was clear that it wasn’t because he didn’t want her.He definitely did.
Simon stepped up into the carriage, drawing her out of her whirlwind of thoughts.He settled himself in the middle of the seat across from her, forcing Trent to sit beside her.That was a change from the ride there, when her brother had deliberately taken the space next to her.He thumped the ceiling, and Brennan urged the horses into motion.
“How are you feeling?”Trent asked.
Her eyelids were heavy and a numb fatigue was settling over her.“Tired, more than anything.I expect it will take me a while to sort through it all.”
He lifted his arm, inviting her to rest her head on his shoulder.But she couldn’t do that.Not that she didn’t want to.She wanted that more than anything right now, to be wrapped in his warm, comforting embrace.Her brother wouldn’t approve, though.But when she looked at him, he simply nodded.
“You should sleep,” he said.“It will be a few hours before we get back.”
Slowly, still expecting her brother to object, she slid closer to Trent and laid her head hesitantly on his shoulder.But Simon didn’t object.Not even as Trent’s arm closed around her.Instead, he leaned his head back and shut his eyes.He was trusting her.And Trent, obviously.
Perhaps she’d proven herself by confronting Norman.He was also saying that he believed Trent was safe.All without a single word.
She looked up into Trent’s eyes, and he smiled tenderly.
“Are you alright?”he asked softly.
She nodded.“I am now.”Turning, she breathed him in deeply.He smelled clean, like the soap he always used before coming down to dinner, and just a hint of the brandy he’d drunk before they left.His warmth surrounded her like a cocoon.This must be what it felt like to be safe.
His hand rubbing gently over her arm woke her a few hours later.It was like heaven waking up in his embrace.He’d held her all the way back to Woodburn Hall.
“Would you like to go up to your room and rest for a while?”
She sat up and stretched her arms over her head.“I’ve just had a rest.”
“Well, not much of one.”
