Page 11 of Master of Games
And he’d met a woman who he knew was a different kind entirely. The sort who’d challenge him to be a better man.
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Exhausted and sore as he was, his entire body tightened at the sight of her pretty pink little tongue moving across the supple flesh. “I’m sure it has. Chasing down villains, taking over your club, and getting shot.”
“And I’ve met the most interesting lady.” Tabbie was the sort of beautiful that could make a man ache.
Gorgeous auburn hair, and a fiery spirit to match. She had large green eyes, a pert little nose, and the sort of lips that tempted a man to kiss them constantly.
He’d been drawn to her from the first.
And then there was the fact that she disagreed with him at every turn. Call him mental, but that was an affection he could understand.
“Whom did you meet?” she whispered, her hands clasping in front of her torso.
His smile turned wolfish…
CHAPTER FOUR
“Whom did I meet?” he asked with a chuckle as he pushed to his feet, rolling his shoulders in a tentative test. “That is a very interesting question.”
Tabbie went absolutely pale as her hands pressed to her stomach. “Forget about it. I don’t wish to know.”
He could hear the shake in her voice. Why? Was she worried she wouldn’t like the answer? He crossed the room, his entire body aching, as he pulled the bell cord himself.
Then he turned back to her. He could continue down this path of telling her that she was the person who’d changed his outlook, but she wasn’t ready to hear it.
She’d simply tell him that he’d gone mad with the fever, so he changed tact. “Did I propose last night?”
“Yes,” she answered in a voice so quiet that it was almost inaudible. “You did.”
He stopped in front of her, looking down at her wide eyes and parted lips. So beautiful… “Did you answer?”
Her jaw dropped, her mouth forming an O. “You didn’t mean it. You were only worried you’d die.”
“Is that a no then?”
“You’d regret it once you’ve recovered. You don’t wish to be tied down in marriage and certainly not to me.” She took a step back, her features tightening in pain.
As strong as Tabbie was, she had a gaping wound that she wasn’t able to hide. He understood. He had one of those too.
And much as he’d like to press the issue, he sensed that he ought to slow down, return to his first plan. Woo her.
She deserved some romance. Some time to play. And if there was one area of life he had always excelled in, it was having fun.
“I’m feeling weaker. You were right, I shouldn’t have risen from the bed.”
She instantly stepped closer, her arms coming about his middle. He locked his good arm about her waist, pulling her tightly to his body.
Damn, she felt good.
Tabbie didn’t seem to notice that he didn’t lean his weight into her as she turned to the side, her arms still around him, and she began to guide him back toward the bed.
Her silken hands splayed out on his back, her shoulder pushing up into his armpit to bear some of his weight. “What can I do?”
That was the moment that the door opened. “You rang, mum?” A footman asked from the doorway, his eyes only widening slightly at the sight of his mistress helping a half-naked man back into bed.
“A breakfast tray and bath water shortly after,” Tabbie answered, lowering him onto the mattress.
Caden settled in with a sigh, his hand sliding into hers as he tugged her down to sit next to him, her hip pressed to his.
