Page 4 of The Moonstone Hero
Perhaps it gave him pain.
Everything seemed to give him pain.
As she watched him from the short distance, he opened his eyes again to stare at her, those dark orbs penetrating her heart. “You did not answer me regarding your two suitors.”
“Oh, are we back to them again?”
“Yes, them again. Which one did you accept, Ella?”
Chapter Two
Caden did notknow why he had asked the question, or why he cared for Ella’s answer. Perhaps because he did not think much of either Whitfield or Maxton. They would make decent husbands, he supposed. But not to someone like Ella, this golden-haired angel who stood beside the window, illuminated in the sun’s shimmering light.
She wore a muslin gown and crisp white apron.
That prim look suited her…and drove him wild.
He wanted to peel those very proper garments off her body and trail his hands slowly over her every sinful curve. Apparently, being a physical mess had not dampened his lustful urges. He ached to roll Ella under him, press his weight lightly atop her body as he kissed her, tasted her, explored every inch of this young woman he had not been able to get out of his thoughts the entire year he had been away.
Did she wear a corset beneath her gown?
He did not think so, for the natural shape of her was perfection. Softly rounded shoulders, slim hips and waist. Full, perky breasts.
His mouth went dry. “Well, Ella? Whom did you choose?”
Even her eyes were unbearably beautiful. There was a fae quality to them that had stolen his breath the first time their gazes met. They appeared even lovelier now, a pale greenthat sparkled like the magical fairy pools found only in the Highlands.
“Will you make a jest of it if I tell you?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Depends on what you tell me.”
“Must you always be so difficult? I will not have you laughing at me.”
Why would he ever laugh at her? She had intelligence, wit, and charm, in addition to being a delicate beauty. She also had a quiet, thoughtful nature that he liked very much. She was not one to dazzle when first walking into a room, although she would never go unnoticed by those with a more discerning eye.
“I give you my word of honor that I will not make fun of you.” He had thought to dismiss her as another empty-headed hopeful when they were first introduced last Season, but something about her kept drawing him back to her. Perhaps it was the look on her face whenever he approached, thatOh, Lord, not him againlook she did not bother to hide from him.
He was the first to admit he goaded her, teased and tested her.
But she always held her own against him.
She wasn’t afraid of him, either.
In truth, she handled him more politely than he deserved, because there was also a sweetness about her that he found fascinating. No one in his family had ever been sweet or kind. Perhaps he came closest, and he was an utter arse.
Her sweetness did not make her weak, but somehow strengthened her. He had been in the middle of trying to figure out why this quiet beauty had such a pull on him and what he was going to do about it when his regiment received their orders and immediately shipped out.
“Ella? Which one of them did you accept?”
She patted her golden curls that shone like silk in the bright sunlight, a giveaway that she was uncomfortable aboutresponding. Her big eyes stared back at him. That combination of magical eyes and full, pouty lips got to him, turning up the furnace on his battered body. “I did not accept either of them.”
“Truly?” Her response surprised him. “Why reject them? After me, they were considered worthy catches.”
“Ah, and you think you were the Season’s prize?” She shook her head and laughed. “Considering how self-absorbed you are, I don’t know that you would ever understand my reasons, or ever care.”
But he did care, more than he would ever let on or desire to think about.
“Tell me anyway, Ella,” he said with a wry smile, liking that she had a quick wit and gave back as good as she got. “I could do with a laugh.”
