Page 96 of The Trouble with Anna

“Where are we?”

“Ramsay House. Our house.”

“Oh.”

Of course it was Ramsay House. The blasted thing took up half the square and one would have to be blind to miss it. Still, nothing could prepare Anna for its sheer hulking menace at night.

Ramsay House. Her soon-to-be house.

Julian reached over and adjusted Anna’s hood, making sure her face was concealed. “That’s better.”

Anna gave a strangled laugh. “Hiding me? Is that the way things are normally done?” Her face went scarlet. “Not that it’s my business how you normally…whoyou normally… Oh, never mind!”

Julian caught her eyes, held them. “Nothing is normal for me tonight. I’ve never brought my Countess home before.”

He slid down off his mount, his hands warm around her waist as he lifted her down from the saddle. Oh god, the expression in his eyes. As if she were a glass of whiskey and he intended to drink down every drop.

He lowered his head, kissed her.

It tasted like an ache.

She felt like one of the opium eaters she’d read about. How the drug kept them in such a sweet haze they barely knew how to ask for anything, exceptmore.

The side gate opened with a click and he drew her through a vast garden and then to a rear door, making sure to block it with the width of his shoulders so she was concealed behind him.

Inside, someone clattered to their feet and called, “Who’s there?”

Anna flattened herself against Julian’s back.

“Ramsay,” he replied. “See to the horses and inform Evans I don’t require him.”

Only after the servant’s footsteps faded did Julian pull Anna through the door.

“I can’t remember when I last had to sneak in.” He tossed her a grin, couldn’t seem to stop grinning. “Next time, I’ll bring you through the front door, but tonight—”

Her hand shook slightly in his as he led her silently up the back stairs and down a long hallway to his chambers, where he closed the heavy door behind them.

Julian gave her hand a tug, and Anna fell awkwardly toward him. Her breath caught and she held it.

Julian lifted his hand to cup her face. “You’re trembling.”

She made a strangled attempt at a smile. “I suppose I’m nervous, wondering when you might pounce.”

“Hmm. Like a wolf?”

The amount of pure masculine pleasure in his voice made Anna’s hackles rise.

He knew what was going to happen, but she didn’t. Not fully.

Was she meant to take off her clothes? Good heavens.Allof her clothes?

His large hand reached around her waist and pulled her against the firm wall of his chest.

“Not like a wolf,” she said. “Like a jackal!” It was a sad little joke and it came out all mangled.

The teasing in his eyes fell away, replaced by a frown. He ran the back of his hand gently down her cheek. “What is it?”

She gave a little shrug, stared at the floor.

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