Page 54 of The Secret Life of a Lady
‘I wasn’t sure you would come.’ The fire blazed behind Hannah, illuminating the lithe silhouette of her body.
Killian’s heart stuttered.
Dear God. I’m in love with her.
The revelation stole his breath and weakened his knees.
Fucking hell.
‘You’re beautiful.’ Of all the thoughts in his head, it was the easiest to say and the least important.
She looked at the carpet. ‘No. I’m nervous. I owe you a favour, but I still have no idea what you might ask.’ She clasped her hands in front of her, fingers intertwined.
‘I want to watch you.’ It was the safest option. He thought of a million different ways to bring her pleasure, a thousand favours he could ask. But watching her kept a safe distance between them. And in this moment, he only wanted one thing. To see Hannah Simmons come undone in front of him. To watch her shields fall away as she lost herself to desire.
‘I don’t understand,’ Hannah paused and swallowed. Her throat moved, and he wanted to press his mouth against the hollow of her neck. To feel her heart beating beneath his lips. To lick her soft, sweet skin. To taste her. ‘Watch me do what?’ Her voice was spiced honey coating his senses.
Killian forced himself to remain still. ‘Everything I ask. You can refuse, of course. You can stop whenever you like, and I won’t touch you. But I want to watch you.’
Hannah unclasped her hands, putting them on her hips. Her eyes darkened with a familiar emotion. Annoyance. ‘You could ask me any favour, yet you want to just stand there? Telling me what to do and watching me do it?’
Killian bit his cheek and willed his body to remain controlled. ‘No. I’m going to sit.’ He pulled a wingback chair ten paces away from the fire. ‘Here.’ His legs couldn’t possibly hold him when somuch blood was diverted to other areas. He tugged up his trousers and sat. ‘And watch you. As youletme tell you what to do.’ She wasn’t going to agree. He could see the fear cloud her eyes. ‘But I don’t think you will. You don’t like following orders. Especially not mine.’ Hannah couldn’t resist a challenge.
Her bottom lip trembled, and Killian’s world tilted on its axis. Perhaps he’d pushed too hard. He might very well be the biggest bastard in England.
‘So, this is just a dare you know I won’t take?’ she asked.
Killian’s heart raced. ‘No. This is a risk I’m desperately hoping you will take. This will only work if we trust each other.’
Hannah’s hands dropped from her side. She fiddled with the lace on the sleeve of her nightgown. Her eyes darted from the fireplace to the window, then back to him. ‘Men want to take control. Is that what this is about? Because I won’t allow that.’
Killian gripped the arm of the chair. He could feel the hard bite of wood beneath the velvet-covered padding. ‘How can I control the wind or the sea as it crashes against the shore? I could never control the forces of nature comprising you.’
Hannah quirked her brow. ‘I’m a force of nature?’
Killian’s low chuckle seemed loud in the quiet room. ‘Oh, yes.’
‘You want to tell me what to do, but I don’t have to comply?’
‘Exactly. You’ll always have control.’
She was so close to letting him past her defences. He could feel the war waging within her. He understood that battle and wouldn’t force a victory.
Holding his breath, he waited.
When she threw back her shoulders and walked slowly to stand in front of him, Killian thought he might combust, the sparks showering her in his inferno of need.
‘What do you want me to do?’
Hannah had never felt so powerful or so terrified. Lieutenant General Robert Killian, Duke of Covington, favoured lord of the Prime Minister of England, commander of men, devious detective, and renowned bachelor at the top of every lady’s list, sat in front of her with his legs spread, his breathing erratic, and his eyes promising dark and wondrous things. He wanted to lead her down a path, but he offered Hannah the ultimate control. This was the power she chased. This was the promise of fulfilment her body yearned to discover.
Be brave, Hannah.
She thrust out her chin and clenched her hands into fists so he wouldn’t see her fingers shaking.
I can walk away whenever I want.
But what if I want to stay? Forever?
