Evan’s words were cut off as she flung herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his. His heart pounded and blood boiled as he pulled her closer, slanting his mouth over hers. The heat of anger morphed into the heat of passion as he stroked his tongue into her sweet mouth.
Evan wanted to devour her. He wanted to put her over his knee and teach her some manners. He wanted to protect her from men who would want to teach her manners.
Bloody hell! He cared about her. He wanted to keep her and spoil her and protect her. He wanted all of her, now and forever. Where the deuce had that come from?
She ripped her mouth from his and pushed against his chest, freeing herself. For a long moment, she stared at him, her breasts heaving against the pale green of her bodice. “That will never happen again,” she said, then turned her back to him.
His pulse raced. She was delightfully maddening, and he wanted more.
Evan sprinted to her side, then adjusted his pace to walk beside her. “I suppose that was my fault as well?” He asked, even though he knew the question to be ill advised. He could not stop himself.
She swallowed hard; her gaze focused straight ahead. “No, Your Grace. That was my doing. I wished to know if you kissed like the devil.”
“And?” He stepped around her and arched a brow.
She pressed her lips together and made to step around him.
“Then tell me this, Lady Ann. Did I pass your test?”
“You confirmed my suspicions. Even if you are not the rogue everyone says you are, you’re still dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because you are the sort of man that could steal a lady’s heart before she even knew what happened.” She averted her gaze. “The type of man with the power to destroy.”
Five
No sooner did the words leave Annie’s mouth than a crack of thunder split the surrounding air. She jumped at the unexpected noise, a frightened shriek ripped from her lips. Then the sky burst open. Terror gripped her.
Annie buried her face into the duke’s muscular chest, her heart pounding and fingers digging into his waistcoat.
When had he pulled her back into his arms? She could not be bothered to care. Not when rain pelted against her and thunder shook the ground.
Lightning flashed, and she burrowed closer to his solid body. “We’re going to die,” she said, her voice quivering.
“No one is going to die,” he said as he scooped her up and cradled her against him. “I have you and I will keep you safe.”
Annie found little comfort in his words. Her heart pounded and her body trembled as he carried her along the field’s edge. Images from her childhood flashed before her, adding to her fear. One crack of thunder, one flash of jagged lightening—she knew such a thing could take one’s life. She’d seen it firsthand.
The duke held her close, his body blocking some of the pelting rain as he carried her toward the house. All the while, he repeated words of comfort.
“You are safe.”
“I have you.”
“I will not allow you to be harmed.”
He rubbed her back as he cradled her. “Ann, do you hear me? I will protect you.”
She could not bring herself to speak. She could barley breath. Every roll of thunder sent a fresh shiver through her as she squeezed her eyes shut and clutched at his greatcoat. She was a coward, and now he knew it, but she could not bring herself to care. Could not force the fear away.
“We are almost there,” he soothed. “Just a little farther.”
She held on with all she had, desperate to feel safe as thunder shook the ground anew.
“I will protect you, Ann. You’re safe with me. You have my word.” He slid his hand up her back and around to cradle her head close to his chest. “You are safe.”
The more he talked, the more he reassured her, the more she believed him. The trembling of her body slowly eased to shivers, and she began to relax in his arms. Before long, she heard voices calling to them.
