His words sent warmth down my body and seeped into my bones like honey. Derrick was a good man. He took on his father for me. He crafted plan after plan to keep me safe. Even after the…incident,he still refused to leave me ina freefall.
My chest swelled and my lips flushed. Riyan was Lycaster’s hero, but Derrickwas mine.
My eyes fell to Derrick’s lips but then flicked up to his moonlit eyes. “You also said you would annul your marriage to Brietta. How can I take you atyour word?”
Derrick flashed me a half-smile and leaned in closer. His whisper skated across my lips. “How about I seal this promise and makeit binding?”
I gave him a little nod and he pressed his lipsonto mine.
I kissed him back and wrapped my arms around his neck. Oak and vanilla filled my nose. Lingering mint on his lips spiked my tongue. I melted into his arms—grateful for a distraction fromthe chaos.
Derrick grabbed me by the waist and pulled me against his chest. He took a deep breath and kissed me as if my lips were not enough. He wanted my breath. My soul. My spirit. He softly bit my lower lip and I quicklypulled away.
“Be careful with that!” I pointed to the left side of my neck. “Everyone saw what you didlast time!”
Smugness gleamed in Derrick’s eyes as he glanced down at my neck. “Fine, I will show some restraint.” He moved to the spot where my jaw met my left ear. I whimpered as his warm lips touched my skin and his breath tickledmy earlobe.
Derrick pulled me into his lap, but I felt a small prick andjolted away.
“Ouch!” I forgot the dagger was still in my lap and it pricked me in the belly. I ran a hand along my stomach—no blood, but the dagger tore a small hole inmy nightgown.
Derrick took the dagger out of my lap and held it in front of me. “Careful, the last thing I want is for you toget hurt.”
The dagger glinted in the moonlight and the reflection of my eyes flashed in the sharp edge of the blade. The dagger shifted and I pictured Riyan’s watery blue eyes in the blade instead—facing the steel right before it kissed his throat.
My blood ran cold and my chest softened. I had just told him he was not a monster and yet I had a plan tokill him.
I took the dagger out of Derrick’s hand and set it blade-down on the mattressbetween us.
I cringed—the bull-headed dagger looked so menacing on the soft mattress. “Am I supposed to have this thing even when Iam sleeping?”
“Especiallywhen you are sleeping,” Derrick replied. “Just keep it securely under your pillow so you do not stab youreye out.”
Derrick took the dagger and placed it beneath a pillow near me. “There, justlike that.”
I laid on the pillow and frowned. The bronze bull’s head was lumpy even through the stuffing. “This is not comfortableat all.”
“Just think of it as a constant reminder of my love and protection,” Derrick said with a smile. He kissed the back of my right hand and then held it againsthis cheek.
I bit my tongue, even as I savored his touch. “Am I really unsafe inmy sleep?”
Derrick exhaled with his mouth closed tightly. He was both serious and somber, but he let himself smile after a heartbeat. “Not tonight,at least.”
He laid down next to me and pulled me close, letting my head rest on his right arm. “I will guard you until he takesyou away.”
I looked up at him and smirked. “Your wife is not going to mind that you are abandoningher tonight?”
“She is probably grateful for a night of peace after…you know,”Derrick replied.
I was still angry with Brietta for sleeping with Derrick, but I could not help but think I came out ahead in the events of the night. By ruining the annulment plan, Brietta got what she had always feared—stuck with a husband who did notlove her.
I kicked traitorous Brietta out of my mind and took a deep breath as I snuggled against Derrick. His chest warmed my cheek and the flame in my heart danced to the rhythm ofDerrick’s heartbeat.
A few hours ago, I had nearly retched at the wandering hands and smeared lip paint as House colors mixed, but I was too quick to judge. I may have been tangled up with a man who was not my husband, but that was not our fault. Just because the stars did not smile on the Duke’s heir and I on Selection Night did not mean we had tobe apart.
Derrick kissed my forehead. My hands gripped his linen shirt around his belly and the ember in my heart ignited into a blazing flame, hungryfor another…distraction.
My lips ran up the linen until they found skin. I closed my eyes and kissed Derrick on his collarbone. He let out a shuddering breath onto my temple that stoked the flame to burn brighter, making me arch my back and press my chestinto his.
