She didn’t normally let herself sound so helpless in front of him. He could see the way fear commanded her posture, keeping her tense and rigid. That brightness in her eyes—it was more than just the reflection of the wavering candle she clutched to her breast. Whatever she’d seen in her room had brought her to the brink of terror.
“Well, don’t shout up the house. Someone might hear—and you wouldn’t want that.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Close the door.”
Nadine shut it with a loud creak, hesitating in front of it for a beat before halting just outside of the circle of candlelight that surrounded the settee. Closer to him this time. Close enough to see her throat work as she swallowed while looking at him.
“I’m leaving,” she announced.
“You’ve put yourself on the wrong side of the door then.”
“Not from this room. From the house. From Argentum. I think something bad is happening.”
“Fuck.” He was hit with a flash of her sister approaching him in this very room, the same apprehension in her eyes. The fates really did love to torture him, didn’t they? But he deserved it. He always had. “Don’t go making me feel sorry for you, Nadine. I’m not naturally disposed towards guilt.”
“Why are you in here?”
“It’s my house and I can’t sleep, and I suddenly find myself far less inclined to.” He rose from the settee in a graceful swoop, causing her to take a large leap back that had her pressing up against those massive bookshelves. But his poor, doomed littlesparrow didn’t run from him now, and when he blew out her candle, he heard her shaky exhale. “Why areyouhere?”
“I had a nightmare. A bad one.”
She’d told him that she didn’t remember her dreams, but in his nightly sojourns he’d seen how she tossed and turned. Fighting battles against things she couldn’t see.
“Oh?” he prompted softly.
“There was a dead deer. Someone was touching me in the dark.” She glanced up at him and then away, making it clear what kind of touching she meant. “There were people watching. And then—” Her cheeks darkened.
“And then?”
“I—I don’t remember. But it didn’t feel like a dream. Especially not when someone came to my room.” There was terror in her eyes; it aroused him, even as it left him with the urge to press her close. “I miss my sister. I tried sohardto find her, but I want to leave. I hate myself for it—but I want to leave. I just can’t do this anymore.”
“It’s too late to leave, I think.” He smoothed his hand up her waist. She drew in a sharp breath when his thumb circled her nipple. “And this isn’t because of your sister.”
She pulled away from him as if struck, colliding with the bookshelf and sending up a cloud of dust. Her desire crackled like lightning between them.
“Tell me about your dreams,” he whispered.
“No.” She barred her arms over her chest. “Dreams aren’t real. What do you mean, it’s too late to leave?”
“Dreams are real enough. Real enough to propel you from your bed at this early hour. I’m sure people in town have warned you enough about me and my brother. About all the things we doto women.” When he tilted his head, she tracked the movement. “Myth makes might, darling. Even in dreams, apparently.”
“I never said you were in it.”
“I think you just did. Do you dream of me often, little sparrow? Am I gentle or rough? I’d love to know.”
“What’s a sparrow?”
“I told you not to ask me.” Gripping the shelves over her head, he leaned down until their faces were level. She was tall enough that he only had to lean in a little to put himself close enough for a kiss. “If you really are leaving,” he breathed, “none of this matters, does it?”
“You said it was too late.” Her voice was scarcely above a whisper. “You said I couldn’t.”
“Poor lost little Nadine. So alone . . . so afraid. You can’t run to your sister for your bad dreams anymore, so now you want to run to Daddy.” She blinked at the last word, lost in his eyes. Hypnotized.They all come to you. “You want to run, Nadine?” Taking his hands from the shelves, he gripped her firmly by the hips as he pulled her forward. “Run to me.”
His mouth crushed against hers. Nadine made a sound, a small one; he felt the vibration of it, even as he plundered her mouth. For a moment, she was stiff as stone in his hands. Then she wilted into him, her breasts a soft weight against his bare chest.
“Don’t worry,” he told the quivering woman in his arms. “I’m here now.”
Nadine moaned as he thrust between her legs. With a growl, he bent to her throat, grinding himself against her as he kissed a path down her collarbone. He wanted her desperate, writhing up to a feverish state where she would give him anything he asked. “The things I want to do to you.” He bit her throat, sucking hardenough to mark. “You poor fucking thing. You beautiful little misery. I’ve been waitingso long.”
He dropped to his knees, covering her peaked nipple with his mouth and biting her through her clothes. She nearly lost her balance at the first hard stroke of his tongue, clutching at him desperately as he began unfastening the little white buttons that seemed to elude his fingers. He thought she might have said his name. If she hadn’t, she soon would.
