Page 88 of The Iron Dagger
“He was interested in meeting you, and you seemed to be enjoying his company. I wanted to know if I was spoiling any plans between you two.”
“It almost seems like you would encourage a match between us.”
“‘Encourage’ is a strong word. ‘Not impinge upon’ would be more accurate.”
“Why?” she asked.
The words left him as easily as pulled teeth. “He is a paragon of virtue and goodness. The perfect gentleman.”
“I’m surprised that you would recommend him,” said Hara.
“Why is that?”
Hara rolled over to face him, and by the glow of the fire he could see that she was looking at him as though he were dim. “Because you’re in my bed.”
Gideon tensed. What could he tell her? That she was better off with someone like Robert?
“I’m in your bed because I’m a selfish bastard who takes what he wants, even when I know there is someone better for you. Someone kind and good—”
“You freed the Widderstones.”
His self-sabotaging tirade was mercifully cut off, and Gideon blinked in surprise.
“How could you possibly know about that?”
“Sarai told me.”
It appeared no good deed could go unpunished, or unnoticed for that matter.
“That was meant to be a private arrangement,” he said, looking away. The warmth in her eyes was too intense. “Sarai should work for my father. She has the makings of a top-rate spy.”
Hara’s voice was soft. “You saved them, Gideon. Why?”
Devils take him, the only thing more tiresome than answering for his crimes was answering for his good deeds.
“Because . . . because it was the one thing I could do. I cannot reform the mines or take down the barons on my own. I can’t face the might of my father and godfather and their iron grip on the country. But there was one thing I could do, and so I did it.”
“You’re a good man.”
Gideon scoffed, and as he did, Hara surged forward to press her lips to his, her tongue licking softly into his mouth. The caress was so unexpectedly erotic that his retort was forgotten, his thoughts turned into hot mush. Her soft skin burned away all cares as she melded against him.
A funny way to wake her passion, but he might become a regular altruist if it made her react this way. She reached down and began to stroke his cock, making his eyes flutter closed as he rested his brow against hers. This woman.
His hands came up to cradle her breasts, gathering them up to his mouth with barely contained hunger. Now that he was somewhat less urgent, he could appreciate how soft and full they were, how her nipples formed to perky little points begging to be sucked. He grazed them with his teeth, and he felt her skin erupt into goosebumps.
He began to pump into her hand, desperate to push forward to sink into her tight heat, but he needed to feel how wet she was. His hand skimmed over her hip, reaching downto caress between her legs. She was hot to the touch, and as he moved his fingers in gentle circles, he began to feel and hear the sounds of her arousal.
“You think I’m a good man?” he murmured.
“Yes,” Hara breathed.
He would show her what agood manhe was.
“Spread your legs. Show me.”
Hara only hesitated for a beat before she sat up, opening her knees.
“Wider,” he growled.
