“Even so, luck is on your side,” he said, taking another step, close enough that the air seemed to shift between them. “You married the one man who’ll never let you fight alone.”
Stop attempting to seduce my heart, you rogue!
“I can hold my own,” Alyssia declared. “I’ve been doing so for years.”
“I know.” He cocked his head to the side. “What did your parents say about you wishing to become a spinster?”
She blinked at the question. “Not much. They must have believed it to be a phase. Come to think about it, do you think they’ve received my letter?”
“It’s only been a few days, it might take a few more to receive word back. Are you worried?”
“Annabelle said he might try to annul our marriage,” she admitted offhandedly. That, however, wasn’t what she was worried about. She was also worried about her mother’s health and how the newsmight—
“I won’t allow it.” All humor left his face. “No annulment, Liss.”
“I...” Lord! So serious. “I didn’t say I would agree with it.”
He stepped closer, and she had to tilt her chin to keep his gaze. “Then promise me right now.”
What on earth had gotten into the man? “I promise. No annulment.” She didn’t have to even think about it. She had no intention of ending her marriage. Lawd, she’d married to dispel Rafferty’s rumors. She had no intention of creating new ones with an annulment.
Giles, on the other hand, seemed to have different thoughts. However, the moment she spoke those four words, his whole body relaxed, and the tension left his face.
“Good.”
“Your confidence in me is heart-wrenching,” she said drily.
“Alyssia . . .”
“Oh? So you do know how to say my name.” He shot her a pleading look, and she scoffed. “Very well, I have packed all I need. You can carry the luggage.” She strode over to the door and reached for the knob.
A hand slammed down before she could open the door, and Giles caged her. His chest was a whisper from her back, heat radiating through the thin layers between them. Her pulse didn’t just race—it stumbled, tripped, tangled in itself until she all but forgot how to breathe. She could feel the faint brush ofhisbreath against her neck, the steady strength behind her, and for one wild second, she wanted to lean back against him.
“Giles.”
“Shh, princess. Listen.”
Only then did she hear the chitter and footsteps passing her chamber. Servants. They’d agreed, while they couldn’t entirely avoid the household, they also wouldn’t actively place themselves in their sight.
Getting all weak-kneed for nothing, you dunce!
He nuzzled her neck and inhaled deeply. “I love your smell.”
“Giles! What’s wrong with you?”
“I think I might have been bewitched by your chamber.” His chest brushed up against her back. “You said you were blissfully unkissed.”
What? “What are you talking... about?”Oh. She had said something to that effect.
His lips grazed against her ear. “I think we need to change that.”
“I’d rather hold onto that blissfully.”
He chuckled, his breath grazing the gooseflesh of her skin. “I’d rather change your definition of bliss.”
Enough of this!
She turned, slowly, careful not to let him see just how unsteady her hands had become. The motion brought her face dangerously close to his chest. Her chin lifted on instinct, meeting his gaze head-on.
