Page 63 of A Wicked Game

Had it motivated him too?

His arm tightened at her back. “You were also a way of reminding the men that I was human. That while I was their captain, I was also a man—a man completely under the thumb of a sharp-tongued devil woman.”

Harriet rolled her eyes. “You’re not under my thumb. Nor under my heel, more’s the pity.”

“No? I thought of you every single day I was in prison.”

“Wishing I was there instead of you, I expect,” she said drily.

He shrugged, but didn’t deny it, and she laughed. “Poor Morgan. Did youmissme? Did you get tired of everyone following your orders? I bet you were longing for a little insubordination.”

“It’s possible,” he said. “Obedience gets extremely tiresome after a while.”

He guided her into another effortless turn and her senses reeled. Why did he have to smell so good? Andwhy did she have to be aware of every flex of his shoulder muscle beneath her palm as he moved? Those gorgeous lips of his were so close she could kiss him if she went up on tiptoe.

She wanted to.

Hewas the vexing one.

He glanced down. “I forgot to ask. How is your father?”

“Doctor Saunders says the operation went well.”

“But you’re still worried about him?”

“Of course. We won’t know how well his sight has improved until he can take off the bandages. And there’s always the risk of him developing an infection before he’s fully healed.” Harriet shook her head. “He was so brave to go ahead with it. I’m not sure I would have been that courageous.”

“Perhaps he realized he didn’t have much to lose? His sight was almost gone. He’ll be no worse off if it doesn’t improve.”

“That’s true.” She tightened her fingers on his shoulder. “I really do want to thank you. Whatever happens, at least now there’s a chance he’ll have a better life.”

His cheeks flushed, as if he was awkward with her praise, but his lips curled up at the corners as they always did. “Anything for you, my sweet. I’d raze cities to the ground if only you asked me to.”

She snorted.

“Men always say things like that. But I’d rather have someonebuildme a city, not burn one down. Destroying something is the work of a moment. Creating something that will stand the test of time takes much more effort.”

“True.” His smile faded as a new thought struck him. “Surely you didn’t leave your father alone this evening?”

“Of course not. He’s staying with Doctor Saunders until tomorrow.”

“So you’re spending the night with Maddie and Gryff? Tristan and Carys?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to put them to any trouble. It’s only for one night.”

“But who will be at the house with you?”

“Our cook, Mrs. Jennings, was going to stay with me, but her daughter took ill this morning, so I told her to go home and tend to her.”

His frown intensified. “You can’t stay alone.”

“Yes, I can.”

“No, you can’t. De Caen might still be a threat.”

Harriet rolled her eyes. “To you, perhaps, but not to me.”

Morgan didn’t look convinced. “What about Heron, then? Ithinkwe scared him off, but I wouldn’t stake my life on it. Or your life, for that matter. Men can get funny when it comes to retaliation.” His face grew grim. “And they can do terrible things. Believe me, I’ve seen the worst of people.”

---