But his lovely general was single-minded in her pursuits. That was what made her so special. And dangerous.
“Has your man any information on Will?”
She was here for her brother. Jackson shouldn’t have been surprised, or so disappointed.
Best get this over with before he let something crucial slip.
“The latest report stated nothing new, I’m afraid.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Since when do peers of the realm receivereports?”
Damn.
Jackson shifted back, certain to keep his shirt squarely in front of his hips.Evade. Distract.“I meantnote. Barely more than a sentence. I can show you later.”
“What’s wrong with now?” She crossed her arms over her chest and planted her feet. “Unless you have something to hide?”
Evade.Distract.
“I am disrobed,” he said, kicking himself for stating the obvious.
A pause. “I hadn’t noticed,” was her acerbic reply. Except... color dusted her cheeks, and her gaze kept flicking to his chest.
She liked what she saw.
Confidence returning, Jackson leaned his free arm on the nearest bedpost and smiled. Perhaps sleeping so late wasn’t such a waste, if his embarrassed betrothed would personally see to his wakeup call. “So hasty to see your charming betrothed, you could not wait until my morning ablutions were done.” He wouldn’t dare to hope. “Truly, my dear, I am touched.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Touched in the head.”
“No need to play coy. You need not use your concern for your brother as an excuse to barge into my room at this hour.” He ran his hand through his hair, adding a bit more of a flex into the action than necessary.
Her gaze followed his movements before she said, “Latehour? It is nearly one in the afternoon.”
“Yet you knew I was still abed.”
“I find surprise the best way to set an adversary off-balance.”
A general through and through. He was beginning to see the appeal of her kind of war.In that case.
Jackson smirked and dropped the shirt.
Of course, his Anna didn’t squeal and turn away at his abrupt nudity. Her gaze snapped to his face, her expression settling into one of determination.
His smirk widened. “You’re welcome to look, General. I am to be yours, after all.”
A tease. A challenge.
Andgood Lord above, she dropped her gaze, the defiant glint in her eyes turning him instantly hard.
Her attention didn’t return immediately; he was no cherub under his smalls.
When her eyes returned to his, they were decidedly brighter, with a slight haze. Desire.
He knew the feeling. “Looked your fill already?” he asked, his voice gruff.
“There are more important things than your inflated...ego.”
He shuddered at the huskiness in her own voice. “Shall we discuss those oh-so-important things here? Now?” He stepped closer. “Or should we save the talking for later?”
