Chapter Thirty-One
“What happened, sweetheart,” Phin repeated, concern tightening his muscles, as he dropped to a knee in front of her and took her shaking hands in his.
Despite the tremor in her body, her gaze was steady and focused.
“I know who the British gentleman is,” she murmured.
His eyes widened. “What? How?”
She gave a little shake of her head, and her expression firmed.
“I cannot be absolutely certain, but I feel I’m right.
What he said tonight…” Her brows furrowed and her voice lowered thoughtfully.
“It was very similar to what was written in the threats you received…referencing karma and fate. It’s got to be him. But I don’t understand. Why?”
“Who?” Phin’s hands tightened on hers. “Did he threaten you?”
She blinked. “No. Well, not exactly. I was more that he claimed me. By right and by destiny.” Her expression grew frustrated and she gave another shake of her head. “It was rather strange, actually.”
“Tell me everything.”
Phin remained on one knee before her as she recounted her evening from the moment Lord Ackerly, a gentleman of previously casual acquaintance, approached her for a dance to the moment she walked away from him.
She explained how his typically pleasant attitude had changed recently, as he’d started making offhand comments about her association with Phin.
Trepidation filtered heavily through his body as he listened, staring down at her slim, elegant hands resting quietly now in his.
He wished he’d been free to attend the ball tonight. He may not have been able to do much with the entire ton watching, but at least, he could’ve been nearby. He could’ve watched out for her.
“Phin,” she said now, bringing his attention back to her face. He noted right away that her prior distress had been quelled. That quiet strength and focus he so admired was evident in her steady gaze.
“Yes, love,” he murmured thoughtlessly, only realizing the endearment he’d used when her cheeks pinkened.
Gratefully, she ignored it. “What possible connection could Lord Ackerly have to the necklace?”
He released her hands to slip his arms around her hips as he leaned toward her. His chest pressed to her knees and her hands came up to rest on his shoulders.
“I’m more worried about what the man thinks he has to do with you.”
“It was odd…” she replied thoughtfully. “He’d implied that I always should have been his. Yet, from the moment we met last year, he’d never made any attempt at courting me.”
“Perhaps he was waiting to have the necklace,” he mused, enjoying the way her fingers had slid up to twist in the hair at his nape.
Her dark eyes grew shadowed. “How would he even know about it? It was but an obscure family legend until you received it.”
“An excellent question,” Phin answered. But there was something in her words that pricked at the back of his mind. The sensation was there then gone again as her innocent caress sent tingling streaks of fire through his blood. “And one that can wait until morning,” he suggested roughly.
Without awaiting her reply, he gripped her hips in his hands and rose to his feet. Just enough to lift her further onto the bed as he came down atop her.
“There’s been enough intrigue and drama for one day, don’t you think,” he teased warmly.
She smiled and sighed. Looping her arms around his neck, she parted her legs to accommodate his weight between them and looked up at him with a softened gaze. “I never would’ve guessed it about myself, but I think I might enjoy the intrigue and drama,” she admitted.
“Of course you do,” she replied with a grin. “You like me, after all.”
“Do I?” She asked with raised brows before laughing softly. Then she whispered, “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he replied in a thick murmur.
As he said the words, he acknowledged how true they were.
It was an astounding realization—to actually feel content in where he was and what he was doing.
At the moment, there was no yearning inside him for some new adventure or distant shore.
For the first time in a long time, he had everything he wanted right in his hands.
She was the adventure. Her presence was the priceless discovery.
Something of his unexpected revelation must have shown in his face as her lovely features shifted into an expression of inquiry.
“What on earth were you thinking just now?” She smoothed a hand to the side of his face. “For a second there, it looked as though you’d been kicked in the stomach.”
Phin laughed and settled himself more intimately between her thighs.
“Metaphorically, perhaps,” he replied. When she eyed him in confusion, he chuckled again then lowered his head to flick at her pursed lips with the tip of his tongue.
When she parted, he darted a lick inside her mouth.
Her swift-drawn breath was perfect as she tightened her arms around his neck and arched her back.
Pressing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth, he murmured, “How about…” He pressed another kiss to the other corner.
“For the next few hours…” A kiss to the tip of her nose.
“We forget all about this Lord Ackerly and necklaces and ballrooms and the rest of the world.” He stared into her dark and dreamy gaze to whisper roughly, “Let me worship you.”
Something delightfully dangerous sparked in her eyes and a subtle smile tilted her mouth as she replied with the quiet regal elegance he adored, “If that means you’re going to make love to me again, I shall allow it.”
Phin gave a growling chuckle and dropped his head to nuzzle the softness at the curve of her neck and shoulder, breathing her in. His lips eagerly found her silken skin and his tongue traced the steady thrum of her pulse.
Worship her? He would devour her if he could.
Powerful desire and a deep, profound sense of sensual possession rushed through him, making him harder than he’d ever been in his life.
With a low grunt, he pushed himself up to sit back on his heels, smoothing his hands and his ravenous gaze along the curves of her body as he did so.
Her hands had fallen to the mattress on either side of her head, the fingers curling gently toward her palm as she gazed at him with deep, silent eyes.
Her rosy lips were parted and her breath passed short and swift with anticipation, lifting her breasts with each inhale.
Gorgeous.
He wasn’t worthy.
The thought arose far too often when he was with her like this. But it was true. He didn’t know how he’d managed to earn her trust and her desire, but he wasn’t going to take either for granted.
Sliding his hands down to her ankles, he urged her to bend her knees so he could bring her feet to rest atop his thighs. He removed her dancing slippers then ran his thumbs over the contours of her feet, smoothing away any aches or discomfort.
“Phin,” she breathed softly. “You don’t have to…”
“You said you’d allow it,” he reminded gruffly. “No regrets.”
Her lashes fluttered and drifted half closed. He pressed along her arches and a soft moan slid from her throat while her hands curled into small fists.
He smiled. “Relax, my beauty,” he murmured thickly. “Enjoy this.”
He continued to massage her feet until her breath slowed and her hands fell lax again.
Then he worked his caress up her legs, gently kneading the muscles of her calves, then her lovely thighs.
The skirts of her gown rose with his touch until it slipped over her bent knees to pool in her lap.
The sight of her silken stockings gartered high around her thighs with no other undergarments beneath the gown caused Phin’s breath to catch as a spear of lust shot through him.
With her knees bent and her thighs pressed together, he caught only a glimpse of the shadowed treasure beneath the draped material of her skirt.
He ground his back teeth, resisting the desire to part her legs, throw them over his shoulders, and lift her straight to his mouth. He would taste her soon enough. Right now, he wanted her to feel safe and cherished and wonderful.
Then he would devour her.