And she did.
“I thought he was lying about your condition and wanted to see you myself.” She stopped a foot away from him, her blue eyes soft with concern.
He wanted to touch her. He wanted to fill his mind with visions of her until nothing else existed.
Ralph left, closing the door behind him softly.
Philomena’s eyes never left him. “How are you?”
Morgan lifted a brow. “What?”
She stepped closer. “I asked—”
Morgan’s arms shot out and pulled her closer, their faces only a breath away. “That’s better.” He settled his arms around her, her body coming to stand between his spread legs, his skirts brushing his knees, their fronts touching. “Now I can hear you perfectly. Where’s your lady’s maid?”
Philomena’s hands had found themselves on his shoulder, and she lightened her touch slightly and blinked. “She’s decided to stay downstairs. That way she’ll be unable to lie about what happens. We’re much too close,” she whispered.
“I disagree. I think you’re much too far.”
She smiled. “Morgan, if I were any closer, I’d be on top of you.”
He groaned.
Her lips parted and the touch on his shoulders became stronger as she began to push away. “Morgan, you must let me go. I’ve obviously hurt you.”
He decided not to tell her that it wasn’t his side that ached and said, “I’m not hurt.”
“But you are. You were stabbed.”
“A small dagger. It barely did any harm. Also, I happen to have consumed quite a bit of laudanum.”
“Ah.” She settled and smiled. “Then you’re in a good mood.”
He nodded slowly and almost groaned at the sweet floral aroma that seemed to pour from her body and capture him whole. He wanted to bury his nose against her throat but feared what she’d do if he tried.
Her hands slid up to his neck, and he lifted a brow as she cupped his lower jaw. “How good of a mood are you in?” She batted long lashes at him, and her eyes seemed to dance with heated warmth.
Morgan felt that warmth spread through his entire being and his mind went blank, lost in her eyes and the small smile on her lips. It was a look that was as innocent as it was seductive. He felt his thoughts swimming and had to pry his mind from the cool lake of her eyes just to hear her next words.
“Would you do me a favor?” she asked with a slightly tilted head.
He’d do anything for her. If she asked him at that moment to cut out his heart, he’d have done so and presented it to her on a silver platter. He blinked and asked, “You’re a very clever woman. Where did you learn to do that?”
She straightened her head, and her fingers tightened on him. “What?”
“That thing you do with your eyes. Where did you learn it?” He tightened his hold around her waist. “It’s captivating and done very well. Had I been any other sort of man, I’d have signed my business over to you without a second thought.”
She worked her mouth, but nothing came out. Color filled her cheeks.
He chuckled. “Surely, you’re aware that you were trying to manipulate me.” And he wasn’t upset by it in the least. In fact, it attracted him all the more. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Oh, dear.” She released his jaw and leaned away. “It usually works.”
He frowned and pulled her closer. “With who?”
She looked away. “Servants if I wanted more dessert, teachers so they wouldn’t yell when I was in error, guards who blocked my way anywhere, and a slightly different look always worked with my father. He’d give me anything I asked for.” She returned her eyes to him. “It works on everyone.” And apparently, it had been so useful that she’d become a master at it.
Outstanding… and something to keep in mind.
He smiled. “It won’t work on me.”
She bit her lip.
He touched her chin and chuckled again. “But you’ve no need to use that look on me. I’ll already do anything you ask.”
She smiled sweetly, no manipulation in sight. “Really?”
He nodded. “But it will cost you now.”
Her expression changed to worry. “And what would it cost me?”
“A kiss. It’s only fair after that performance—” His sentence was caught off by the quick press of her lips. The kiss was so fleeting that it was there one second and gone the next, but her taste and the feel of her lips lingered and warmed his blood.
Her color rose again and when she spoke, it was shaking. “Now, as for my favor.”
His hands slid up her sides, trailed up her shoulder, and captured her face just as she’d done to him. “You can do better than that.” His own voice was hoarse, and his stomach burned with hunger. “Kiss me.”
* * *
13
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
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“What are you doing?” …
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Even without his hands holding her steady, Mena knew without a doubt she was skillfully captured. If she thought her look was special, all she had to do was stare into Morgan’s eyes to know who was the master at seduction, his brown eyes a tantalizing promise of something far more satisfying than anything Mena’s look actually promised, the gold ring inducing a daring hunger in her blood.
She licked her lips and saw his gaze move there.
“What is it that you want?” he asked.
“I want you to come to dinner.”
His gaze rose, and she thoughts she might faint at just how gorgeous he was. “This evening?”
“No. After our party.”
He smiled, and her knees went weak. “So, you’ll marry me?”
“Yes.” She had to. Creed needed her to just like Creed needed this dinner to happen. Morgan could save him.
But Creed wasn’t the only reason she wanted to marry this man. This look he was giving her at the moment was the seal to her fate. She wanted that look upon her always. She wanted Morgan’s dark gaze that was always full of heated promises with her until the end of time. That adoring look was more than she’d ever hoped for in a husband. She’d been adored by her father. She’d been adored by Creed, but this was different. Morgan’s adoration seemed to encompass all of her, even the parts he didn’t know about yet. She even liked the way he held her so possessively. She wanted to be someone’s. She wanted to be treasured, and she was nearly sure that Morgan would do it.
“I’m glad,” he told her. “I want you to be my wife, Philomena, and had I not been stabbed yesterday, I would be on my knee begging for your hand.”
She leaned forward, and their heads touched. “Do you believe we’ll be happy?”
His hands went down to her hands, and their fingers locked together. “I believe I’ll try to see to it.”
“As will I.”
“I want a short engagement,” he said with a grin. “The shorter the better.” His voice lowered on the last.
She let out a shaky breath. “All right, and you’ll come to dinner?”